The shining city of St. Louis is situated right in the foothills of the beautiful Ozark Mountains. So if you’re flying into the St. Louis Lambert (STL) airport, you can rent a car in St. Louis at our STL car rental location and go on a classic American road trip through the Ozarks. Check out some of these top Missouri travel destinations on your trip from St. Louis.
7390, 7406 MO-21, Belleview, MO 63623
This state park is named for the giant granite boulders that look like herds of elephants marching through the Ozarks. The park is perfect for kids, who will have lots of fun hiking around and climbing on the boulders. The Braille Trail, designed for people with visual and physical disabilities, takes you straight to the rocks, and an overlook of a 19th-century quarry site. Another trail takes you to an old engine house, where workers repaired train cars going to and from the quarry. Rock climbing is also a popular activity in the park.
401 Fairgrounds Road, Rolla, MO 65401
Mark Twain National Forest is known for its 750 miles of trails, which are great for hiking and mountain biking. If you’re a hardcore hiker, you may want to trek across a section of the famous Ozark Trail, which passes through the forest. Visitors also spend time kayaking and canoeing on the forest’s 350 miles of streams. Even if you’d just like to stop by and take in the scenery, the forest has many picnic areas perfect for taking a rest from the road.
1491 Missouri D, Camdenton, MO 65020
Said to mean “smiling waters,” Ha Ha Tonka is an outdoor paradise of sinkholes, caves, bluffs, and springs. The park has 13 easy to rugged-level hiking and backpacking trails for viewing these natural wonders. This park is a great place to visit for history buffs, too. Explore the ruins of the Ha Ha Tonka castle. Kansas City businessman Robert M. Snyder started construction on the castle, and his sons finished it in 1922. In 1942, while it was serving as a hotel, most of the structure burned down in a fire. Visitors can still explore the stone walls of its ruins.
403 Hwy 134, Kaiser, MO 65047
This lake is the perfect travel destination for water lovers. With two swimming beaches and excellent conditions for boating, paddling, and fishing, there’s an aquatic activity for everyone at the Lake of the Ozarks. Hikers can also get great views of the lake from the park’s network of trails.
Avis is here to help you have the best St. Louis road trip possible. Have a more affordable trip with one of our fuel plans. If you’re staying in the city long term, we can help you with a long-term car rental too. Get a quality Avis rental car at any of our St. Louis locations. Whatever kind of rental you need, our car rental services will help make your trip to Missouri memorable.