State · Grandes Lagos e Meio-Oeste (Chicago)

Missouri

Missouri has St. Louis, with the Gateway Arch on the banks of the Mississippi, Kansas City barbecue, and the Ozarks hills.

In the photo: Gateway Arch, St. Louis

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The state

Get to know Missouri

Missouri is in the center of the United States, near where the Missouri River meets the Mississippi. The capital is Jefferson City; the largest cities are Kansas City in the west and St. Louis in the east, facing Illinois.

St. Louis was the gateway to the American West in the 19th century, and the Gateway Arch, a 192 m stainless-steel arch on the Mississippi riverfront, commemorates that. A capsule tram climbs inside the arch to the observation area at the top. In the city, Forest Park brings together the zoo, the art museum and the history museum, and the Anheuser-Busch brewery welcomes visitors.

On the other side of the river, in Collinsville, Illinois, the Cahokia Mounds include Monks Mound, a large earthen mound that was the center of a Native city between the 11th and 13th centuries. On St. Louis tables, fried ravioli (toasted ravioli) and gooey butter cake.

In the west, Kansas City is known for barbecue and jazz, and in the south, Branson has music theaters in the Ozarks hills. In Hannibal, north of St. Louis, is Mark Twain’s childhood home, author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

When to go

From April to June and from September to October temperatures are usually pleasant. Summer tends to be hot and humid, with storms; winter is cold, with snow on some days. The Gateway Arch observation deck is open year-round.

Getting there

Lambert International Airport (STL) is about 25 km from downtown St. Louis, with the MetroLink light rail to the city and into Illinois. Flights from Brazil usually connect through another U.S. city. Confirm before you book. St. Louis is about 480 km from Chicago, with Amtrak trains, and about 400 km from Kansas City, which has its own airport (MCI).

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Missouri

How do you get to the top of the Gateway Arch?

By the five-person capsule tram, which climbs inside one leg of the arch in about four minutes. The entrance is beneath the arch, next to the museum. Times sell out on weekends and holidays: buy in advance.

How to get from St. Louis to Cahokia?

It’s about 15 km across the bridge over the Mississippi, or a 20-minute drive. The site has an interpretive center and trails, and the climb up Monks Mound is by staircase.

How many days for St. Louis?

Two days are usually enough for the Gateway Arch, Forest Park, the brewery and a trip to Cahokia.

What to eat in St. Louis?

Besides fried ravioli and gooey butter cake, the city-style pizza — thin, cracker-like crust with provel cheese — and creamy frozen custard.

Tap a state to see its destinations. Limites: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (domínio público). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.