’s national parks all capture unique historical moments. These parks, along with Ste. Genevieve, Wilson's Creek Battlefield, and Ozark Riverways, all make for an incredible statewide tour.

The national parks and sites found throughout Missouri don’t focus as much on the nature of the area—instead, they preserve and highlight significant historic events and time periods. Every site has its own unique story worth visiting and exploring.

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Gateway Arch National Park

Location: Fourth Street between Market and Chestnut streets, St. Louis, MO 63102

Hours of operation: Daily, year-round

Admission price: $5 per person; free for children under 16

What makes Gateway Arch National Park special

Located near the starting point of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, this park was established to commemorate the Louisiana Purchase, the first civil government west of the Mississippi River, and the impact of the Dredd Scottcase. The park is composed of:

The namesake Gateway Arch

A 91-acre park along the Mississippi River

The

Old Courthouse

where the Dredd Scott case first began

A 140,000 sq. ft. museum at the Arch

What to do in Gateway Arch National Park

Whether you're traveling through for the day or planning a longer stay in the St. Louis area, there are tons to do and see at the Gateway Arch National Park:

Walk along the Mississippi River: Embark on a journey along the beautiful St. Louis Riverfront Trail, part of the Mississippi Greenway. Enjoy the riverfront, the historic

Eads Bridge

, and the scenic walk along the way.

Explore with Lewis and Clark: Stroll around the Explorer's Garden in the park's North Gateway area.

Plants

used by Native Americans and described by Lewis and Clark in their expedition journals can be found here.

Visit the Museum at Gateway Arch: The

Gateway Arch Museum

offers 200 years of history about the westward expansion of the United States, with a focus on St. Louis' pivotal role throughout that time—and it’s free to visit!

Reach the top of the Arch: Take a

tram ride

630 feet to the top of America's highest monument and take in miles of scenery.

When to visit Gateway Arch National Park

The Gateway Arch and Call Center are open all year, excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

Summer hours are 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM and last from the Saturday before Memorial Day through the Saturday after Labor Day. Winter hours are 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM and start from the Tuesday following Labor Day and end the Friday before Memorial Day weekend.

Pro Tip The Riverfront Trail and the riverboat tours are all pet-friendly, as long as they’re leashed. Pets aren’t permitted inside the Arch itself or any other buildings.

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How to check for Missouri road closures

Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park

Location: 99 South Main Street, Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670

Hours of operation: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily (excl. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day)

Admission price: No entrance fee

What makes Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park special

Established in 1750, Ste. Geneviève was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. The superb agricultural terrain known as Le Grand Champ (the Big Field) drew early French Canadian residents to this area.

As a cultural zone it was unique in terms of law, religion, customs, use of the land, architecture, personal philosophy, slave law, and even in a skewed version of spoken and written French.

The Bauvais-Amoureux House, one of only five known surviving poteaux-en-terre (or post-in-ground) type houses in North America, is located in the park.

What to do in Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park

The park is truly unique, offering visitors the opportunity to view one of Missouri's first permanent communities and visit the modern town of Sainte Genevieve.

Visit the Bauvais-Amoureux House: The

Bauvais-Amoureux House

is one of only five remaining poteaux-en-terre in America. You can truly learn about the meaning of “home” and what it meant to its residents at the Bauvais-Amoureux House.

Stroll through the Jean Baptiste Vallé Gardens: The

rose garden

has been thoroughly cultivated over many decades and generations to become what it is now. Open year-round, it's a great spot to go when you need to take a break and smell the roses (literally!).

Visit Green Tea Tavern: The

Green Tree Tavern

is Ste. Genevieve's oldest surviving structure. Built in 1790, it has served as a bar, inn, tobacco shop, and Masonic Lodge—and unlike other buildings, you can actually see the vertical logs that form the structure!

When to visit Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park

With the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day, Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

The interiors of the Jean Baptiste Vallé and Bauvais-Amoureux Houses are only accessible during scheduled tours, which are listed

here

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield

Location: 6424 W. Farm Road 182, Republic, MO 65738

Hours of operation: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, seven days a week

Admission price: $10 per person; $20 per vehicle

What makes Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield special

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield commemorates the first major Civil War conflict fought west of the Mississippi River and the scene of Nathaniel Lyon’s death, the first Union commander killed in combat.

The park, which receives over 200,000 visitors each year, is regarded as one of the three best maintained and most pristine Civil War battlefields in the National Park System.

While many visitors come to enjoy the natural setting, an increasing number of visitors come to study and research the history of the park.

What to do in Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield

You can take your time and explore the battlefield by yourself, or you can participate in one of the many programs held in Wilson’s Creek—either way, you’ll be able to take in some picturesque scenery and learn things along the way!

Tour the Ray House: The Ray House, built in the 1850s, acted as a temporary field hospital for Southern soldiers. The house is open daily between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Walk, bike, or horseback ride the trails: The tour road leads to five walking and biking trails ranging in length from ¼ to ¾ mile. There's even a 7-mile network of horseback and hiking trails, with designated parking for horse trailers.

