>>1831375I manage a hotel at one end of the trail. It doesn't matter what end you will start at you will die if you try to do this in one day.
You can easily do the trail in 2 or 3 days. It's an old RR line so none of the grades are going to be over 3%.
The problem is that aside from having a two day break in the weather we have had multiple days of 95 degrees plus 60% humidity.
The trail is much, much more fun to wake up at 6am hit the bike, finish up @ 4pm or so and be checked into your hotel along the way.
First, the Katy trail has been extended to KC. So your terminus is no longer Clinton, MO but Arrowhead Stadium home of the Chiefs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_DPWJy4xcU"River towns" in missouri are cities and towns that were founded in the 1820s and 1830s rather than post civil war. Those are the most historical and the ones you will generally want to stay in.
If I had to pick I'd go KC->sedalia and stay at the Hotel Bothwell my friend runs it. Pretty old historic hotel on the square.
Then Sedalia->Jefferson City
(Jeff City is one of the prettiest state capitols in the nation)
then Jeff City -> Hermann
then Hermann -> Chesterfield
and Chesterfield -> STL
You'll want to spend evenings having a few beers in these places they've turned into cycling bro tourist places I have to admit it's pretty cool.
I'd say be on your bike at 6am every day. take a mid-day break in the AC somewhere. Don't try to camp or do anything fucking stupid. This is central missouri and the historic hotels and posh things added on are what support the trails. So please support the towns that you pass through. It took heaven and earth to convince a red state that thinks bikes are toys to have a rail-trail.
Oh and if you want to adjust your route Hermann is skippable. It's kinda a tourist trap for couples. Don't miss Sedalia and their historic RR homes, Jeff City is a don't miss.
