U.S. Bicycle Route 51 - current draft route through Missouri | MoBikeFed

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USBR 51 is a major new cross-country on-road bicycle touring route from New Orleans to Minnesota. MoBikeFed is working with many partners across Missouri to develop and refine the route.

The route is rideable and usable already - just not yet officially adopted! You can see and download all the Missouri USBR 51 segments for use with your mobile device or GPS head unit here: https://ridewithgps.com/collections/37214

The route begins in NW Arkansas in the Fayetteville area. From there you have to choice to go north to Joplin and then the Springfield, or go northeast to Cassville, then to Springfield.

From Springfield, the route goes north to Bolivar, Wheatland, Warsaw, Sedalia, Knob Noster, Warrensburg, Higginsville, and Lexington, where it crosses the Missouri River.

From that point, the route continues to Richmond, Excelsior Springs, Hamilton, Gallatin, Jamesport, Bethany, and then crosses the Iowa State line to Lamoni.

Highlights of the southern part of the route include:

- Missouri Ozarks; scenery
- Pea Ridge and Wilson's Creek National Battlefields
- Parallels the historic Butterfield Stage route from Pea Ridge-Cassville-Springfield-Bolivar-Warsaw.
- George Washington Carver birthplace and National Monument near Neosho
- Much to see & do in Joplin, Springfield, Bolivar, Wheatland, Hermitage, Warsaw, Sedalia, Knob Noster
- Missouri Veterans Cemetery and Confederate Memorial State Historic Site near Higginsville
- Historic downtown and Civil War battlefield in Lexington

This part of the route connects with USBR 66 (Bicycle Route 66), the TransAmerica Trail (USBR 76), the Rock Island Trail, the Katy Trail, and the Lewis & Clark Bicycle Trail.

North of the Missouri River, the route includes:

- A number of Jesse James historic sites, including Jesse James Birthplace and Grave
- Missouri Quilting, including the Missouri Star Quilt Company headquarters in Hamilton
- Hometown of J.C. Penney
- Amish culture and shopping in and around Jamesport, the most well known Amish community in Missouri
- Many Mormon and LDS history sites, including Richmond, the Far West Temple site, Adam-ondi-Ahman, and the former Community of Christ/RLDS headquarters and Graceland University in Lamoni
- Watkins Woolen Mill State Park, Wallace State Park, and many Missouri Conservation Areas.
- Excelsior Springs spa and tourist attractions - "the world's greatest group of mineral waters"

This part of the route connects with the "Way of American Genius" Bicycle Route paralleling U.S. 36 across northern Missouri.

More about USBR 51:

https://mobikefed.org/missouri-bicycle-maps-and-routes#usbr51

Full route (current draft) - downloadable for use with mobile devices and GPS units:
https://ridewithgps.com/collections/37214

Link: 

U.S. Bicycle Route 51 - current draft route through Missouri | MoBikeFed