Katy Trail: $29.2 million annual economic impact in 2022

• Local day visitors (31%) spent on average:
  • 
    $17.54 per party per trip. 
  • 
    $11.33 per person per trip. 
  • 
    $309 in the past year on bicycles, bicycle supplies, clothing, shoes, and other trail-related expenses. 
  • 
    On average, trip expenses covered 1.52 people (1.43 adults and 0.09 children) 
• Nonlocal day visitors (44%) spent on average:
  • 
    $55.53 per party per trip. 
  • 
    $30.05 per person per trip.
    

    Katy Trail
  • 
    $355 in the past year on bicycles, bicycle supplies, clothing, shoes, and other trail-related expenses. 
  • 
    On average, trip expenses covered 1.98 people (1.88 adults and 0.10 children). 
• Hotel, motel and B&B visitors (14%) spent on average:
  • 
    $700 per party per trip. 
  • 
    $297.30 per person per trip. 
  • 
    $280 per party per night. 
  • 
    $122.60 per person per night. 
  • 
    $503 in the past year on bicycles, bicycle supplies, clothing, shoes, and other trail-related expenses. Breakdown:
    • About $290 on bicycles. 
    • About $94 on bicycle supplies, significantly more than nonlocal day visitors. 
    • About $61 on clothing, significantly more than local day visitors. 
    • About $21 on shoes. 
    • About $36 on other trail-related expenses
  • On average, trip expenses covered 2.54 people (2.37 adults and 0.17 children). 
  • On average, 2.51 days per trip.

• Campground visitors (10%) spent on average:
  • 
    $231 per party per trip. 
    

    Governor and First Lady Nixon walk on the Katy Trail
  • 
    $141 per person per trip. 
  • 
    $84 per party per night. 
  • 
    $43 per person per night. 
  • 
    $375 in the past year on bicycles, bicycle supplies, clothing, shoes, and other trail-related expenses. 
  • On average, trip expenses covered 2.15 people (1.69 adults and 0.46 children).
  • On average, 2.51 days per trip.

What do visitors do? 84% bicycle, 20% walk, 19% visit a small town, 13% visit a winery

• 87% of respondents said the Katy Trail was the main reason for their visit to the area.
  • 84% of visitors participated in bicycling. 
  • Average distance biked was 46 miles per trip. 
• 20% of visitors participated in walking.
  • Significantly more local visitors walked, as compared to nonlocal visitors.
  • Average distance walked was 1.23 miles. 

Information is quoted, summarized, and re-organized from the Katy Trail Economic Impact Report, Visitors and MGM2 Economic Impact Analysis, July 2012, commissioned by the Missouri State Parks. Please read the entire report for methodology, details, and much more information about the Katy Trail's economic impact.

Looking to go beyond the Katy and Rock Island?  Here are some of the best bicycle routes, links, and side trips from the Katy & Rock Island Trails created and maintained by MoBikeFed:

• Butterfield Stage Experience - mostly gravel bicycle touring route
• Bike MOPAC - visit Katy's little sister, following the Missouri Pacific railroad route south of the Missouri River.  Not a trail but a series of low traffic, low stress roads.  Most segments have paved and gravel options.  Many loop tours and routes are possible with the Katy Trail (north of the river) and Bike MOPAC (south of the river).
• Birthplace of the Santa Fe Trail bicycle route system - this system of bicycle touring routes in central and western Missouri connects to the Katy Trail at Boonville and to the Rock Island Trail in Kansas City
• Rock Island Trail - Bridging the Greenwood Gap Lee's Summit to Pleasant Hill and connecting to Amtrak (paved, gravel options)
• Rock Island Trail - Get there from (almost) anywhere in the KC metro area via a low stress bicycle route
• Rock Island Trail: Quad State Connections to St Joseph, Lincoln, Omaha, and Beyond
• Katy-Rock Island-Flint Hills Connectors

Even MORE Katy Trail connectors, side trips, and loop routes here.

Photo credits:

• Katy Trail map - courtesy Missouri State Parks
• Governor and First Lady Nixon on the Katy Trail - courtesy Governor's office
• Hikers on the Katy Trail - courtesy Ranj Niere
• All other photos - Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation