Katy Trail, Revisited (2025): Why McKittrick Is the Smart Basecamp for the Katy Trail

Olga Marquez
Oct 12
3 min read

If you last rode the Katy in the 2010s, the experience has evolved. Today’s riders blend gravel miles with good sleep, laundry, coffee, and an easy hop to wine country. McKittrick, MO—directly on the trail with a short bike-ped link into Hermann—has become a sweet spot for staging 1–3 day segments, recovery nights, and out-and-backs.

The Katy Trail, at a Glance (what to know before you plan)

Distance & endpoints: ~240 miles, Clinton ↔ Machens, on the historic MKT corridor. Expect crushed limestone, steady surfaces, and gentle rail-grades.
Trailheads & services: 26 trailheads plus four restored depots; many hubs offer water, restrooms, and tools. Check kiosks for local history and mileage.
Historic overlay: The mid-river section is an official segment of the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail—scenic bluffs to your right, Missouri River to your left.

Getting Here (and leaving the car behind)

Train: The Amtrak Missouri River Runner stops in Hermann, making McKittrick an easy start/finish for one-way days (think: train one direction, ride back).

Shuttles: If you’re “credit-card bikepacking,” book a drop with Katy Bike Shuttle or other State-Park-listed providers; common runs include St. Charles → Sedalia/Clinton. (Reserve early in peak season.)

Bridge note: The Bond Bridge bike/ped path links the McKittrick trailhead to Hermann. Always check for construction advisories in shoulder seasons.

Why Base in McKittrick

Positioning: Ideal for splitting the classic Jefferson City ↔ St. Charles stretch into restful legs—with a real bed, laundry, and kitchen between long days.

Wine-country detours: Roll across to Hermann for tastings and dinner, then glide back to your suite. (Sunset on the bridge is a mood.)

Local history: Our lobby display (built from primary sources) tells the rail-town origins of McKittrick and the MKT—turning a simple overnight into a living-history stop.

Sample 2–3 Day Itineraries

Weekend Express (Out-and-Back Style)

Day 1: Arrive by Amtrak to Hermann → Cross to McKittrick, check in, sunset spin toward Treloar, dinner in Hermann.

Day 2: McKittrick → Jefferson City (choose your turnaround based on legs) → back to base. Capitol detour if you train/drive support.

Day 3: Morning coffee + easy miles east toward Dutzow/Augusta → checkout.

Point-to-Point Lite (Shuttle + Ride)

Shuttle to Boonville/Sedalia, ride back to McKittrick over 1–2 days. Luggage stays light; we’re your recovery HQ.

2025 Packing & Riding Tips (Missouri-specific)

Tires: 35–45 mm gravel tires are comfy on crushed limestone; tubeless reduces pinch flats.

Dust & gates: Expect dust in dry spells and low-contrast brown gates near trail access points—slow for shade transitions. (A bell helps.)

Hydration & signals: Coverage is better than years past, but carry extra water in summer and a printed map for redundancy.

Bridge etiquette: Dismount when crowded on the Bond Bridge path; yield to pedestrians.

Small-Town Impact (why your miles matter)

State Parks’ study found the trail generated ~$18.5M/year (2011 data) and supported ~367 jobs; usage climbed in the 2020s, and advocates estimate higher impacts today.

Translation: choosing trail towns like McKittrick keeps the lights on for independent Hermann cafés, outfitters, and historic stays.

Plan & Book

Official trail info: Missouri State Parks – Katy Trail State Park.
Rail logistics: Amtrak Missouri River Runner schedules & bike policies.

Shuttles & tours: See the Trail Services directory. (Book early October weekends.)

Stay: The Mercantile on the Katy Trail — four spacious suites (full kitchens + in-suite laundry), cyclist amenities, and a museum-style lobby celebrating McKittrick’s rail era.