Trees drenched in shades of red, orange, and yellow make autumn one of the best times to explore Missouri. With an abundance of hardwood forests filled with oaks, hickories, maples and more, the Show-Me State is an ideal place to take a fall drive.
Leaf peeping-season usually peaks from mid to late October, depending on the weather. Check the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Fall Color Forecast to get the latest updates.
Here are various drives to help you discover the colors of autumn across the state:
Hannibal to St. Louis: Highway 79
In Hannibal, mix Mark Twain lore with the shades of fall. Take in the sweeping vista from Lover’s Leap, a huge bluff just outside the city limits. Travel south along the Mississippi River, through Louisiana and Clarksville – both have expansive river views along with shops and restaurants. In St. Louis, the Missouri Botanical Garden, Forest Park and Gateway Arch National Park offer a kaleidoscope of colorful foliage.
Caledonia to Van Buren: Highway 21
In the tiny village of Caledonia, visit the Old Village Mercantile and antique shops before your fall drive takes you south on Highway 21. You’ll find some of the state’s most popular outdoor spots, including Elephant Rocks State Park, Taum Sauk Mountain State Park and Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park. Further south, a few miles off Highway 21, explore the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Near Van Buren, stop at Big Spring, one of the country’s largest natural springs.
Cuba to Eminence: Highway 19
Check out the Route 66 attractions and outdoor murals in Cuba before setting out on Highway 19 for a fall drive. Steelville, located near the Meramec, Huzzah and Courtois rivers, is the self-proclaimed floating capital of Missouri. Further south, the road runs through the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, where Round Spring and Blue Spring sparkle in beautiful shades of blue in the middle of the forest. The Jacks Fork and Current rivers are favorite places for canoeing, kayaking and rafting. Take a break from all your outdoor adventures at Echo Bluff State Park, located just off Highway 19. The state park is nestled along Sinking Creek, the second-largest tributary of the Current River. Cozy up in a room at the Betty Lea Lodge, which includes breathtaking views from your private balcony, cabins that can fit almost any size family and camping opportunities. As you continue south and reach Eminence, take a short trip along Highway 106 to see Alley Mill. Feel nostalgic as you gaze upon the striking historic red mill, sitting at the edge of Alley Spring, surrounded by oaks and pines.
Lake of the Ozarks loop: Highway 5, Highway 54, Highway 52
The hillsides surrounding the Lake of the Ozarks put on a colorful show when the weather begins to turn cool. Drive a loop around the lake by starting in Versailles and heading down Highway 5. Fall color is especially vivid along the shoreline – in full view where the highway crosses the lake at the Hurricane Deck and Niangua bridges. In Camdenton, travel a few miles south on Highway 54 to Ha Ha Tonka State Park where the foliage provides a perfect backdrop for deep ravines, towering bluffs and the ruins of a 1905 castle. If you have time hike the Dell Rim Trail. The trail takes hikers part way down the 316 wooden steps to Ha Ha Tonka Spring, ending at a second overlook into Whispering Dell Sinkhole. North will lead you to Osage Beach where lake life is life! Enjoy waterfront hotels, cabins and condos and numerous restaurants surrounding the 53,000-acre Lake of the Ozarks. In Eldon, take Highway 52 for a trek through rolling farm country to return to Versailles.
Table Rock Lake loop: Highway 65, Highway 13, Highway 76
Deep in the Ozark mountains, travel a winding path around Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo to see southern Missouri bathed in fall’s warm colors. Explore family friendly attractions and live entertainment in Branson before continuing your fall drive south on Highway 65 through the historic town of Hollister. Nearby Table Rock Lake State Park offers plenty of space to enjoy crisp temperatures and clear blue skies. Further south, take Highway 86 across the lake to Highway 13 and into Kimberling City.
Washington to Linn: Highway 100
Follow the Missouri River for breathtaking views of fall’s fabulous foliage as hop from one river town to the next. In Washington, visit Missouri Meerschaum Company – the largest and oldest manufacturer of corn cob pipes in the world – and peruse the museum to learn the history of corn cob pipes. Just 13 miles away, New Haven is a quaint town with restaurants, artisan shops and wineries. The final leg of the route will take you south of the river through some beautiful, wooded areas to Linn. Want even more? From Linn, take Highway 50 into Jefferson City, the Show-Me State’s capital.
Hermann to St. Charles: Highway 94
Celebrate the fall season and Missouri’s German heritage as you sample wine, beer, spirits and wurst in Hermann and on the Hermann Wine Trail. Travel Highway 94, along the Missouri River, through several picturesque towns including Augusta. The region is home to dozens of wineries and bed and breakfasts. Visit historic St. Charles where you’ll find a riverside park and dozens of shops, restaurants and points of interest, including Missouri’s First State Capitol State Historic Site. Leave your car behind for a couple of hours for a hike or bike ride on the Katy Trail.
Find more fall beauty at Missouri State Parks and Conservation Areas.
