Amtrak Day Trips Around Missouri

The journey is part of the adventure when you take a trip in Missouri by train. Leave the driving to the crew while you sit back and enjoy the view from a modern passenger car or vintage dome, coach or dining car.

Missouri River Runner

Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner travels across the midsection of the state, paralleling the Missouri River part of the way. The rail route, bookended by the state’s two largest cities – Kansas City and St. Louis, stops in a series of bustling suburbs and charming small towns, including Independence, Lee’s Summit, Warrensburg, Sedalia, Jefferson City, Hermann, Washington and Kirkwood.

The route is great for a day trip or weekend getaway. Be sure to check Amtrak’s schedule for a full slate of departure and arrival times as you plan your rail-riding adventure.

See Missouri’s Statehouse

Hermann to Jefferson City (50-minute train trip)

A mid-morning train out of Hermann gets you to Jefferson City before lunch time, which is ideal, since no visit to Missouri’s capital is complete without filling your plate (well, multiple plates) at Arris’ Pizza.

Head to the statehouse to see the grand architecture and an extensive collection of artwork. The Hall of Famous Missourians honors accomplished men and women who have called Missouri home, including Mark Twain, George Washington Carver and Laura Ingalls Wilder. Explore the Missouri State Museum, featuring exhibits about the state’s history, natural resources and Civil War battles. Stroll through the Carnahan Memorial Gardens and past the Governor’s Mansion.

See the Soldiers Memorial Plaza at Lincoln University. Founded in 1866 by Black soldiers who fought in the Civil War, the university was one of the first historically Black colleges in the United States.

Take a tour of the Missouri State Penitentiary, once the oldest continuously operating prison west of the Missouri River. The massive facility house inmates for 168 years until it was decommissioned in 2004.

Make time for a classic banana split at Central Dairy, a Jefferson City tradition since the 1930s. Or sip a locally crafted drink at Prison Brews.

The train departs in the early evening and will have you back to Hermann in time for a late dinner – perfect after a day of pizza and ice cream.

A Tribute to Man’s Best Friend

Kansas City to Warrensburg (1 hour, 20-minute train trip)

The train leaves Kansas City shortly after 8:30 a.m., so you’ll have plenty of time in Warrensburg to learn about Old Drum and a 150-year-old court case that inspired the phrase, “A dog is a man’s best friend.” Visit the Johnson County Courthouse, where the case was heard, and the Old Drum Monument.

For lunch, try Fitter’s Pub for a pizza, sandwich or wrap on the patio when the weather is nice. Or savor a smash burger or tenderloin at Old Barney’s on the courthouse square.

Explore the creativity on display at the Gallery of Art and Design at the University of Central Missouri. Take time to enjoy the outdoors at Blind Boone Park.

Before boarding the train back to Kansas City, grab dinner at Heroes Restaurant & Pub. Order a classic burger or hand-cut steak with a side of homemade onion rings or freshly cut fries. Memorabilia featuring political, sports and movie heroes will keep you amused while you wait for your food.

Continue the canine theme the next day with a visit to Bar K Dog Bar, a combined restaurant, bar and dog park downtown. You don’t have be a dog owner to enjoy the lively atmosphere.  

Escape to Wine Country

St. Louis to Hermann (1 hour, 35-minute train trip)

A mid-morning arrival from St. Louis mean you’ll have almost a full day to experience the historic German settlement of Hermann. Make it a long weekend for more time to see all that the Missouri River town has to offer.

When you hop off the train, much of the town is just steps away. Find food and drink – including authentic German fare – at Tin Mill Brewery and the Hermann Wurst Haus, to name a few.

Venture a little farther from the station to learn about the region’s intriguing history at the Historic Hermann Museum and the Deutschheim State Historic Site. Then check out the abundant shops downtown.

Spend the night at a charming inn, such as Hermann Hill Vineyard Inn and Spa or Murphy’s Bed and Breakfast.

On day two, visit the Hermann Farm Museum to hear more about the area’s German heritage. More than 150 years of farming history is on display during a tractor-pulled wagon ride through the property.

Spend the afternoon sampling the vino along the Hermann Wine Trail. Go underground at Stone Hill Winery to see the arched stone wine cellars – the largest in the United States.

On day three, rent a bike and pedal a scenic stretch of Katy Trail State Park along the Missouri River. Then catch the late afternoon train back to St. Louis.

