Visiting Rocheport, Missouri · Town guide
Rocheport, Missouri
Rocheport is a Missouri River town of about 200 people, twelve miles west of Columbia, where the Katy Trail runs through the only tunnel on its 240 miles. Come for the trail, the wineries on the bluff and a historic district platted in 1825. This page covers getting here, where to park and what to do in a day; the guides below go further.
Rocheport at a glance
The facts behind the name: where Rocheport is, how big it is and when it began.
- Town
- Rocheport, Missouri, a small town on the north bank of the Missouri River
- County
- Boone County, Missouri
- ZIP code
- 65279
- Location
- 38.978°N, 92.563°W, about 12 miles west of Columbia (Boonville is about 20 minutes west)
- By car
- I-70 Exit 115, then Route BB north about 2 miles
- Katy Trail
- Trailhead at the foot of First Street, mile marker 178.3
- The tunnel
- 243 feet, near mile marker 178.7, the only one on the trail
- Parking
- Free at the trailhead; the event lot is the field at First Street and Pike
- Restroom
- At the trailhead, accessible and open year-round, with water
- Bikes
- Rentals at Meriwether Cafe & Bike Shop, 700 First Street; repairs in Columbia
- Population
- 201 (2020 census)
- Founded
- Platted in 1825; the historic district is on the National Register of Historic Places
- Best seasons
- Late April to May; September to October
Getting here
Rocheport is two miles north of I-70 at Exit 115, about half an hour west of downtown Columbia and twenty minutes from Boonville. Most visitors arrive by car or on the Katy Trail.
By car
From I-70, take Exit 115 and drive north on Route BB for about two miles. Route BB becomes Third Street as it comes into town, and the whole town is a few blocks from there. Downtown Columbia is about 30 minutes east. Boonville is about 20 minutes south, across the river.
By bike or on foot
The Katy Trail runs through Rocheport at mile marker 178.3. From the east you ride in from McBaine, about 9 miles away. From the west it is about 13.5 miles from Boonville. The trailhead is at the foot of First Street, a couple of blocks from the shops and restaurants.
Parking
Parking at the Rocheport trailhead is free, and there is an accessible restroom, open year-round, with water and a kiosk with a trail map. For festivals and events the town's event lot is the part-paved, part-grass field at First Street and Pike, the largest in town. The streets are narrow and some are hilly, so take care getting in and out of a car parked on the street.
Before you drive
Work on I-70 and Route BB/MO-240 can change your route. Check road conditions for current MoDOT closures and delays in Boone, Howard and Cooper counties before you drive.
One day in Rocheport
One day is enough for a ride through the tunnel, lunch by the trailhead, a glass of wine on the bluff, and an hour in the shops. This is the day we would plan for a friend.
- MorningPark at the trailhead at the foot of First Street and ride or walk west. In less than half a mile you pass through the tunnel. Keep going along the bluffs for as long as you like, then turn around. If you arrived without a bike, rent one at Meriwether Cafe & Bike Shop first; it rents bikes but does not repair them, and the nearest repair shop is in Columbia.
- MiddayHave lunch by the trailhead. Meriwether serves breakfast all day. The Directory lists every place to eat in town.
- AfternoonWalk the historic district. Look for the 1825 street grid and the galleries and shops along Second and Central streets. Our shopping guide covers them one by one.
- Late afternoonDrive up to the A-Frame Winegarden at Les Bourgeois Vineyards, on the bluff just west of town, or ride the steep spur trail up from the Katy. Order a glass of Norton and watch the Missouri River valley.
- EveningHave dinner in town. On a clear night, stay out after dark: the night sky page shows what is up over Rocheport tonight.
Staying the weekend? See our weekend guide, the couples itinerary, or answer a few questions in the trip planner.
Latest from Rocheport
Rocheport guides
- The Katy Trail and the tunnel: Distances, surface, seasons, trail manners, and the only tunnel on the trail.
- History: From Lewis and Clark in 1804 and the 1825 plat to the railroad and the historic district.
- Things to do, and the year in Rocheport: What to do in town, and the festivals and markets by season.
- Nature and the night sky: Wetlands, birds, the Big Bur Oak, and tonight's sky over Rocheport.
- Wineries, dining, lodging and shops: Les Bourgeois Vineyards, The Rocheport Winery, and the directory of places to eat, stay and shop.
- Plan your trip: maps and basics: Maps, restrooms, water, bike rental, cell service, accessibility, river levels and the trip planner.
Further reading
- Plan Your Visit: the trip planner
- Fall in Rocheport: color on the trail and harvest on the bluff
- The Katy Trail's trail town
- All guides
- Historic sites
- Trail maps
- Image of the Week
Questions visitors ask
Where is Rocheport, Missouri?
Rocheport is a river town of about 200 people (201 in the 2020 census) on the north bank of the Missouri River in Boone County, about twelve miles west of Columbia. The Katy Trail runs through town at mile marker 178.3.
How do I get to Rocheport from I-70?
Take I-70 Exit 115 and drive north on Route BB for about two miles. Route BB becomes Third Street as it enters town.
Where do I park for the Katy Trail in Rocheport?
Park at the Rocheport trailhead at the foot of First Street, where parking is free and there is an accessible restroom, open year-round, with water and a trail-map kiosk. For big events, the town's event lot is the part-paved, part-grass field at First Street and Pike.