St Louis, MO is a great place to live. There are so many great opportunities for days out and excursions around the metro area. But if you’re looking to strike out a little further, there are plenty of amazing options for day trips too! From state parks to museums, there’s so much to see and do. 
3 Amazing Day Trips You Can Take From St. Louis, MO
1. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
The city of Springfield, IL is just a 90-minute drive from St. Louis, and perhaps its biggest claim to fame is that it was once home to one of the best known and best-loved Americans of all time, President Abraham Lincoln. Today, the city commemorates this great man’s life and work through the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
This fascinating site is one of the most visited presidential libraries in the country, and for good reason too! Hosting a range of fascinating exhibits sure to delight folks of all ages, visitors can learn about the Civil War, Lincoln’s presidential campaigns, and much more. The museum is open from 9am to 5pm daily (except for holidays) and admission is $15 for adults, $6 for children, $12 for seniors, and $10 for military personnel. A café is available on site.
2. Mark Twain National Forest
If you’re looking to spend a little time enjoying the great outdoors, there can be few better destinations than Mark Twain National Forest. This vast natural area spreads over more than 1.5 million acres, offering all kinds of recreational opportunities. Visitors can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, and much more.
The scenery is unrivaled, with mixed woodland, caves, rivers, and so much more to see. There are also hundreds of wildlife species to be seen within the forest, with the varied habitats supporting a vast array of birds. Mark Twain National Forest is just an hour and a half drive from St. Louis, and it’s well worth the short trip!
3. Missouri State Penitentiary
For a fascinating historical attraction offering the opportunity to experience a slice of 19th and 20th-century life for yourself, look no further than the Missouri State Penitentiary. Once serving as the state’s flagship correctional institution, it housed some of the most dangerous inmates in the area in tough, maximum security conditions. Today, the former prison’s legacy is preserved within a museum across the street from the original building.
The museum features exhibits, artifacts, and a replica cell documenting the history of this fearsome prison. But for best results, shell out a little extra on a historic or paranormal tour for the chance to enter the former prison itself. This quality attraction is located in Jefferson City, around 2 hours’ drive from St. Louis. Opening hours are from 10am to 4pm Monday through Friday and from 10am to 3pm on Saturdays. Check the website for tour details.
You can’t enjoy all these great outings and make the most of the local area without a safe and reliable way to get around. Stop by Bommarito Chevrolet South County today for an amazing deal on a new or pre-owned vehicle.
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