Explore a Storied President

Kansas City to Independence (20-minute train trip)

Take a short train ride into the past to discover Independence’s hometown hero at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum. Delve into the life of the only U.S. president born in the Show-Me State. Suddenly thrust into the office of the presidency following the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Truman help bring World War II to an end and desegregated the U.S. Armed Forces.

Learn about the role of Independence as the major “jumping-off point” for the American West at the National Frontier Trails Monument. The museum is an interpretive site for five national historic trails: the Lewis and Clark Trail, the Santa Fe, Oregon and California trails, and the Mormon trails. The monument features an award-winning film, exhibits highlighting the trails, covered wagons, trail diaries and artifacts, and a research library. 

Have a relaxing dinner at Vivalore, with a menu focused on modern American cuisine. If the weather’s nice, request a table in the flower-filled courtyard during the spring and summer months. Inside, you can peruse a collection of paintings, antiques and home décor. An evening train ride will have you pulling into Kansas City shortly before 9 p.m.

More Trips in Missouri by Train

You can see more of Missouri’s countryside on vintage trains that offer a variety of trips.

Branson Scenic Railway (1 hour, 45-minute train trip)

Travel the foothills of the Ozark Mountains aboard the Branson Scenic Railway, a historic Zephyr train. Ride in style aboard decades-old passenger cars, dome cars, a dining car and several coaches from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s The original railway was built in the early 1900s to travel through a rugged section of the Ozark wilderness.

The train departs from the historic depot in downtown Branson for a 40-mile round trip tour that will take you north to Galena or south across the state line into Arkansas. You’ll see lush green scenery during the spring and summer months and colorful fall foliage in late October and early November.

Take a daytime excursion from March through November. The narrated one hour, 45-minute ride carries passengers through tunnels, over trestles and past the ruins of long-ago rail-side communities. Experience the romance of train travel long ago on the evening dinner train from April through October. The rail line sets the stage with white tablecloths and china for a romantic three-course candlelight meal while you travel through the Ozark landscape.

St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway (2-hour train trip)

Head to the Whistle Stop Depot in Jackson for a two-hour ride through rolling farmland in southeast Missouri. The St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway is a travelling history museum with cars dating back to 1926.

The railway has mastered pairing entertainment with a scenic train ride. Themed events vary throughout the year, but one popular choice is the James Gang Robbery Train. Other themes include a murder mystery dinner theater ride, a chuckwaggon dinner ride and a haunted train ride accompanied by fortune tellers, ghost stories and fun around a bonfire when you reach Iron Mountain Village.

Operated by a nonprofit organization, the railway is run entirely by a crew of trained volunteers. Train rides are available April through December.

Belton, Grandview and Kansas City Railroad Co. (45-minute train trip)

Step back in time on a ride in a 1920s passenger car or an open excursion car on the Belton, Grandview and Kansas City Railroad Co. The short-line passenger railroad and demonstration museum in Belton offers 45-minute trips just outside Kansas City. The train takes you through Old Towne Belton and the surrounding area.

Tour the train yard for an up-close look at freight cars, a club car, an instruction car, maintenance equipment and steam locomotives. Stop by the baggage car gift shop and talk to the train crew.

Train rides are offered May through October. The all-volunteer crew operates the non-profit railway dedicated to preserving train travel and railroad history.

Holiday Train Trips

Trains have long had a nostalgic connection to Christmas. Several Missouri trains carry on that tradition with special rides during the holiday season. Be sure to plan ahead as these train rides often sell out long before the holidays arrive.

The Polar Express Train Ride – St. Louis Union Station (1-hour train trip)

Beautifully decorated trains take passengers on The Polar Express Train Ride from St. Louis Union Station Train Park to the “North Pole.” Set to “The Polar Express” movie soundtrack, the experience includes characters from the popular Christmas tale. Chefs serve hot chocolate and cookies while the story is read aloud. Santa Claus boards the train at the North Pole and visits with every boy and girl to give them the magical gift of Christmas.

The Polar Express – Branson Scenic Railway (1 hour, 15-minute train trip)

Embark on a trip from the Branson Depot to the “North Pole” on The Polar Express. The beloved holiday story is read to the passengers while chefs serve hot chocolate and cookies. At the North Pole, Santa climbs aboard the train to deliver a special gift to every child.

The Santa Express – St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern Railway (2-hour train trip)

Enjoy the antics of the St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern Railway crew as their special guests attempt to land Santa on the moving train to visit with the passengers. The magical ride includes games, songs and plenty of holiday fun.