8 Missouri Towns That Locals Love
Missouri entrances visitors with postcard-worthy scenery and a recognizable culture that combines elements of the Midwest and Southern US. And in its small towns, the genuine essence of the Show-Me State is revealed. Scattered throughout Missouri’s spectacular terrain are countless communities, each offering a unique blend of natural beauty, incredible history, one-of-a-kind attractions, and the kind-hearted hospitality of community members, making them every local's favorite haunts. These are just eight of the Missouri towns that locals love.
Rocheport
A teeny Boone County community, home to just 201 amiable townspeople, Rocheport sits on the craggy bluffs of the Missouri River, constituting a part of the Columbia Metropolitan Statistical Area. Initially a trading post, the town quickly developed, matching the advancement of steamboat transportation on the Missouri River, into a prospering business center. At present, the town is a gateway to the outstanding environs of the Katy Trail State Park and the 240-mile-long Katy Trail, the longest unbroken recreational rail trail in the country, that serves hikers, cyclists, and joggers, all year-round.
Peruse the substantial assortment of 19th-century buildings in the Downtown Rocheport Historic District. Sample the Les Bourgeois Vineyard’s award-winning wines at the Tasting Room in The Blufftop at Rocheport, while young adults can attend the yearly ‘Wine & Dine with the Dolls’ drag event on December 17, 2025.
Carthage
The government seat of Jasper County, Carthage, is ‘America’s Maple Leaf City,’ located along U.S. Route 71 to the south of Spring River. Travelers should begin their tour of this historical settlement from the heart of Downtown at the Jasper County Courthouse, an impressive Romanesque Revival-style courthouse built using the locally quarried ‘Carthage Marble.’ For history mavens, a visit to the Battle of Carthage State Historic Site, which preserves an early American Civil War-era battlefield, is a must.
Go see the Precious Moments Chapel & Gardens, a Samuel J. Butcher-designed exquisite chapel with stained glass windows, hand-painted murals, hand-carved wooden doors, and well-kept gardens outside the chapel. Watch popular Hollywood movies at the retro 66 Drive-In Theatre, and join in for a free family Festive Skate Night on December 22, 2025, at the Municipal Park Roller Rink.
Arrow Rock
Sited on the flint-bearing high limestone bluff commanding the Missouri River is Arrow Rock, a Saline County hamlet, entirely encompassed by the National Historic Landmark designated Arrow Rock Historic District. Globetrotters love roaming the Arrow Rock State Historic Site, where several 19th-century buildings, hiking trails, and a visitor center museum filled with exhibits on the town and Boone’s Lick Country, tell tales of the glorious past.
For watching traditional dramas and summertime musicals, book your seat in the 416-seat auditorium of Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, one of the state’s oldest professional regional theaters. Taste passionately cooked country-style fare served at the J. Huston Tavern Restaurant, and get together with community residents every October for the Annual Arrow Rock Heritage Festival.
Hannibal
Hannibal, a mesmerizing community straddling Ralls and Marion counties in northeastern Missouri, along the shores of the Mississippi River, charms residents and tourists alike with its unique blend of waterfront location, historic literary legacy, and community spirit. Holidaymakers sojourning in this principal town of the Hannibal Micropolitan Statistical Area must drop by the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, the residence of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, presently maintained as a museum displaying copious Mark Twain memorabilia.
Embark on a guided tour of the Mark Twain Cave, one of the state’s oldest continuously operating show caves, offering tours from 1886 onwards. Take a relaxing stroll on the paved trails of the 465-acre forested Riverview Park, beholding sweeping panoramas of the Mississippi River. And, on December 21, 2025, gather at the park with community members to celebrate the Winter Solstice Nature Program.
Hermann
Occupying the core of the Missouri Rhineland, south of the Missouri River, is Hermann, the administrative capital of Gasconade County, lauded for its German heritage, verdant landscapes, and thriving viticulture traditions. This economic powerhouse of the Hermann American Viticultural Area lures oenophiles with guided tours and cellar tastings at the Hermannhof and Stone Hill wineries.
Additionally, experience the everyday life and conventions of German immigrants through the archaic houses and other structures constructed in the mid-19th century at the Deutschheim State Historic Site. Find out more about the relevance of Missouri’s artistic, farming, and vinification heritage at Hermann Farm Museum. Every year, on all weekends in October, be a part of the month-long Oktoberfest celebrations with good food, live music, and wine and beer from domestically-owned wineries and breweries.
Kimmswick
This enchanting settlement on the Mississippi River shores in Jefferson County, located nearly 22 miles south of St. Louis, was platted by Theodore Kimm in 1859. Thread through the brick-paved streets of the 9.5-acre Kimmswick Historic District, paying attention to the wonderfully kept properties, including the American Craftsman-style Horninghauser House. Scrutinize the personal artifacts linked to Anheuser’s brewery legacy at the Anheuser family’s estate. Savor house-baked pies, pastries, and cheesecakes at The Blue Owl Restaurant & Bakery, and celebrate the holiday season at Kimmswick’s ‘Old Fashioned Christmas Festival’ with carolers’ entertainments, novel gifts from artisan vendors, holiday treats, and festive decorations.
Boonville
Set precisely equidistant from St. Louis and Kansas City, Boonville is the administrative center of Cooper County, situated atop the sylvan bluffs overlooking the Missouri River. A strategic target during the American Civil War, owing to its placement on the erstwhile Missouri Pacific Railroad, the town fabulously merges the old and contemporary days, boasting over 400 carefully preserved buildings in different historical districts. Locomotive lovers should check out the neatly showcased exhibits on Boonville’s transportation heritage at the River, Rails & Trails Museum. Spend an afternoon golfing in the classic Ozark-style Hail Ridge Golf Course, and congregate in Downtown with local residents every December for Boonville’s Christmas Festival.
Fulton
Founded in 1825 and named after Robert Fulton, this tranquil Callaway County seat in central Missouri is situated around 22 miles northeast of Jefferson City. Seamlessly blending small-town comforts with an energetic college town vibe, sightseers at Fulton should drop by the National Churchill Museum on the Westminster College campus, which commemorates Sir Winston Churchill’s famous Iron Curtain speech delivered here to a thronged gathering on March 5, 1946.
Furthermore, learn more about the local history of Callaway County through the various artifacts at the Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society Museum & Research Center. Catch memorable musical and theatrical performances and community events in the superbly revamped Brick District Playhouse. Annually, in late April or early May, show up at Morels & Microbrews Festival for some springtime foraging fun with craft breweries, food vendors (fresh & fried morels), and foot-tapping live music.
Do Not Miss These Lovable Missouri Towns
From the riverside retreat of Rocheport to the scholarly town of Fulton, these eight most-loved small Missouri communities are waiting to welcome experienced visitors over and over again. Each of the abovementioned towns has something unique, whether it is the unparalleled natural appeal, immaculately maintained historic landmarks, exclusive shops in the inviting downtowns, colorful annual celebrations, and an unmistakable neighborliness. So, if you are looking for idyllic havens to spend your sabbaticals, Missouri’s darling towns stand ready to unveil why they have won the hearts of all those who know them the very best.
