Missouri is a big, beautiful state. Would you like to know our pick for one great way to take in natural views? Get in the car and go for a drive on some scenic drives in Missouri. You'll want to get off the major highways and roadways because these beautiful Missouri scenic byways provide some of the best scenery our state has to offer. Check out some of the best driving roads in Missouri:
1. Blue Buck Knob Scenic Byway
This beautiful byway, which stretches 25 miles between Cabool and Route 14, meanders through the gorgeous woods of Mark Twain National Forest in Ozark Hill Country. You'll want to plan plenty of time to stop and explore the route's scenic overlooks, gurgling streams, and picturesque farmland.
2. Cliff Drive
This is one of Missouri's only urban scenic byways. Cutting through Kansas City, the 4.5-mile route goes through attractive Kessler Park. Gaze at limestone bluffs and forests overlooking the Missouri River bottom. See what it’s like to drive along this urban scenic byway:
3. Crowley's Ridge Parkway
Although this lovely scenic byway is mostly in Arkansas, the 212-mile trip starts in the southeastern corner of Missouri. The route along dramatic Crowley's Ridge is particularly beautiful in spring when wildflowers dot the road. Along the way, see forests, farmland, historic buildings, battlefields, and orchards. Missouri sites include Malden's Historical Museum and Bootheel Youth Museum.
4. Glade Top Trail
This gorgeous 23-mile drive is the state's only National Forest Scenic Byway; it includes the Mark Twain National Forest and the Hercules Glades Wilderness Area. Be sure to stop at the route's multiple overlook pull-outs to see jaw-dropping panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Get a closer look at this beautiful area in Missouri:
5. Historic Route 66 Byway
Take a trip on Route 66. This historic byway, which stretches around 300 miles, goes from St. Louis on the east to Joplin on the west. Along the way, drop in on antique shops, service stations, and old-school diners. Notable stops along the way include Cuba's Totem Pole Trading Post, supposedly the oldest original business along Missouri's stretch of Route 66, and The Elbow Inn in Devil's Elbow. Take a look at some of the amazing attractions on Route 66 in Missouri:
6. Little Dixie Highway
Drive along the mighty Mississippi. This beautiful scenic byway, part of the Great River Road, takes travelers from MO 79 at the Ralls-Pike County line to just south of Hannibal. The 29-mile route includes tons for history buffs, including, of course, the Mark Twain sites in Hannibal.
7. Old Trails Road
Travel down Route 224 from Lexington to Napoleon for a scenic byway packed with history, fun, cultural sites, and natural beauty. The 15-mile route, which follows the Missouri River, is the same one once used by Native Americans, fur traders, explorers, pioneers and other notable historical figures. You'll see everything from beautiful bluffs overlooking the Missouri River Basin to quaint small towns.
Have you taken a drive on any of these scenic drives in Missouri? Which of Missouri's scenic byways is your favorite? Let us know about it in the comments. When autumn comes, make sure to take a road trip to see some of the most beautiful roads to drive in the fall in Missouri.
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