Overview
Central Region is in central Missouri and home of the state capital Jefferson City.
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 90°F; winter lows dip to about 24°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Cold months (Jan) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: May and Apr. (climate data from nearby St. Louis)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- COU Columbia Regional Airport, Columbia — 14 mi away. Directions
- TBN Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport-Forney Field, Fort Leonard Wood — 62 mi away. Directions
- STL St. Louis Lambert International Airport, St Louis — 106 mi away (major hub). Directions
Columbia Regional Airport (COU)
Full “Get in” guide ↓Sample 3-day trip
- Day 1: Jefferson City — Missouri State Museum, Jefferson Landing State Historic Site, Missouri State Capitol Building.
- Day 2: Rolla — Ozark Actors Theatre, Leach Theater, Stubby Stonehenge.
- Day 3: Columbia — The Columns, Museum of Art and Archeology, Cooper's Landing.
Built from the best-covered destinations in this region; open each for its own day plan.
Photos
Places in Central Missouri
Jefferson City
City / town · 71 listings
Rolla
City / town · 27 listings
Columbia
City / town · 22 listings
Lake of the Ozarks
Park · 18 listings
St. Robert
City / town · 18 listings
Clinton
City / town · 17 listings
Lebanon
City / town · 14 listings
Warsaw
City / town · 14 listings
Hermann
City / town · 13 listings
Cuba
City / town · 10 listings
Sedalia
City / town · 8 listings
Salem
City / town · 5 listings
Camdenton
City / town · 5 listings
Conway
City / town · 4 listings
Boonville
City / town · 2 listings
Bourbon
City / town · 1 listings
Jerome
City / town · 1 listings
Lake Ozark
City / town · 1 listings
St. James
City / town · 1 listings
Cities
North
These cities and towns are on or near the I-70 or US50 corridor from St. Louis to Kansas City:
- Jefferson City — state capital of Missouri
- Boonville — starting point of the Santa Fe Trail
- Clinton — the starting point of the Katy Trail
- Columbia — home of the University of Missouri - Columbia
- Fulton — site of Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech
- Hermann
- Sedalia — birthplace of composer Scott Joplin, the "King of Ragtime."
- Versailles
- Cole Camp — known for the annual street fair in September. It also hosts a Maifest in May, an Oktoberfest in October, and a Christbaumfest in late November; all highlight the town's German heritage.
- Warsaw — close to the Truman State Park.
South
These cities and towns appear primarily along the former US Route 66 from St. Louis to Springfield:
- Bourbon
- Conway
- Cuba
- Lebanon
- Jerome
- Rolla, home of the University of Missouri - Rolla
- Salem
- St. Robert
Other destinations
Get in
Columbia Regional Airport (COU)
See
Itineraries
The Santa Fe Trail originates in this region.
Nearby
My experience
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