5 Rides You Can’t Miss in Missouri

Forest-covered hills, rushing streams and rivers, and twisty undulating roads await you in the Ozarks of Missouri. Within this green landscape are hidden many unforgettable motorcycle adventures in a picturesque setting.

Your greatest challenge in heading to the Missouri Ozarks is deciding where to ride. The area is covered in squiggly, fun-to-ride backroads, many of which take you to can’t-miss locations.

To make sure you’ll spend more time riding than staring at the map, we’ve put together our recommendations for the five top rides in the Missouri Ozarks and the surrounding areas.

Route 66

The king of the roads in Missouri (and anywhere else it runs through) is Route 66. Running from St. Louis to Joplin over more than 300 miles, the Mother Road is your path to the ultimate road trip in the Show-Me State.

There’s much to see and do over those many miles. Just to name a couple of highlights, you’ll motor through Springfield, where the concept of Route 66 was born, and Uranus, an irreverent and juvenile but very fun roadside stop.

However, Route 66 also skirts the northern edge of the Mark Twain National Forest. While you’ll see beautiful woods and get glimpses of the rolling foothills from the Mother Road, it’s worth popping off for a side trip into the Ozarks. You can easily get on SR 19, which carries you to virtually all the other excellent rides through this green gem of a region.

For more details, read our highlight of Route 66 in Missouri.

SR 19

Branching off the Mother Road in Cuba, SR 19 carries you into the Ozarks’ forests and hills. Although the road these days continues farther north (and is a splendid ride), SR 19’s original route—which you can still ride today—stretched south from Cuba for 140 miles.

This ride through Missouri’s southern environs is something every rider should experience. SR 19’s 55-mile jaunt between Salem and Winona thrills grizzled motorcycle veterans with twists and turns. However, it’s still manageable enough for beginners to enjoy as well, and the northern section consists of relaxed riding through pretty countryside.

You’ll also pass plenty of natural beauty spots along the way. Echo Bluff State Park has opportunities for hiking, swimming, fishing, camping, and more within marvelous scenery. At the Round Spring Cave, you can admire both underground rock formations and the intensely blue, circular pool.

For more in-depth details, read our SR 19 Classic Roads article.

SR 49

SR 49 runs through the Missouri Ozarks on a northwest-southeast trajectory from Cherryville to US 67. Or, well, that’s the general direction anyway. In reality, this two-lane snake slithers and twists its way hither and thither, offering one hoot of a ride in astounding scenery.

Over its 116 miles, the road throws an endless stream of curves and elevation changes at you as you navigate your way through the rugged woods. You’ll climb to high bluffs with gorgeous views, zip along peaceful riversides, and plow through what feel like green tree-covered tunnels.

Going at the speed limit, the ride takes about 2.5 hours, but reserve more time as you’ll want to stop at the many fascinating sites on the way. A small detour to SR 21 takes you to Elephant Rocks State Park with enormous granite boulders that bear the carved names of 19th-century miners.

You should also stop at Johnson’s Shut-ins, a pretty spot on the Shut-in Creek where the water flows through a ragged, rocky area. At the southern end of the road, there are many conservation areas, like Graves Mountain, Riverside, Hammer Memorial, and University Forest. And if hunger starts rumbling in your stomach, don’t miss lunch at the Bixby Country Store. 

SR 76

If you’re up for an all-day ride, you should hit SR 76. This 210-mile route traverses Missouri horizontally (or west to east if you’re not looking at a flat map) from Tiff City on the Oklahoma border to Willow Springs in the Ozarks.

As with every route we’re highlighting, SR 76 has in store jaw-dropping views of southern Missouri. If anything, it might have even more top-notch scenery than others, as it covers more area. Wooded hills, burbling rivers, and calming farm fields all line the road.

With everything you’ll encounter over such a long ride, you might want to turn your SR 76 trip into a multi-day adventure. We couldn’t possibly list every last sight, but some highlights include the Table Rock State Park with Table Rock Lake, the historical Topaz Mill, and the scenic overlooks of Bryant Creek State Park.

SR 106/SR 17

In addition to the hills and mountains, the Missouri Ozarks are famous for the rivers. To explore the lush riverside environs, there’s no better option than putting your wheels on SR 106 and SR 17.

Running for 70 miles between Houston in the west and Ellington in the east, this route follows and passes both the Jacks Fork and Current rivers. These major water routes form the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the first national park area covering a river system. That designation should tell you that beautiful water vistas await you on this ride.

Swimming, canoeing, and fishing are all available at the various parks and sites along the way, such as the Current River Conservation Area. If you’d just like to appreciate the views (and stretch your legs for a bit while you’re at it), visit the Alley and Powder Mill springs.

For more information, go to www.VisitMO.com You can also find more travel inspiration in RoadRUNNER’s Missouri category.