10 Of The Most Captivating Small Towns In Missouri
Often called the Show Me State, Missouri has many captivating places to show visitors. While Missouri’s largest cities, Kansas City and St. Louis, have many of their own wonderful features, there is much more of the state out there that you can only really experience once you head out to the countryside. From lazy days by the river to deep dives into American history, you can be as active or as laid back as you want in this warm and welcoming "Mother of the West."
Whether you want a great escape to a relaxing lake, you are up for an epic excursion high in the Ozarks, or you crave entertainment at some of the nation’s most storied theaters and dinner show venues, you can find small towns in Missouri with immense natural beauty, festive flair, and cozy small-town spirit. So, take a closer look at ten of the most captivating small towns in Missouri.
Hermann
Wine country… in Missouri?! Yes, you will find working wineries in this Missouri Rhineland village about 80 miles west of St. Louis. Begin your journey at Stone Hill Winery, Missouri’s oldest and most awarded winery, doing lesser-known varietals like Vignoles and Norton alongside more familiar wines like Moscato and Port. For a truly delectable throwback, head to the United States’ oldest continuous family farm winery at Adam Puchta Winery for authentic Missouri wines that have been made here since 1855.
Beyond the vineyards, you can also step out and explore Hermann's many beautiful parks, such as Katy Trail State Park, the nation’s longest-developed rail trail. You can also go to Graham Cave State Park, which is full of fascinating caves (such as the namesake Graham Cave) that provided shelter to Indigenous communities some 8,000 to 12,000 years ago. Whenever you are ready to call it a day, turn in for the night at the Wharf Street Riverfront Inn for a relaxing boutique hotel with lovely Missouri River views.
Parkville
Parkville may only be 10 miles northwest of Kansas City, yet this town looks and feels far less like a typical suburb and much more like a charming small town with great expanses of pristine country lands. More specifically, this town is home to Platte Landing Park, a vast 140-acre stretch of open space with a nature sanctuary, two off-leash dog parks (one for small dogs and one for large dogs), and a boat ramp that connects to the Missouri River. Right next to Platte Landing Park, you will find English Landing Park, a 68-acre preserve with three miles of walking trails, three beach volleyball courts, three baseball fields, two stages, and ample picnic spaces.
In addition to its vast parks, Parkville also has a quaint and cozy downtown where you will find a variety of local businesses, from one of Missouri’s premier music schools and independent guitar boutiques at Bentley Guitar Studios to authentic small-batch coffee at Parkville Coffee. Once you are done exploring around town, enjoy a cozy stay at a real historic home (built in 1885) at the Main Street Inn. For those traveling, Parkville is conveniently only 12 miles south of Kansas City International Airport (MCI).
Boonville
Located about 26 miles west of Columbia (and about 147 miles west of St. Louis and 104 miles east of Kansas City), Boonville has a deep and fascinating backstory. The sons of the famed frontiersman Daniel Boone settled and named it in the early 19th century, and it later prospered as a key stop on the Santa Fe Trail. During the Civil War, Boonville became an early battleground due to the presence of the railroad. Today, you can visit the Rivers, Rails, and Trails Museum to learn more about Boonville’s remarkable history, and from there, you can stroll over to the Mitchell Antique Motorcar Museum for a vast collection of antique cars dating from as far back as 1904.
For a different side of local living history, head to Warm Springs Ranch to visit over 70 of the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses who have lived at this state-of-the-art breeding facility since 2008. If you want to stay the night at another local historic landmark, check into the Hotel Frederick, which has operated in the town since 1905. Or, if you crave more contemporary excitement, try your luck at the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel and its 29,000-square-foot gaming area full of slots and table games.
Rocheport
Originally founded as a trading post in 1825, the town of Rocheport has not only managed to preserve its quaint charm over the past two centuries, but this town in the heart of the Show Me State (about 116 miles east of Kansas City and 136 miles west of St. Louis) still has a glowing heart of gold. Come for the Katy Trail, which is the United States’ longest developed rail trail at 240 miles. This trailblazing state park first launched in Rocheport in 1990, and it continues to welcome hikers, bikers, and horseback riders to explore more of the region’s scenic backcountry.
If you are curious to learn more about the local history, head to the Friends of Rocheport Museum and see how this town has long functioned as a critical meeting point. For a taste of Rocheport’s more refined viticultural heritage, check out The Blufftop at Rocheport, its impressive collection of local wines, and the riverfront A-Frame Winegarden restaurant. Whenever you are ready to turn in for the night, you can opt for a cozy and posh stay at The Amber House Bed and Breakfast, or you can enjoy epic Missouri River views and authentic country charm at The Bluff House Bed and Breakfast.
Hannibal
You may have heard about Hannibal and its extraordinary literary heritage. But if you really want to step into the setting that inspired Mark Twain’s classic novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), you have to come and experience this uniquely American hometown (about 116 miles northwest of St. Louis) for itself. At the Mark Twain Birthplace and Historic Site and the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, you can enjoy fully immersive deep dives into the world in which Mark Twain grew up and where he drew inspiration for many of his stories that are still read, loved, and cherished the world over. And if you are up for a Twain-style adventure on open water, book a Mississippi River cruise on the Mark Twain Riverboat.
For a deeper perspective on local and American history, go to Jim’s Journey: The Huck Finn Freedom Center to learn about how Northeast Missouri’s Black communities inspired Twain’s writings and made Hannibal into the town it is today. Meanwhile, for an intimate view of Hannibal’s contemporary art scene, head to Ol' Blue Gallery, where you can find plenty of works from current local artists, and book a stay at the attached guesthouse. Or, for a more stately stay, try the Garth Woodside Mansion, a Victorian estate where Mark Twain himself occasionally spent the night.
Weston
About 32 miles northwest of Kansas City along the banks of the Missouri River, you will find the lovely village of Weston. Once the United States’ westernmost settlement (hence its name), you can still see some of Weston as Lewis and Clark saw it (during their 1804 expedition) at Weston Bend State Park, which now has a three-mile paved trail, vast expanses of pristine riverside forest, and seasonal campgrounds. For another glimpse into Weston’s past, go to the Weston Historical Museum and peruse its fascinating collection that includes everything from Native American moccasins to vintage medical instruments.
For even more local history that you can sip and savor, go to the Weston Brewing Company complex, which includes the historic beer brewery that’s operated in the town since 1842 and the O’Malley’s 1842 Pub that sits in the brewery’s limestone cellars. For additional adventures, head out to the Riverwood Winery and Whiskey Bar to sample more local libations and culinary creations. During winter, you can even go skiing and tubing at the nearby Snow Creek Resort. Whenever you are done exploring the area, you can settle into a comfy stay at The St. George Hotel or The Inn at Weston Landing.
Washington
There may be other cities and towns that bear the name of Washington, but none is quite like Washington in Missouri (about 50 miles west of St. Louis). Once known as the "Corn Cob Pipe Capital of the World," you can experience over 150 years of tobacco pipe-making history at the Missouri Meerschaum Corn Cob Pipe Company Museum, plus you can shop for some very neat swag. For a more family-friendly throwback adventure, head to the Iron Spike Model Train Museum, which has a vast collection of working model trains and an extensive in-house resource library.
When you are in the mood to explore more outside, head to Riverfront Park for the Washington Bikeway Rotary Riverfront Trail and two boat docks with Missouri River access. And once it’s time to kick back and enjoy a lazy day and/or evening, it’s hard to beat the charming Beekeeper’s Cottage that’s welcomed guests for well over a century, or you can try the 2nd Street Loft for a cozy and romantic getaway in the heart of town.
Branson
Nestled in the Ozark Mountains near the Arkansas state line (about 85 miles northeast of Bentonville and 210 miles southeast of Kansas City), Branson has long served as the region’s premier live entertainment destination. From the Mabe family’s Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers, that’s staged country music and comedy variety shows for over 65 years, to the elaborate productions and tasty multi-course meals served at dinner theaters like the Hughes Brothers Theatre and Dolly Parton’s Stampede, you have plenty of options for exciting live shows.
Beyond the glitzy theaters, you can find even more exhilarating activities in and around Branson. With over 40 rides and attractions, the 1880s-style Silver Dollar City theme park offers a whole lot of fun for the whole family. For more natural thrills, head to Table Rock Lake for multiple beaches and swimming areas, the State Park and Indian Point marinas to launch boats, and a cool collection of cabins for the ultimate lakeside retreat. In addition, you can opt for a stay at the Village at Indian Point, a grand lakeside resort that has everything from a year-round heated pool complex to a fully-stocked game room, nearby fishing holes, and a full-service meeting room and conference center.
Farmington
Situated about 72 miles south of St. Louis, Farmington sits at the northern edge of the Ozarks, making this town a prime destination for outdoor adventures. St. Joe State Park is the closest Missouri state park to Farmington, and it features four lakes, two swimming beaches, multiple hike-bike trails and equestrian routes, and two designated campgrounds. Meanwhile, at Elephant Rocks State Park, you can explore an array of massive boulders made from 1.5 billion-year-old granite, and at Hawn State Park, you can wander the pine-oak forest and enjoy great birdwatching to spot species like Canada geese, northern bobwhites, ruby-throated hummingbirds, and great blue herons.
For a more laid-back day outside, try the Crown Pointe Golf Club for 18 holes and par 72 links of golf full of beautifully challenging obstacles like rolling hills and ponds. You can also hit Farmington Skate Park for the region’s largest outdoor concrete course designed for in-line skating, skateboarding, and BMX biking. After a long day exploring around town, settle down for the evening at the Crown Pointe Lodge by the golf club.
Rolla
Located along the I-44 highway about 105 miles southwest of St. Louis, Rolla is chock full of historic treasures and timeless small-town charm. Head to the Dillon Log House Museum to see the original 1838 log house, the 1860 limestone block county jail, and the 1861 county courthouse. For a different side of history, check out the Ed Clark Museum of Missouri Geology to learn more about the state’s rich geological backstory (including a meteorite and mammoth fossils), and stop at the US Geological Survey National Geospatial Technical Operations Center (NGTOC) to see the role Rolla plays in developing The National Map.
When you feel like stretching out and enjoying the simple pleasures of nature, head to the Audubon Trails Nature Center for over 70 acres of diverse and well-preserved riparian habitat, and try Ber Juan Park for over 84 acres of open grassland, paved walking trails, various sports fields, and even a fishing lake. Once you are ready to kick back and relax, check into a comfy stay at the Baymont by Wyndham Rolla for homestyle amenities, free breakfast, and an on-site swimming pool.
The Show Me State Really Has a Lot to Show You
Though Kansas City and St. Louis may be Missouri’s largest and most famous cities, the Show Me State has much more to show beyond the big cities’ bright lights and bustling streets. From the natural paradise of Farmington to the storybook charm of Hannibal, it’s easy for you to write your own story full of great adventures in Missouri’s most captivating small towns. Regardless of whether you prefer active days on the rail trail in Rocheport or an easy-breezy journey through Hermann’s legendary wineries, these Missouri towns can keep you as busy or calm as you please.
