Kansas City to Eureka Springs, Arkansas:
From KCMO area take 71 south to Carthage (NOT the good part, except you can really open up and push the speedo if you are into that). Once in Carthage you can stop to see the Precious Moments Chapel (if you enjoy that). Plenty of billboards to guide you. Just south of Carthage take the I-44 East exit. Go about 9 miles and take exit 26 for Sarcoxie (MO HWY 37). Turn right at the bottom of the exit. Off the exit, ride up a short hill and turn left at the stop sign. Ride into town and turn right again at the first stop sign you come to. 37 highway is a lightly travelled road and has some nice views of fields. You'll come to the town of Pierce City. Following 37 South takes you to Monett and then on South to Cassville. The roads get fun. Take the first left you can into Cassville and ride through the main street to Highway 112. Head South on 112 up and out of town. Along the way you'll pass a turn for Highwy 76, the same as "County Blvd" that goes through Branson. Follow 76 from here all the way to Branson. Pretty ride that takes you through the Mark Twain National Forest. Stay on 112 you'll hit some nice curves and hills and come down into Roaring River State Park. Worth a stop. It is the head of the Roaring River and you can visit the spring that creates the river as well as a good-sized hatchery.RECOMMENDATION: Make a reservation to stay in one of Roaring River's cabins, the lodge motel, or use the camping facilities and do your riding from there. You're only about 30 minutes from Eureka Springs, and hour from Branson, and it's just a beautiful place to walk the trails and river banks. If you are there on a Sunday, make sure to stop over at the lodge restaraunt. The brunch buffet is fantastic and reasonably priced. The atmosphere and view are wonderful. BACK TO THE ROUTE: 112 enters the Roaring River area at the bottom of a steep hill. Turn right and come to a "Y" in the road. Head down the left road and you'll go back out of the park. This a great up-and-down road. At the intersection for 86 hwy, turn right, head through the town of Eagle Rock. Table Rock lake is hear and there is boat rental, a couple of decent resort-style hotels and a campground with a swimming beach. A few miles beyond Eagle Rock is highway UU, turn right here. At the state line UU turns into Arkansas Hwy 23. This road is wonderful with lots of curves, hills, and great Ozark Mountain views. 23 takes you into the North side of Eureka Springs and directly up to the main street through town. It's a winding uphill road that loops out to US 62. In Eureka Springs there is much to see. Shops, homes, and views. There are several leather shops in town and lots of art studios. Head out 62 East and visit the site of the Great Passion Play. The Christ of the Rockies monument is there and has a nice view over the top of the city you can stick around for the show in the evening. 62 West is a windy road with several tight switch-back curves. It's fun, but can be heavily travelled on weekends by the gentry in their 45ft motorhomes doing 15mph. Ride early out 62 West to Beaver Lake, the Eureka Springs Botanical Gardens, and Thorncrown Chapel. Lots of great roads in and around Eureka Springs and a fun place to visit. It's one of the favorites.
Kansas City to Weston, MO:
Take Hwy 45 North out KC which is exit 5 off I-29. Head North to Beverly and then stay on 45 North up to Weston. Nice shops and some good restaruants. Visit the McCormick Distillary as the tour is decent. Lots of bike groups will make this ride. Continue up 45 and turn West on 116 and head over to Atchison, KS. Road is pretty and has some nice bluff views.
33Hwy / J Hwy KC area North to Cameron Loop:
Take the Hwy 69 exit off I-35, go just a bit east and take the left at the light to head North on MO 33 Hwy. This is a nice short ride up to Kearney, which has some nice shops around it's downtown area if you're riding with a lady that likes to stop regularly (I never come home with empty saddle bags...sigh). Stay on 33 and head North up to Lathrop. At this point 33, for some odd reason, becomes "A" Hwy but it's pretty obvious where this happens. Take A on up to Cameron and then head east on 36 until J Hwy. Go right (South) and J is a nice road with some good hills and long several straightaways that takes you back down to Woods Heights. Catch 10 Hwy and west to Excelsior Springs (another stop in the downtown area and to take a walk through the Elms Hotel). There's an excellent barbeque restaurant on the west side of the Elms for a late lunch. The dining area is small and often packed, so go over to the bar side where you can still get full menu. 10 Hwy West connects back up with 69 Hwy on the West side of Excelsior and you can head back home from there. Take H Hwy and head South. It's a nice road that takes you back into Liberty just a bit South of where you were anyway. "H" can be found at the hilltop intersection where 10 heads downhill into the downtown Excelsior Springs area.
Blue Springs - Higginsville - Lexington:
North of Blue Springs on 7 Hwy catch FF heading East. Enjoyable ride with lots of rolling hills and good straights to let you crank the throttle. At Buckner-Tarsney road, head to your right and you pick up FF heading East again in less than 1/5 a mile. FFheads out enters Higginsville and intersects with 13 Hwy. Take 13 North to Lexingtonand catch 224 West and ride through Wellington and Napoleon. 224 to 24.
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Topic: Kansas City to Eureka Springs, Arkansas (Read 1871 times)