Looking for a getaway? We have just the idea for you. We recommend spending a weekend in Sedalia, Missouria!
Several months ago T and I had the pleasure of spending about 15 hours in Sedalia, MO on our way to Branson! We were invited to come back when the weather was nicer (think cold and sleet in February on our first visit). So, when our friends at the Hotel Bothwell set us up to stay for a couple nights in August, we couldn’t turn them down!
We’ve now visited Sedalia twice and put together this guide on how to spend a weekend in Sedalia, MO.
Thank you to Hotel Bothwell for our overnight accommodations, Ozark Coffee Company for their hospitality, and the Sedalia Convention & Visitors Bureau for arranging much of our activities. Even with all this goodness, all thoughts & opinions are 100% authentic and my own. For more details, please see the Disclosure Tab.
Visit the Katy Depot
There’s only one place to start your 36 hours in Sedalia and that’s the Katy Depot. Located in the heart of Sedalia, you’ll find the historic depot & museum. Originally built in 1896 this gorgeous building was re-opened after restoration in 2000. The last passengers on the railroad to pass through the depot occurred in 1959 and the last freight was transported in and out of the depot in 1970. It was then closed down and sat empty for several decades.
The restoration took 2.8 million dollars and the building now houses the Convention & Visitors Bureau welcome center and offices. The welcome center has a plethora of pamphlets and information for visitors as well as local Missouri products.
It also has a museum of the railroad, Sedalia, and a bike rental & repair shop since it is situated along the Katy Bike Trail! This museum is very unique with it’s small buildings depicting important parts of Sedlia history!
The history of the railroad and Sedalia goes back prior to the Civil War and the museum does a great job of outlining it. It’s a great place to get on the bike trail and start your trip in Sedalia!
- The Sedalia Katy Depot – 600 East Third Street, Sedalia
Ride the Katy Bike Trail
A great way to see the town during your 36 hours in Sedalia is to jump on the Katy Bike Trail. Check out Champion Bicycles located in the Katy Depot! Not only do they have accessories for your bike for sale, they also have a repair shop if you do have problems along the way! Don’t want to travel with your bike?! That’s ok, the folks at Champion have you covered with rentals! You can snag an entire day of rental for only $30 or just grab it for an hour for $7/hour. And these aren’t your grandma’s bikes, these are high end and well cared for!
The folks at Champion Bicycles hooked us up with rentals for a couple hours to explore the trail! They were helpful and made sure our bikes fit us! Once we were outfitted, we headed out on the trail towards the fair grounds to explore!
Along the path you’ll find benches to relax on, parks, playgrounds, and more! The trail is well maintained and very level through town, so it’s easy for any age to bike! The stops along the way in Sedalia have been the work of many community groups and volunteers! The trail actually connects Kansas City area to the St. Louis suburbs, so you can do as much or as little as you’d like!
Annual Corvette Show & Cruise-In
If 2 wheels isn’t your thing, maybe 4 wheels is! Hotel Bothwell hosts a Corvette Show each year! Enjoy over 50 Corvettes from all generations parked around the beautiful downtown square! Plus, there are vendor booths, merchandise, food trucks, live music, raffle drawings, and much more!
2021 Corvette Show & Cruise-In: Saturday October 2nd 8AM-5PM
Schedule a Tour at the Heard House
Located on West Broadway (one of the main streets through Sedalia), you’ll find the Heard House. Don’t be put off by it’s location (right next to a gas station), this house is rich in history! Construction began in 1904 by John & Lillian Heard. Inside, you’ll find stunning touches and amazing stories of the influential people who had once passed through the halls.
Much of the house still obtains original pieces owned by the Heards. Take note of the unique features of this house like the smooth glass doorknobs, the leaded glass door detail in the pantry, and the magnificent stained glass windows which are the focal points of the stairs landing.
You’ll have to contact the Heard House to schedule your private tour as public tours are not offered, but it will be worth the extra effort to add it as a part of your weekend in Sedalia! Marty Graves, one of the volunteers who is incredibly involved with the Heard House is a wealth of knowledge! We had a blast with her!
- The Heard House – 200 West Broadway, Sedalia
Tour Bothwell Lodge
Located just a few miles north of Sedalia on Highway 65, you’ll find Bothwell Lodge State Historic Site. Constructed in several portions in the early 20th Century, the Bothwell Lodge was the summer home of John Bothwell! He was an influential member of the Sedalia community and very well to do!
The lodge is an eclectic home filled with a lot of the original furnishings. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and you truly get a feel for the life that John Bothwell led here. The views from the lodge aren’t too shabby either! Plus, there are a few trails you can walk surrounding the property as well! Make sure to take it all in!
And yes, this is the same Bothwell that our favorite Sedalia hotel is named after!
- Bothwell Lodge State Historic Site – 19349 Bothwell State Park Road, Sedalia
Eat at Kehde’s Barbeque
No weekend in Sedalia is complete without eating in the train car at Kehde’s Barbeque! You heard me right! Head to Kehde’s BBQ across from the fairgrounds for not only some of the best barbecue around, but also for a unique dining experience! Booths and tables are available in the old drive-in portion of the restaurant or you can head up and into the train car to dine!
