8 Scenic Missouri Drives With Plenty of Comfortable Places to Stop

Fall color doesn’t last forever, so a weekend drive is one of the best ways to catch it.

Some Missouri routes come with more than a view, like a spot to stretch your legs or grab a sweet treat.

Here are the scenic drives where Missourians can count on a good place to stop.

1. Highway 79

Highway 79 follows the Mississippi River from Hannibal toward St. Louis.

The tourism office’s road trip guide says the route is awash with golds and reds in fall.

Fall color starts in the northern part of the state and moves south, reaching its peak in mid to late October.

Lover’s Leap sits atop a bluff on Hannibal’s south edge, directly off Highway 79, with a shelter, a barbecue grill and benches.

The panoramic view takes in the town, the Mississippi River and miles of Illinois beyond.

Riverview Park in Hannibal covers 465 acres of forest, with trails and views of the Mississippi.

The park also has restrooms and two rentable shelters.

The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum says it’s open year-round, seven days a week, except on major holidays.

If you keep driving south, MoDOT lists the Pike County stretch as the Little Dixie Highway of the Great River Road, one of its Missouri byways.

In the town of Louisiana, you can walk along the bank of the Mississippi.

Farther along is Clarksville, which the guide calls the eagle-viewing capital of the United States, according to the World Bird Sanctuary.

Those eagles are a winter sight, so save that stop for a later trip.

2. Highway 94

Between St. Charles and Jefferson City, Highway 94 follows the Missouri River for about 115 miles.

Frontier Park in St. Charles has benches that face the water.

The First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site, also in St. Charles, says admission is free to its interpretive center.

Farther west, you’ll find miles of natural-surface and paved trails at Klondike Park in Augusta.

The Katy Trail’s Augusta trailhead also has a restroom and parking.

Augusta also has bed-and-breakfasts and guest cottages.

The tourism office’s fall drives page lists Hermann on its Highway 94 route, a stop for Missouri’s German heritage and its wine, beer, spirits and wurst.

Jefferson City closes out the drive with the Ellis-Porter Riverside Overlook and the Missouri State Museum.

3. Highway 21

The tourism office’s Highway 21 drive stops in Caledonia, a national historic district with restaurants, shops and an Old Village Mercantile that sells homemade ice cream.

Eat dessert first.

The route also takes you past Elephant Rocks, Taum Sauk Mountain and Johnson’s Shut-Ins state parks.

Elephant Rocks State Park has an easy way to see the granite boulders, a Braille Trail built for visitors with visual and physical disabilities.

The park’s picnic tables are scattered among the trees.

Taum Sauk Mountain State Park has the highest point in the state, a picnic area and a 12-site campground.

Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park offers camper cabins and housekeeping cabins.

4. Highway 19

Highway 19 passes through Ozark National Scenic Riverways and parts of Mark Twain National Forest.

From Eminence, drive about six miles west to Alley Spring.

The Alley Spring mill, built in 1894, is said to be one of the most photographed in the world, according to the National Park Service.

The Alley Spring Mill & Store is seasonal, open most days from Memorial Day through October 31.

Echo Bluff State Park is about 20 minutes north of Eminence.

It has a lodge with guest rooms, a Creekside Grill and nine full-service cabins.

Check the park’s page for current fire restrictions before you plan a campfire.

Back in Eminence, you’ll find a motel, cottages and family restaurants.

5. Lake of the Ozarks Loop

Versailles is where the tourism office starts its Lake of the Ozarks Loop, which heads down Highway 5.

You'll cross the water at the Hurricane Deck and Niangua bridges, where fall color is especially vivid along the shoreline.

Ha Ha Tonka State Park, in Camdenton, has the ruins of a turn-of-the-century stone castle, plus trails and boardwalks.

The park also has picnic sites and shelters.

Lake of the Ozarks State Park in Brumley has the Ozark Caverns Visitor Center and year-round lodging, including campsites, Outpost cabins and yurts.

The loop also passes Osage Beach and Eldon.

6. Table Rock Lake Loop

The tourism office's Table Rock Lake Loop winds around Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo through Branson, Hollister and Kimberling City.

Table Rock State Park in Branson has a marina and six premium yurts along the shoreline.

Before you drive, check the Missouri Department of Conservation's fall color page.

Its October 1, 2026 report listed the Southwest region as not started and expected a short, muted season, which it called fairly normal for the area.

It also cited drought stress and early leaf drop.

The loop's itinerary adds the Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area, a 1,534-acre hiking area in Branson.

Lake Taneycomo is also a fly-fishing destination.

7. Highway 100

Between Washington and Linn, Highway 100 takes you from one river town to the next along the Missouri River.

The tourism office calls the views of fall color along the river breathtaking.

Washington's tourism site describes a river town less than an hour's drive from St. Louis, with a charming downtown district.

Rennick Riverfront Park in Washington sits one block from downtown and has restrooms, picnic areas and riverfront benches.

Missouri Meerschaum Company in Washington is the largest and oldest manufacturer of corn cob pipes in the world, the tourism office says.

The company's museum covers the history of corn cob pipes.

New Haven's tourism site lists wineries, bed-and-breakfasts, shops, a distillery and a brewery.

8. Historic Route 66

Historic Route 66 crosses the state from St. Louis to Joplin.

Missouri designated it a state scenic byway in 2010.

Route 66 State Park in Eureka puts its visitor center in the former Bridgehead Inn, a 1935 roadhouse that sat on the original road.

The park also has hiking trails and picnic shelters.

The National Park Service helped pay to restore the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba and the Boots Court Motel in Carthage.

The tourism office's Route 66 page also lists St. Robert's Neon Park, which shows restored vintage neon signs from along the road.

In Carthage, you'll find the 66 Drive-In Theatre, one of the last operating drive-in theaters in the country.