David Link
Explore the Gateway to the West on St. Louis motorcycle rides from REVER. St. Louis lies on the banks of the mighty Mississippi, and this historic city has acted as a gateway to lands to the west since its founding. Settlers who wanted to take the Oregon Trail first landed in St. Louis on the way to the official starting point in Independence, MO. You can still trace that journey on motorcycle routes near St. Louis today. The Gateway City is also a jumping off point for rides in the Missouri Ozarks and the Mark Twain National Forest. Scenic hills and streams wait to be explored south of the metro area. Just select a route from our motorcycle rides in St. Louis MO collection below to get started!
REVER makes it a snap to discover the best St. Louis motorcycle rides. Download the app for free today to get started. You can open routes selected by experienced riders or start tracking your own favorite rides. But for the best experience on motorcycle routes near St. Louis, you need to upgrade to REVER Pro. You'll unlock a world of features like weather alerts, turn by turn and voice directions, points of interest notifications and mobile route planning. There is no better way to tour the St. Louis area.
St. Louis is hot and humid in the summer, and you need to adjust your riding gear accordingly. Wear breathable riding apparel and consider a motorcycle hydration system to carry enough water for hot days. The St. Louis area is also prone to severe weather, which is all the more reason to set up weather alerts with REVER Pro. Make sure you watch for thunderstorm and tornado warnings as well as have your rain gear ready to go when the skies turn gray. Spring and fall are generally pleasant in eastern Missouri, but the winters can be cold at times. Even so, you can still plan the occasional ride on a warm winter day.
Any visit to St. Louis should start along the Mississippi River at the Gateway Arch. This 630 ft. tall structure is the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere. Ride to the top to see views of the city or simply explore the park grounds below. Downtown St. Louis is very accessible, so you can walk to several other attractions near the Gateway Arch. Just to the north is Laclede's Landing, and this historic waterfront district is a great place to grab a meal or check out STL nightlife. Just to the west of the Arch, you can catch a Cardinals baseball game or have a drink at Ballpark Village. There is even a Cardinals Hall Of Fame Museum to explore if you're a baseball fan. A few blocks west from the ballpark is Union Station with more restaurant and museum options. Another popular area to visit farther west from downtown is Forest Park. This park was the site of the 1904 World's Fair, and it is twice the size of NYC's Central Park. Cruise the park streets or check out one of the many museums within the park's limits. Finish up the day by tasting St. Louis' signature dish, toasted ravioli. You can try it at Mama Campisi's or Charlie Gitto's in The Hill neighborhood just south of Forest Park. Finally, consider joining the St. Louis Ride for Kids in mid-September to help raise money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. The ride begins in Cottleville, MO just northwest of St. Louis.
Trace the Missouri River over to Columbia, MO on this three hour ride along scenic river bluffs. The Missouri River is the primary waterway that cuts through the state, and it has long served as a travel route to Kansas City. In fact, pioneers attempting the Oregon Trail would first take a steamship from St. Louis to Independence, MO up the Missouri. We won't go quite that far on this route, but you'll get to experience part of the journey for yourself. We'll begin by the Missouri River on the western edge of the St. Louis metro area in Chesterfield. Take the Daniel Boone Bridge / Interstate 64 over the river, and you'll cross the historical Katy Trail. This hiking trail follows the same route as Lewis and Clark on their 1804 expedition through Missouri to Oregon. Jump off the interstate at Weldon Spring, and then turn left on Missouri Route 94. You'll pass through the Weldon Spring Conservation Area and then enter a stretch of farmland with several local wineries nearby. This region is known as the Missouri Rhineland as it provides fertile land for farms and vineyards. Up next is Klondike Park located right next to the river. You can hike sandstone bluffs and see the white sand natural to the area. Stay on 94 past Augusta, MO as you ride into more wine country. When you hit a junction with Highway 47, Highway 94 continues west with a right turn. Once in Marthasville, MO, take the right to stay on Highway 94.
