Missouri River wine country

Route description

From St. Louis, head west on I-64 and then follow MO-94 along the Missouri River. Augusta was named the first American Viticultural Area in 1980, and wineries sit on the hills above the river valley. The Katy Trail, a rail trail for cycling, runs alongside the road.

MO-94 winds west along the river bluffs to Hermann, a town founded by German immigrants, with brick houses, wineries and a strong German heritage. The town holds festivals in spring and October, when it gets very busy. The Amtrak train between St. Louis and Kansas City stops here, which is useful for wine tasting without driving.

From Hermann, MO-19 heads south through the Ozark hills to Rolla on historic Route 66, home of the Missouri University of Science and Technology. MO-94 is narrow and hilly with few shoulders, so drive carefully in a large vehicle. October weekends are busy, and campgrounds along the Katy Trail and river should be booked ahead.