Missouri River Runner With Kids: A Trip Plan for Every Stop
The Missouri River Runner starts inside a science museum. Kansas City's Union Station has Science City, a planetarium and a model railroad under the same roof as the Amtrak waiting room, and from there the train follows the Missouri River for most of five and a half hours to St. Louis, past the Capitol on its bluff and a German town with a riverfront playground, with a stop in Kirkwood for one of the best children's museums anywhere. Two trains a day each way. My dad went to school in Columbia and rode this river by canoe. Below is every stop and what to do when you get off.
By Kelsey Lizee Cecil. Checked against the Missouri River Runner timetable and each attraction in October 2026. Hours change; read the "know before you go" notes.If you only have one day
- With a toddler: Kansas City.Science City, the model railroad and the planetarium inside the station, Kaleidoscope across the sky bridge, and a one-stop ride to Independence for a soda fountain. Jump to Kansas City.
- Ages 4 to 8: Jefferson City.The Capitol dome five minutes from the platform, the river walk, and Central Dairy ice cream. Jump to Jefferson City.
- The big one: Kirkwood and the Magic House, then St. Louis.Get off in Kirkwood for the Magic House, cab into St. Louis for the City Museum and the Arch, two nights. Jump to Kirkwood.
Read this before you go
Three things to know. First, two trains a day each way, so a day trip means a morning train out and an evening train back; check the day's times. Second, the river is on the left side eastbound for the prettiest stretch, Jefferson City to Washington. Third, Kansas City Union Station is a destination on its own; budget a half day there before or after the train. Alerts are on the Missouri River Runner page on Amtrak (opens in a new tab).
Tickets, seats, bathrooms, strollers and what to pack are all in our Missouri River Runner parent guide. This page is the fun part: where to get off and what to do when you do.
Stop 1 of 10KCYBoth trains, plus the Southwest Chief
Kansas City Union Station
Union Station in Kansas City is a science museum, a planetarium, a model railroad and a train station in one enormous 1914 building. Science City is inside; the Amtrak waiting room is down the hall. You can arrive on a train and spend the whole day without going outside, and then walk across a sky bridge to Crown Center's fountains and the Hallmark kids' center.
Science City's two-story climber and the real train cab you can sit in, then the Model Railroad Experience, then back to the Grand Hall to watch your own train called.
Right off the platform
- at stopUnion Station: Science City (admission), the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium, the Model Railroad Experience, an Extreme Screen theater, restaurants, restrooms and the Amtrak waiting room, all inside.
- 5 minCrown Center by sky bridge: fountains, Kaleidoscope (Hallmark's free kids' art space), ice skating in winter and the Crayola store.
- 10 minThe National WWI Museum and Memorial on the hill behind the station, with a tower to go up for the view.
- at stopThe KC Streetcar, free, from Union Station to the City Market and the River Market.
- at stopThe Nelson-Atkins Museum's giant shuttlecocks and the Kansas City Zoo, by cab.
Half a day between trains
- Science City (2 hours).
- Crown Center's fountains and Kaleidoscope (1 hour).
Make it a full day
Science City, Kaleidoscope, lunch at Crown Center, the streetcar to the City Market, the WWI Memorial tower, barbecue at Jack Stack or Q39, and the next morning's train east.
Snack stop: Union Station's own cafes, and Crown Center's food court; Kansas City barbecue by cab.
Out the window: Leaving eastbound you cross the Missouri River almost immediately and follow it for most of the day.
Science City has an admission fee; the Grand Hall and the station itself are free to wander.
Stop 2 of 10IDPBoth trains
Independence
Harry Truman's hometown, with a restored 1913 depot where he gave his whistle-stop speeches, and the Truman Library a short cab away with a kids' exhibit and the Oval Office replica. Downtown's square is a 10-minute walk, with a frontier museum about the start of the Oregon and Santa Fe trails.
Sitting at the replica Oval Office desk at the Truman Library, then the covered wagon at the National Frontier Trails Museum.
Right off the platform
- at stopThe 1913 Truman Depot with a waiting room and restrooms.
- 10 minIndependence Square: shops, the old courthouse and ice cream.
- at stopTruman Library and Museum, 2 miles by cab, renovated in 2021 with a children's area (admission; under 6 free).
- 10 minNational Frontier Trails Museum, with wagons and a kids' trail (admission).
- at stopTruman's home, free tours from the visitor center on the square.
Half a day between trains
- Frontier Trails Museum (1 hour).
- Square and ice cream (45 minutes).
Make it a full day
Truman Library, Truman's home, the Frontier Trails Museum, lunch on the square, and the afternoon train east or the KC Streetcar day the next morning.
Snack stop: Clinton's Soda Fountain on the square, where Truman had his first job.
Out the window: The Missouri River bottoms.
Stop 3 of 10LEEBoth trainsour honest take: ride on
Lee's Summit
A restored depot in a pleasant downtown with a few cafes and a park. A stretch stop; nothing to plan a day around.
The depot's old waiting room and a scoop downtown.
Right off the platform
- at stopA restored depot with a waiting room.
