Missouri

Introduction

St. Louis

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A famous state in American history Missouri has a lot to offer visitors. From the shows in Branson to the beauty of the Ozark Mountains that state is a lot of fun. For the more urban person the shopping and nightlife in Kansas City is killer or the restaurant scene in Columbia is a wonderful place to relax. And remember a trip to Missouri is not complete with out grabbing a beer at the Budweiser Brewery and seeing the actual horses in St. Louis.

Geography

Cities

• Columbia is home to the University of Missouri and has great restaurants and vibrant nightlife.
• Kansas City, the state's largest city and an awesome place to spend a day or two.
• Independence is the home of the 33rd US president, Harry S. Truman
• Jefferson City, the state's capital
• Lee's Summit
• Saint Charles
• St. Louis is the gateway to the west and home to the Budweiser Brewery
• Saint Peters
• Saint Joseph
• Springfield

Sights and Activities

• Ozark Mountains are a great place to relax either hiking the hills or enjoying the lakes.
• Gate Way Arch is the famous arch located in St. Louis.
• Laura Ingalls Wilder Home located in Mansfield this was the final home to the famous frontier children's writer.

Events and Festivals

Weather

Getting There

By Plane

1. Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL) is the main gateway to Missouri. It is located about 10 miles (16 kilometres) from downtown St. Louis. It mainly has domestic flights but there are some international connections as well, to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

To/from the airport

• Rail: Each of the airport's terminals has a rail station with direct trains to downtown St. Louis on MetroLink's Red Line.
• Bus: MetroLink also operates two buses: 49 Lindbergh and 66 Clayton-Airport.
• Car: parking places, car rental facilities and taxis are all widely available at Lambert as well.

2. Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is located about 15 miles (24 kilometres) from the central business district of Kansas City. It's one of the best mid-sized airports in the USA. Although it mainly functions as a large domestic airport, there are a few international connections to Canada and Mexico.

To/from the airport

• Car: the airport is conveniently located on major highways Interstate 29 and Interstate 435. There are many short-term and long-term parking places available, as well as rental cars. Taxis are available as well.
• Bus: The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority operates one public bus service to the airport, bus #129. It only operates 18 times per day, between 6:00am and 6:00pm, Monday to Friday. It operates between Terminal C and the downtown bus center with several intermediate stops.
• Private shuttle companies offer comfortable and expensive minivans, and although there are still wishes for a light-rail system, there is still no approval for this plan.

By Train

Several trains, operated by Amtrak, travel to and from the state of Missouri:

• The Illinois Service from Chicago to St. Louis.
• The Missouri Routes also from Chicago, to Kansas City via St. Louis.
• The Texas Eagle, also from Chicago, travelling further from St. Louis (daily) towards Dallas and San Antonio and further from here (three times a week) to Los Angeles.
• The Southwest Chief from Chicago to Los Angeles, stopping in Kansas City.

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Getting Around

By Plane

By Train

By Car

Many international rental companies have a wide selection of rental cars and these include Hertz, Avis, Dollar, Thrifty, Enterprise, Budget and Alamo/National. Most companies will require you are at least 25 years of age, although younger people might be able to rent cars at slightly higher rates and with some insurance differences as well. A national driver's license is usually enough, but an additional international one is recommended. Also note that it usually costs more to include lots of other extra things. For example extra drivers, GPS, the first full tank, SLI (Supplemental Liability Insurance), PAI (Personal Accident Insurance, usually covered already at home), road assistance/service plan, and drop-off costs for one-way rentals.
If you want to book a car, it is recommended that you book your car before arriving in the USA. This is almost always (much) cheaper compared to just showing up. Also, try and book with a so-called 'broker', which usually works together with a few or many car rental companies and can offer the best deal. Some examples include Holidayautos, Holidaycars and Sunny Cars. Some of the cheapest deals to book from Europe, includes Drive-USA, which also has a German version.

For more information and tips about renting cars and campers, additional costs, insurance, traffic rules, scenic routes and getting maps and fuel it is advised to check the USA Getting Around section.

Missouri has a number of National Scenic Byways which offer a great way to explore the state crossing beautiful landscapes. Mostly, there are lots of national parks, state parks or monuments along the way and it's generally a better alternative than the faster but boring Interstate Highways.

By Bus

By Boat

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Hotel and Motel Chains

There are dozens of hotel and motel chains, ranging from budget to top end. Allthough they are not the most charming accommodations, they usually have a very decent midrange service with good rooms and are generally good value. At least you know what to expect and in some cases they are either the only or the best option in the area. Some of them include:

• Motel 6
• Super 8
• Days Inn
• Quality Inn
• Red Roof Inn
• Howard Johnson
• Best Western
• La Quinta Inns and Suites
• Holiday Inn
• Econo Lodge
• Travelodge
• Hilton
• Choice Hotels
• Ramada
• Radisson
• Starwood Hotels
• Marriott Hotels