Take in Living History programs: Living History presentations portraying Civil War soldier life, musket and cannon shooting demonstrations, Civil War healthcare, and other related themes are performed on chosen weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

When to visit Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield

With the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day, the battlefield is open daily.

The park’s hours of operation are as follows throughout the year:

Summer hours (May 15 to August 31): 7:00 am to 9:00 pm

Fall hours (September 1 to October 31): 7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Winter hours (November 1 to March 14): 7:00 am to 5:00 pm

Spring hours (March 15 to May 14): 7:00 am to 7:00 pm

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Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Location: 404 Watercress Drive, Van Buren, MO 63965

Hours of operation: 24 hours, year-round

Admission price: No entrance fee

What makes Ozark National Scenic Riverways special

Ozark National Scenic Riverways is the first congressionally designated national park in the U.S. intended to preserve a wild river system.

● The park covers over 80,000 acres through two of the nation’s most clear and pristine spring-fed rivers, the CurrentRiver and the Jacks Fork River.

● One of Ozark’s most attractive features is the numerous caves and springs littered throughout the park—there are over 300!

● Ozark National Scenic Riverways is also home to historic sites like AlleyMill, which was a roller mill dating back to 1894.

What to do in Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Through gorgeous rivers, the scenic Ozark countryside, and open pasture lands, this national park is the perfect place for a relaxing, insightful getaway.

● Fishing: With some of the most beautiful rivers in the country, why not take the chance to settle down, take in some sun, and fish the day away? Just be sure to follow the park’s regulations, which can be found

here

● Visit the Alley Mill: You can tour the actual interior of this historic

roller mill

during the summer months, but the grounds are open to exploring year-round.

● Hiking and camping: There are a number of worthwhile

hikes

within the Ozark national park, and even some spots where you can set up

camp

and stay the night—conditions in the park make for the perfect

stargazing

spot!

When to visit Ozark National Scenic Riverways

The park grounds are open to the public 24/7.

Summers in the Ozark can get pretty hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 75-100 F. Winters, though, can dip between 0-50 F with periods of intermittent snow and freezing—if you’re not a fan of extreme weather, plan your visit during spring or fall!

Pro Tip You can rent canoes, kayaks, rafts, tubes, and even horses within Ozark national park! If you’re visiting during the peak summer months, you might want to book ahead to make sure you secure your item(s).

Harry S. Truman National Historic Site

Location:

Fairbanks

, Missouri

Hours of operation: 24 hours, year-round

Admission price: No entrance fee

What makes the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site special

This historic site was where President Harry S. Truman called home from 1919 until his passing in 1972; it lasted him before, during, and after the presidency!

● The Truman Family Farm, located on-site, is where President Truman credits his hard-working, determined attitude originated.

● There are thousands of artifacts related to the Truman family within the park, including war souvenirs, clothing and accessories, and furnishings.

What to do in the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site

Visitors to the park can experience the home that shaped Truman into the president he became, take in architecture and artifacts dating back to the early 1900s, and more.

● Tour the Truman Home: Take a guided walkthrough of this historic site for an intimate glimpse into the lives and experiences of the Trumans. The halls of the

home

are lined with thousands of artifacts, so this is a must-see when visiting the park.

● Walk through the Truman Farm: The grounds of the farm are open to self-guided tours year-round, and the

Truman Farm Home

is opening to guided tours for the first time in nearly a decade, starting May 6, 2022!

● Become a Junior Ranger: If you have any young kids, the

Junior Ranger

program is a great way to condense history and environmental learning into one fun package! Complete the booklet while at the park and you’ll receive an official certificate and badge.

When to visit the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site

Home tours are usually from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM between Wednesday and Sunday, but the house is currently closed due to COVID-19 precautions.

The grounds of the Truman Farm are open and accessible year-round for self-guided tours, sunrise to sunset.

Thanks to its location on the western edge of Missouri, the Harry S. Truman Historic Site experiences all four seasons. Spring sees rapid fluctuations in weather, summer has periods of high heat and humidity, fall is mostly mild with sunny days, and winter temps have a low of 21 F—plan your trip around whichever weather appeals to you most!v

MORE:

How to find temporary car insurance in Missouri

How to prepare to visit Missouri’s national parks

Follow these tips from the car insurance super app, Jerry, before visiting any of Missouri's national parks and sites:

Consider obtaining an annual

America the Beautiful nationwide pass

if you want to visit more than one park, or visit multiple times.

If you're planning a long drive, be sure your car is

properly maintained

and meets the park's clearance requirements.

Always look over your

auto insurance

before a long road trip.

Check out the

Jerry

app for the ultimate protection while touring Mississippi's national parks. A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.

If you're worried about roadside mishaps, Jerry can help you add

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to your insurance.

Jerry clients save an average of $800+ per year on insurance payments, which is enough to help fund a visit to any of Missouri's stunning national parks.