Charging an E-Bike on the Katy Trail: Where to Plug In (and What Not to Count On)
Charging an E-Bike on the Katy Trail
If you’re riding the Katy on an e-bike, one question matters more than it does on a regular bicycle:
Where am I going to charge?
E-bike riders use this trail all the time. Communities along the route have electricity. The trick is knowing where you can reasonably expect a plug—and not assuming every trailhead or picnic shelter will have one when the battery is low.
Here’s what to know before you go.
Yes, e-bikes are allowed
Missouri State Parks allows electrically assisted pedal-powered bicycles and tricycles on the Katy Trail, maximum 20 mph.
The trail is shared with cyclists, walkers, runners, and horses on designated sections. Assist doesn’t change etiquette: slow down around other people, announce when you pass, ride a speed that fits the surface and the traffic.
The park is open sunrise to sunset. Plan the battery inside those hours.
Don’t plan the day around “there should be an outlet”
That’s the most important advice we can give an e-bike rider.
You’ll hear about charges at city parks, restaurants, visitor centers, shelters, and shops. Encouraging. Different from guaranteed.
An outlet can be off. A shelter can be reserved. A business can change hours or owners.
A plug someone used two years ago is not today’s mileage plan.
Before a long stretch, know:
Realistic range under trail conditions
Your next dependable charge
About how long the battery needs
What you’ll do if that stop isn’t available
Headwind, rider weight, luggage, tire pressure, terrain, temperature, and how much assist you use all change range. Give yourself a cushion.
Riding the MKT into Columbia
A popular side trip is the MKT Nature and Fitness Trail into Columbia. It meets the Katy near McBaine and runs about 8.9 miles to Flat Branch Park downtown. You can ride from the Katy into downtown without crossing a street.
One charging spot we can actually point to: the City of Columbia lists electrical service at the Flat Branch Park gazebo, including 110-volt outlets. Flat Branch is the downtown MKT trailhead.
If you’re already stopping for food or a look at town, that’s a good place to build in charge time.
Caution on other park power: some outlets belong to reservable shelters or locked panels. Seeing a receptacle is not the same as public e-bike charging. When in doubt, ask.
Restaurants and small businesses — ask, then buy something
Riders often say a café or shop let them plug in while they ate. That’s hospitality, not a right.
Walk in. Ask. Buy lunch, coffee, or something off the shelf.
Trail-town businesses are part of why the Katy isn’t an isolated path. Supporting the places that help riders is how those stops stay available for the next bike.
Charging etiquette: give something back
One rider told us that when they used power at a shelter tied to a Lions Club or Rotary, they noted the group and sent a donation after the trip.
We like that.
Nobody needs to meter the kilowatts. Shade, water, a table, and a live outlet often exist because a town, a civic club, a park department, or a small business paid for them.
Meal at the place that let you charge. A few dollars in a box. A later donation to the group that keeps a shelter standing on a 90-degree afternoon.
That’s good Katy manners with or without a motor.
Carry the charger
Obvious until it’s on the kitchen counter.
If the day depends on a midday charge, the charger is essential gear. Know what your battery needs. If the pack comes off the bike, practice removing and seating it at home.
Don’t assume another rider’s brick fits your system.
Charge while you’re already stopped
Charging doesn’t have to be its own event.
Lunch. A long break in town. Exploring. Dinner. Overnight.
Those are the natural windows. Better than rolling in almost empty and sitting beside a plug watching a percentage crawl.
On a multi-day ride, that matters even more.
Overnight is your best charging stop
Daytime outlets are a bonus. Night lodging gives you something they can’t: time.
The bike charges while you shower, eat, wash clothes, and sleep. Morning: both of you ready.
When you book, don’t assume every property wants an e-bike on their patio circuit. Ask before you arrive if tomorrow’s miles depend on a full battery.
Need a charge around Mile Marker 100.8?
This is one location we don’t have to wonder about.
The Mercantile sits at the McKittrick Trailhead, MM 100.8. We have outdoor electrical charging on the patio for e-bike riders.
You do not have to be an overnight guest to stop.
Pull in. Plug in. Sit on the patio. When the barn honor-system fridge is stocked, grab a cold drink or snack, pay for what you take, and rest before you roll again.
If you want to leave a little something for the charging stop, we appreciate it. More than that, we want Mile 100.8 to be a place Katy riders know they can pause.
If 100.8 is the end of the day instead of a break, even easier. Overnight guests charge while they shower, wash trail clothes, make dinner, and sleep.
We tried to think about this building from a cyclist’s seat. We’re not just near the Katy.
We’re on it.
What about charging elsewhere?
Riders report plugs at parks, shelters, visitor centers, restaurants, and shops all along the corridor.
We’re not going to list every anecdotal outlet as a sure thing. We’d rather give you a few places we can stand behind than fifty spots somebody remembers from one Tuesday.
As we verify more locations, we’ll update this guide.
Charging information last reviewed: September 2026.
If you run a business, park, visitor center, or organization along the Katy that welcomes e-bike charging, tell us. We’ll add what’s real.
A little planning goes a long way
An e-bike is a good way to see this trail.
Don’t let battery anxiety cancel the trip. Don’t leave the charge plan to chance either.
Know your range. Carry the charger. Leave a buffer. Ask before you use private power.
Support the towns that support riders.
Sometimes waiting on a battery isn’t a problem. The Katy isn’t a trail you have to rush.
Something cold, some shade, a conversation, a look at the town you’re in—that’s part of the ride.
If the battery needs a break around Mile 100.8, there’s a plug in McKittrick.
See you on the trail.
FAQs
Are e-bikes allowed on the Katy Trail?
Yes. Pedal-assist bikes and trikes, 20 mph max. Sunrise to sunset.
Can I count on charging at every trailhead?
No.
Where can I charge near Columbia?
MKT from the Katy near McBaine to Flat Branch Park (~8.9 miles). City lists 110-volt outlets at the gazebo; the site can be reserved, so have a backup.
Can I charge at the Mercantile without staying overnight?
Yes. Patio charging at MM 100.8 for riders passing through. Overnight guests can charge while they sleep.
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