Day trips · St. Louis · United States
6 best day trips from St. Louis
Where to go when you want a day away from St. Louis, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: David Hinkson, http://www.trailnet.org/, Public domain
Quick answer
The classic day trip from St. Louis is Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (About 20 minutes). The closest option is Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, about 15 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 6
- Closest
- Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (15 km)
- Most popular
- Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site | 15 km | About 20 minutes | Car | Culture, Families, Quiet stays |
| St. Charles | 35 km | About 30 minutes | Car | Couples, Families, Shopping |
| Augusta wine country | 65 km | About 1 hour | Car | Couples, Food lovers, Quiet stays |
| Hermann | 130 km | About 1.5 hours | Car or Amtrak Missouri River Runner | Couples, Food lovers, Culture |
| Grafton and the Great River Road | 70 km | About 1 hour | Car | Couples, Families, Quiet stays |
| Hannibal | 190 km | About 2 hours | Car | Families, Culture |
The day trips
15 km · About 20 minutes
1.Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
Across the river in Illinois, Cahokia was the largest pre-Columbian city north of Mexico, peaking around 1100 CE. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it preserves dozens of earthen mounds, including Monks Mound, which you can climb for views back to the St. Louis skyline.
- Getting there
- Car
- Best for
- Culture, Families, Quiet stays
35 km · About 30 minutes
2.St. Charles
Missouri's first state capital has a cobblestone Main Street of 19th-century buildings with shops and restaurants on the Missouri River. Lewis and Clark set off from here in 1804, and the Katy Trail starts nearby.
- Getting there
- Car
- Best for
- Couples, Families, Shopping
65 km · About 1 hour
3.Augusta wine country
Augusta, in the Missouri River valley, became the first federally recognised American Viticultural Area in 1980. Wineries with terraces overlook the valley, and the Katy Trail bike path runs along the river below.
- Getting there
- Car
- Best for
- Couples, Food lovers, Quiet stays
130 km · About 1.5 hours
4.Hermann
A German-heritage river town with brick buildings, wineries and breweries, Hermann is especially busy during autumn wine festivals. It is one of the few day trips easily reached by train from St. Louis.
- Getting there
- Car or Amtrak Missouri River Runner
- Best for
- Couples, Food lovers, Culture
70 km · About 1 hour
5.Grafton and the Great River Road
North of St. Louis, the Great River Road follows limestone bluffs along the Mississippi past Alton to Grafton, where the Illinois River joins it. Pere Marquette State Park has hiking and views, and bald eagles winter here.
- Getting there
- Car
- Best for
- Couples, Families, Quiet stays
190 km · About 2 hours
6.Hannibal
Mark Twain's boyhood town on the Mississippi has his restored home, the white picket fence of Tom Sawyer fame and the cave that inspired scenes in his novels.
- Getting there
- Car
- Best for
- Families, Culture
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- MetroBus routes cover the city and county, useful for South Grand and The Hill.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from St. Louis?
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. Across the river in Illinois, Cahokia was the largest pre-Columbian city north of Mexico, peaking around 1100 CE.
+How long does it take to get from St. Louis to Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site?
About 20 minutes — Car, about 15 km.
+How long does it take to get from St. Louis to St. Charles?
About 30 minutes — Car, about 35 km.