Frequently Asked Questions

Katy Trail Tours

My Katy Trail tour starts at St. Charles, Missouri. How can I get there?
St. Charles is on the western edge of the St. Louis metropolitan area and is easily accessible from I-70 and other major roads. It is a 15-20 minute drive west from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Shuttles and taxis are available to St. Charles from the airport. Long term parking is available at our shuttle pickup spot in St. Charles.

My tour starts at Augusta or Rocheport, Missouri. How do I get there?
Augusta is about 18 miles west of St. Charles on State Highway 94. Rocheport is .3 miles from I-70 exit #115 -- about 116 miles west of St. Charles. Long term parking is available at either location.

How does the tour work?
Our Katy cyclists all ride eastbound. Our standard tours (#10, #11, and #12) start at the eastern end of the trail at St. Charles. Tours #13 and #14 start at Rocheport (or alternatively at Augusta). We will transport you west to your cycling start point. After an overnight there, you will begin the cycling tour riding east and eventually return to St. Charles where you started.

Extended overnight parking is available in St. Charles, Augusta and Rocheport. Yyou will be able to return directly to your car at the end of the tour (some alternatives end with a shuttle back to your car). If you rented bikes, they can be returned only a block from the end of the trail.

Are there hills on the trail?
The Katy is generally level for its 225 mile length. A few sections west of Boonville have slight gradual inclines. There are often hills when you go away from the trail or into some of the river towns along the way, but these are largely optional.

What is the Katy Trail surface like? What kind of bike is recommended?
The trail is made of a fine crushed limestone. It packs into a fairly hard surface. Depending on weather, the hard surface can develop soft spots, washed out, or rough areas. We recommend a mountain bike or hybrid with medium to wide tires, but our skinny tire road bike friends generally say they have no problems.

How is the weather along the trail? Is there a better time to tour?
Our standard tour season is from April 1 to October 31. Spring and fall are beautiful and the temperatures are more comfortable. The summer months can be very hot, but early morning cycling will help beat the heat. Average temperatures in Jefferson City, Missouri are:

Month Fahrenheit
Hi/Low
 Celsius
Hi/Low
April 66/43 19/6
May 75/53 24/12
June 84/62 29/17
July 89/66 32/19
August 87/64 31/18
September 79/55 26/13
October 68/44 20/7

 

Will you provide or help rent a bicycle for the tour?
We can assist you in reserving bicycles. Rental costs are additional and can include a handlebar bag, helmet and additional pannier or trunk rack bag if you wish. If you own some of these, you may wish to bring them along with you. This is especially true for a helmet which may fit you better than the rented one. Bike rental is generally about $30 per day.

I have cycled across many river bridges. Is it really important to be transported across some of the Missouri River bridges?
We strongly advise against cycling across the bridges at Washington and Hermann because they are narrow with no shoulder and the center elevation makes it very difficult to be seen on the approaches. The bridge at Jefferson City has an advertised “bike lane” on the southbound side but what separates you and the cars is only a painted stripe. The speed limit there is 65 mph. We do not recommend riding across this bridge and have arranged safe and easy alternatives for our riders.

How is the cell phone service along the trail?
There is service along the trail but it is variable. We recommend that you carry a cell phone on the trail. Service is usually available especially within 7 to 10 miles of the larger towns and villages along the way.

Day 3 of the End-to-End tour has 51 miles to cycle. Can this be shortened?

Yes, day 3 (51 miles) and day 5 (43 miles) can be reduced to 35 and 31 miles respectively. We can provide a shuttle service at the beginning or end of the day. We require at least two days notice and there is a small additional charge. This will allow you to finish a day earlier and spend extra time at your evening destination.