Missouri is the crossroads of the American heartland, where the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers converge and eastern woodlands give way to western plains. From the gleaming Gateway Arch in St. Louis to the Ozark Mountains' ancient caves and the world-class barbecue pits of Kansas City, Missouri packs an extraordinary range of landscapes, history, and culture into a single state.
Missouri's geography requires a car for most travel outside of St. Louis and Kansas City downtowns. The state is bisected east-west by I-70 (connecting St. Louis and Kansas City, 250 miles apart). St. Louis has the MetroLink light rail network; Kansas City has the KC Streetcar (free, 2.2-mile downtown loop). Amtrak's Missouri River Runner connects both cities twice daily. Rural areas — including the Ozarks, Branson, and Lake of the Ozarks — are car-only destinations. Missouri has no state fuel tax higher than neighboring states; gas prices are typically $0.10–0.20/gallon below national average.
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
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