More farms of the Missouri Rhineland await as you cruise through small towns like Pinckney and Case. Once you arrive in Bluffton, MO, the river bluffs start to tower over the Missouri. Stay west on 94 out of town as you climb to the top of a nearby bluff. After a quick tour of higher land, you'll ride back down to the river at Portland, MO. Stop at Holzhauser's Bar & Grill for some roadside eats, or check out more of the Katy Trail along the river bank. Another stretch of river bottom awaits as you follow the Missouri out of Portland to Mokane, MO. From here, the road traces more bluffs as they meet the farmland beside the river. When you hit the junction with Highway 54, take it south over the river into Jefferson City, MO. As you cross the river, you'll see the Missouri State Capitol building loom large on a bluff to the south. Aside from the capitol building, there are a few other sites to see downtown like the old Missouri State Penitentiary and the Lewis and Clark Monument Trailhead. If you're hungry, stop at Sweet Smoke BBQ downtown for some top rated nachos or brisket. Once you're finished, take Highway 179 northwest out of town to continue the ride.
As you leave Jefferson City, you'll ride on top of more bluffs on your way to Marion, MO. There is preserved river bottom land here at the Marion Bottoms Conservation Area just to the north of 179. On this last stretch, the route turns away from the Missouri River towards Jamestown, MO. Stay on 179 as you bear north outside of Jamestown. Highway 179 will take you all the way up to Interstate 70, and then jump on the interstate east over the Missouri River once again towards Columbia. The ride over the Missouri River Bridge up into the rugged bluffs offers one of the best views on the route. You'll wrap the ride in the outskirts of Columbia, but there are a couple things to do in town. If you're hungry after the ride, head to Flat Branch Pub & Brewing for some excellent food in the area. Or you can ride south of town to explore Rock Bridge State Park. The park features a natural rock bridge as well as some shallow caves you can hike to cool off in the summer.
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Head out on a quick tour of the Mark Twain National Forest southwest of St. Louis on this two hour loop. Named after the prolific writer who was born in Missouri, Mark Twain National Forest covers over 1.5 million acres. Today we'll only ride one section of the forest near St. Louis. Begin on Highway 32 heading west towards Banner, MO. Just to the south here are two popular parks in Missouri – Taum Sauk Mountain and Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park. Taum Sauk is the highest mountain in Missouri at 1,772 ft., and the summit offers great views of the surrounding hills. If you want to cool off, head to Johnson's Shut-Ins to see water chutes that run through smooth rocks to create a natural water park. Detours aside, let's get back to the route. Once you pass through Banner, climb into the forested hills of the Mark Twain NF. This is a rural area of Missouri, so enjoy the thrill of riding the winding forest roads. You won't see much civilization until you reach Bixby, MO. Take a right onto Highway 49 to continue on the route.
Viburnum, MO is up next to the north, and this town supports a large lead mine in the area. Stay on Highway 49 northwest out of town to ride through more forest hills. Just after Dillard, MO, you'll take a right onto Route V. There is camping available at Red Bluff Campground near Davisville, MO. Stay on County Road V until it meets up with County Road Y and C. Keep riding east on County Road C towards Courtois, MO. Route C will then turn up north through Quaker and Delbridge until you meet the fork with County Road P. Stay left to take Route P north past Palmer Lake. This regularly stocked lake offers excellent fishing if you packed your pole. Take Route P all the way to the outskirts of Potosi, MO. Up next, turn right onto Highway 21 for the last stretch of the loop. Flavour Gypsies offers some unique fare in Potosi if you're ready to stretch your legs and grab lunch or dinner. Finish up the ride with a cruise south on Highway 21, and consider a detour out to Hughes Mountain to see the volcanic rock formations at the top of the mountain. Otherwise you'll pass through Caledonia, MO to meet back up with Highway 32 and complete the loop.
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"You don't stop riding when you get old, you get old when you stop riding."
― Anonymous
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