- 5 minDowntown Lee's Summit's cafes and an ice cream shop.
Half a day between trains
- Stay aboard, or ice cream downtown (30 minutes).
Make it a full day
Skip.
Snack stop: Downtown ice cream.
Out the window: Suburbs, then farms.
Stop 4 of 10WARBoth trainsour honest take: ride on
Warrensburg
A college town with a restored depot and a downtown a few blocks away. Nothing for a family day.
The Old Drum statue downtown, a dog whose story gave us the phrase man's best friend.
Right off the platform
- at stopA restored depot.
- 5 minDowntown Warrensburg and the Old Drum statue at the courthouse.
Half a day between trains
- Stay aboard, or the dog statue (20 minutes).
Make it a full day
Skip.
Snack stop: A cafe downtown.
Out the window: Farms.
Stop 5 of 10SEDBoth trains
Sedalia
The Katy Depot, a restored 1896 station that is now a visitor center and the trailhead of the Katy Trail, and the state fairgrounds a mile away. Scott Joplin lived here and there is a festival. A good stretch with a rail trail for a stroller walk.
The Katy Depot's old waiting room and a walk on the Katy Trail, which was a railroad and is now the longest rail trail in the country.
Right off the platform
- at stopThe Katy Depot, the restored MKT station with a visitor center, a small museum and restrooms.
- at stopThe Katy Trail trailhead at the depot, flat and paved for strollers.
- 10 minDowntown Sedalia's Ohio Street and a candy store.
- at stopThe Missouri State Fairgrounds, a mile away, with the state fair in August.
Half a day between trains
- Depot museum and a Katy Trail walk (1 hour).
- Downtown candy store (30 minutes).
Make it a full day
Katy Trail bike rental, lunch downtown, the Scott Joplin festival in June or the State Fair in August.
Snack stop: A candy store downtown.
Out the window: The Katy Trail runs beside the tracks for a stretch.
Stop 6 of 10JEFBoth trains
Jefferson City
The state capital, with the Capitol building on a bluff right above the station and the Missouri River below it. The Capitol has a free museum with a kids' area and tours of the dome; the governor's mansion and a riverfront walk are steps away. A good stop with real things within five minutes.
Standing under the Capitol dome, then finding the Thomas Hart Benton mural with the outlaws in it. Then the river from the Capitol lawn.
Right off the platform
- at stopA station in the old Union Hotel below the Capitol, with a waiting room and restrooms.
- 5 minThe Missouri State Capitol: free, with the State Museum inside and dome tours.
- 5 minThe Governor's Mansion, with tours on some days.
- 5 minKaty Trail and Adrian's Island river walk, by the new pedestrian bridge from the Capitol.
- 10 minDowntown High Street's cafes and a candy shop.
Half a day between trains
- Capitol museum and the dome (90 minutes).
- River walk and a snack downtown (1 hour).
Make it a full day
Capitol, the mansion, lunch on High Street, the Katy Trail by bike, and the Missouri State Penitentiary tour for kids 10 and up.
Snack stop: Central Dairy, the ice cream parlor on Madison Street, is the Jefferson City thing.
Out the window: The Capitol dome on the right eastbound, and the river on the left.
Stop 7 of 10HEMBoth trains
Hermann
A German wine town on the river with a small depot by the bridge, a historic district a 5-minute walk away, a riverfront park with a playground, and a museum in an old school. Oktoberfest weekends are a scene. Charming and easy with a stroller.
The riverfront park's playground with barges going by, and a pretzel from the bakery on the hill.
Right off the platform
- at stopA small depot with a shelter, by the river bridge.
- 5 minHermann Riverfront Park, with a playground and the river.
- 5 minThe historic district: German bakeries, a candy store and the Deutschheim State Historic Site (free).
- 10 minHistoric Hermann Museum in the 1871 German School, with a clock tower (admission).
Half a day between trains
- Riverfront playground (45 minutes).
- Bakery and the historic district (1 hour).
Make it a full day
Hermann's Maifest or Oktoberfest, a trolley tour, lunch at a biergarten (they are family friendly), and the evening train.
Snack stop: German bakeries on the hill; a candy store on First Street.
Out the window: The Missouri River is beside the tracks here, with the bluffs across.
Oktoberfest weekends in October are busy; book the train early.
Stop 8 of 10WAHBoth trains
Washington, Missouri
A river town with a depot right on the Missouri, a riverfront park, and a downtown of brick storefronts a few blocks up the hill, where they make corncob pipes. A quiet, lovely stop.
The riverfront behind the depot, where the Missouri is wide, and the corncob pipe factory's museum.
Right off the platform
- at stopA restored depot on the riverfront with a waiting room.
- 2 minRennick Riverfront Park, with a playground and a river walk.
- 5 minDowntown Washington's Main Street: a bakery, a toy store and the Missouri Meerschaum corncob pipe museum.
- 10 minThe Washington Town and Country Fair in August.
Half a day between trains
- Riverfront park (45 minutes).
- Main Street and the pipe museum (1 hour).
