Getting Around, Jefferson City Travel, Transport and Car Rental
(Jefferson City, Missouri - MO, USA)
Being so centrally located in Missouri means that Jefferson City has good transport connections with the entire state. Several highways radiate outwards from the city, such as the US-50, the US-54 and the US-63, meaning that renting a car is a popular option with visitors. For long journeys, it is also possible to travel in and out of the city onboard Amtrak trains.
Interestingly, Jefferson City is actually one of only four state capitals that is not directly connected by an interstate highway. However, a little to the north, Interstate I-70 travels all the way between the east and west state borders, from Kansas City (west) to St. Louis (east).
If you are staying in downtown Jefferson City, then you will likely think it best to travel around on foot, walking between the attractions, shops and eateries. Those in a rush will find that public transport is available in the form of buses, which connect the principal places of interest. Of note to cyclists, all of the buses plying the main routes come with racks for bikes. The lengthy and very scenic Greenway features a network of paved trails, perfect for cycling, walking or jogging.
Columbia Regional Airport (COU) / Arriving by Air
Address: 11300 South Airport Drive, Columbia, Missouri (MO), 65201, USA
Tel: +1 573 442 9770
Although Jefferson City does boast its own small airport located on the other side of the Missouri River, it does not features scheduled commercial flights or airlines. Therefore, if you are planning to travel in and out of Missouri by plane, then you will probably choose to make use of nearby Columbia Regional Airport, which is to be found roughly 20 miles / 32 km to the north and is home to airlines such as American Eagle (
Chicago and
Dallas). By road, this journey should take roughly 30 minutes, via Highway US-63.
Ground transport at Columbia's airport comes in the form of around ten different taxi transport companies, such as American Taxi (tel: +1 573 234 6547), Columbia Taxi (tel: +1 573 442 8545) and the Economy Cab Company (tel: +1 573 886 2233). Alternatively, local hotel shuttles are also available, as are a couple of car rental companies, namely Enterprise and Hertz.
Roughly two hours away from Jefferson City is the considerably larger Lambert St. Louis International Airport (STL), which is reachable via Interstate I-70. More than 15 million passengers currently use this airport each year, flying with popular airlines such as Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, United Airlines, United Express and US Airways. Further afield, Kansas City International Airport (MCI) provides an alternative and can be reached in approximately three hours.
Lambert St. Louis Airports Guide
Kansas City Airports Guide
Car Rental
If you want to explore more of Missouri, then Jefferson City is the perfect starting point, since it is so centrally located within the state itself. Renting car transport for your time in the capital will certainly make it all the more easy to travel outside of the city, at your own pace and without the need to follow a timetable.
If you need to park in downtown Jefferson City, then you can make use of the parking garage located on the corner of Capitol Avenue and Madison Street, which is home to almost 550 spaces.
Buses
Tel: +1 573 634 6477
Public bus transport in Jefferson is operated by Jefftran and travels Monday to Friday, suiting commuters and weekday sightseers alike. This transit service features five main routes - Capital Mall, High Street East, High Street West, Missouri Boulevard and Southwest. Popular stops include the Cole County Courthouse, Jefferson Bank, the Jefferson Plaza, the Justice Center, Kmart, Lincoln University, the Missouri State Capitol Building, the Post Office, the Runge Nature Center, St. Joseph's Cathedral, the Stadium YMCA, the Supreme Court Building and Walmart West.
Trains
Tel: +1 800 872 7245
Jefferson City is lucky enough to have its very own Amtrak rail transport, with its train station being sited at 101 Jefferson Street, right next to the Jefferson Landing State Historic Site and the Missouri River. Each day there are several departures in both directions along this line, which has been named the 'Missouri River Runner', since it tends to loosely follow the route of the river. Trains travel between St. Louis and Kansas City, stopping along the way at Kirkwood, Washington, Jefferson City, Lee's Summit and Independence. Rail travelers should note that reservations are necessary.
Taxis
Various cab companies operate in Jefferson City and lend themselves to short journeys, between your hotel and the main attractions. Taxi fares are always more expensive than public transport, although if you are sharing the cab with other travelers, then the pro-rata cost per head is certainly reduced and becomes more affordable. Notable local taxi cab companies include:
- Checker Cab - tel: +1 573 636 7101
- Checker Livery - tel: +1 573 636 7324
- Jeff City Taxi - tel: +1 573 635 0588
- Google+