Make it a full day
A gentle day: the river, downtown, lunch, and the afternoon train. Or the Katy Trail from nearby Dutzow by car.
Snack stop: A bakery on Main Street.
Out the window: The river stays beside you.
Stop 9 of 10KWDBoth trains
Kirkwood
A suburban St. Louis town with an 1893 depot staffed by volunteers, a downtown of shops around it, and the Magic House, one of the best children's museums in the country, a 15-minute walk away. Get off here, not in St. Louis, if the Magic House is the plan.
The Magic House's electrostatic generator that makes your hair stand up, then the three-story beanstalk climber.
Right off the platform
- at stopThe 1893 depot, volunteer-staffed, with a waiting room and restrooms.
- 3 minDowntown Kirkwood: a toy store, a bakery and the Saturday farmers market.
- 15 minThe Magic House children's museum at 516 S Kirkwood Rd, ages 0 to 12 (admission).
- 10 minKirkwood Park, with a playground and a pond.
- at stopMetroLink is not here; a cab reaches downtown St. Louis in 20 minutes.
Half a day between trains
- Magic House (3 hours).
- Bakery downtown and the train.
Make it a full day
Magic House in the morning, lunch downtown, Kirkwood Park, and a cab into St. Louis for the Arch or the City Museum.
Snack stop: Kirkwood's downtown bakery and ice cream shops.
Out the window: Suburban St. Louis.
The depot is a flag stop for some trains; your ticket should say Kirkwood.
Stop 10 of 10STLBoth trains, plus the Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle
St. Louis Gateway Transportation Center
A transportation center a 15-minute walk from the Gateway Arch and a short ride from the City Museum, the best indoor playground anywhere, with caves, slides and a school bus hanging off the roof. The zoo is free. St. Louis is the eastern end and the reason many families ride.
The City Museum's rooftop Ferris wheel and the school bus over the edge, then the tram to the top of the Arch.
Right off the platform
- at stopGateway Transportation Center: a waiting room, restrooms, a staffed counter and MetroLink light rail.
- 15 minGateway Arch National Park: the museum is free, the tram has a fee and sells out in summer.
- at stopCity Museum, 10 minutes by cab or MetroLink, open late (admission).
- at stopSaint Louis Zoo in Forest Park, free, by MetroLink.
- 10 minBallpark Village and Busch Stadium.
Half a day between trains
- Arch tram and museum (2 hours).
- City Museum (as long as they can stand).
Make it a full day
City Museum, the Arch, the free zoo, a Cardinals game. Two nights.
Snack stop: Ted Drewes frozen custard by cab, toasted ravioli on the Hill.
Out the window: Arriving from the west you cross the Meramec and the suburbs and then the skyline appears.
Book Arch tram tickets ahead in summer.
The river runner
My dad canoed the Missouri in college and told me it was the color of coffee with milk and twice as fast. From the train it looks slow, but it is not; watch a stick. My kids watch the barges and the herons and the bluffs, and somewhere around Hermann they always ask for a pretzel, and I always say yes. Then the Capitol dome, then the Arch. It is a good day.
Next in this series: the Lincoln Service, which continues from St. Louis to Chicago, and the Southwest Chief west from Kansas City. Every route is on the Train Trips With Your Kids page.
Missouri River Runner trips with kids: questions parents ask
How long is the Missouri River Runner from Kansas City to St. Louis?
About 5 hours 40 minutes, with two trains a day each way. Jefferson City is roughly the halfway point at about 2.5 hours from Kansas City.
Which side of the Missouri River Runner has the river?
Left side heading east (toward St. Louis) for the best stretch between Jefferson City and Washington, where the tracks run beside the Missouri. Right side heading west.
What is the best stop for a toddler?
Kansas City Union Station, which has Science City, a planetarium and a model railroad inside the station building. For a short hop, Independence, one stop away, with a soda fountain on the square.
Where do we get off for the Magic House?
Kirkwood, not St. Louis. The Magic House is a 15-minute walk from the Kirkwood depot; from St. Louis it is a long ride.
Do kids pay on the Missouri River Runner?
Kids 2 to 12 pay half the adult fare and one child under 2 rides free on each adult's lap. Tickets are reserved.
Is there food on the Missouri River Runner?
Yes, a cafe car with snacks, sandwiches and drinks. Bring more for a five-hour ride with kids.
Which stops should we skip with kids?
Lee's Summit and Warrensburg are stretch stops with little to plan around. Every other stop has something within ten minutes of the platform.
Sources and how I checked
- Amtrak Missouri River Runner timetable, August 2026, and Amtrak station pages
- Union Station Kansas City (Science City, planetarium, Model Railroad Experience), Truman Library, Missouri State Capitol, The Magic House, Gateway Arch, City Museum: hours and admission as posted October 2026
- Missouri State Parks: Katy Trail; Hermann and Washington visitor pages
- Great American Stations and Wikipedia station articles for addresses and station history, cross-checked with Amtrak
Hours, prices and bus routes change. I update this page when they do; if you spot something out of date, tell me.