The atmosphere is fun and unique and the food is delicious! Kehde’s loads their side salads up with lots of fruits and veggies, the variety of side are plentiful and delicious, and the barbecue is on point. The brisket is my favorite as it reminds me of bbq from my younger years! In addition to having delicious food and a fun atmosphere, the service has always been top-notch! It’s a definite stop when in or near Sedalia!
- Kehde’s Barbecue – 1915 S Limit Ave, Sedalia
Stay at the Hotel Bothwell
When it’s time to rest your weary head in Sedalia, we of course, demand (ok, strongly encourage) that you visit our friends at the Hotel Bothwell. This historic hotel was originally opened in 1927. From 1988-1998, it was home to a senior living center and then was purchased and renovated to it’s glory! So many of the historic features have been maintained and it’s not only beautiful, but the service is top notch. From the wait staff at the Ivory Grille to the front desk to the ladies in charge of the breakfast room, everyone is so warm and welcoming.
The Hotel Bothwell has become a place where we can escape and relax. Each room is decorated with high end pieces and all the rooms are different!
The Breakfast room is a new addition to the Hotel Bothwell and so fantastic! Not only is the food delicious (cold cereals, pastries, yogurt, oatmeal, eggs, waffles, and more), but the room itself is beautiful! Did I mention the ladies that take care of the breakfast room are THE BEST I’ve ever experienced?! Friendly, warm, welcoming, happy to answer questions, and accommodate everyone!
We guarantee anyone staying at the Hotel Bothwell will not only enjoy a good nights sleep, but also the beautiful building, and top notch service.
- Hotel Bothwell – 104 E 4th Street, Sedalia
Escape at Hotel Bothwell in Sedalia, Missouri
Grab Coffee from Ozark Mountain Coffee
Since you’ll be spending at least one night in Sedalia during your weekend in Sedalia, a stop to see our friends at Ozark Mountain Coffee is a must. On our trip in February we were able to meet owner, Justin Koehn, and check out the progress of their new location. It wasn’t completed at that time, so we were excited to stop in and check it out! We were blown away. How lucky Sedalia is to have this treasure in their downtown!
Not only is the shop beautiful, but the service is excellent, and the coffees even better. All of their flavor syrups are house-made, and the baristas operate like a well oiled machine! We loved it so much we had coffee one morning and then headed back that afternoon to cool off with a delicious Frappe. They also offer a few hot breakfast items and amazing looking pastries, so there’s no way you’ll walk out hungry!
- Ozark Coffee Company & Roastary – 614 S Ohio Ave., Sedalia
Walk Historic Downtown
While you’re sipping your coffee, frappe, or smoothie from Ozark Coffee Company, stroll through historic downtown Sedalia. Not only are there a variety of shops to stop at, but you’ll find a several murals on the buildings and artistic bicycles to see. Each piece of bicycle artwork is designed different, and so neat to see!
Make sure to catch a couple of their High Wheel Bike sculptures too! Finally, take in the gorgeous historic buildings in the downtown! It’s a great way to spend some of your weekend in Sedalia!
Spend A Weekend in Sedalia
One stop we made on our first visit to Sedalia, that is a must add to this itinerary, is the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art to see the Chihuly Chandelier and other art!
Sedalia is an amazing historic community with lots to do, but a great community to slow down in! For us, spending a weekend in Sedalia was a great way to relax, get away, and enjoy new things! We think you’ll like it too!
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This town looks so charming. I’m blown away by the hotel.
The hotel gets me every time! I still swoon when I walk in!!!
It was a wonderful place to be a child. I was born there and moved away when I was 8. My family still lived there so I went home a lot. Just went there this summer.
Wow! How cool! Thanks for sharing!!
What a cool place!
It really is! So unique and lots to do!
So many fun places. Heard House looks absolutely gorgeous. That stained glass window is amazing!
The picture don’t even do the window justice! It’s stunning!!!
What a lovely place to visit! I love the photos that you shared to highlight the things mentioned to do. I fall more in love with the Midwest upon reading your blog!
Thank you! It really is a great community! It’s so rich is history and culture! Thanks for stopping by!
I love the mix of elegance and comfort food. I couldn’t conjure up a picture of this place in my mind before I read this, but now the images I’ll see are yours. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
Thanks so much! It’s a great place to visit.
Wow! This is a great article. And I found it at the right time. In a few months, I will be moving from San Antonio, Texas to northwest Arkansas after calling San Antonio home for more than a half century. I’ve been (more than) a little down at the thought of leaving my longtime home, but your article has brightened my outlook as I see an example of wonderful new places to see within a few hours of my next home. Sedalia will be an early stop as I explore my new surroundings. Thank you.
Fantastic! Enjoy your time! We love this community!
I’ve lived here all of my life, except college, and see no reason to live anywhere else. Being an hour from the lake or from Kansas City is very convenient. I seem to have moved closer to city center throughout the years until we finally live in a downtown loft. I like it here.
Downtown is definitely the place to be! We can’t wait to come back and explore more! Thanks for visiting!
I’ve always wanted to live in a loft.
I lived in Sedalia from 1977 until 2003. It was a great place to raise my children. Small town with lots of friendly people! I was the director of Meals on Wheels for 14 years and enjoyed working with many church members and organizations of volunteers. I enjoyed helping our seniors receive a visit from my volunteers and a hot meal. Sedalia is a very loving and giving community. Sedalia will always be dear to me. If you have time visit all the places listed. You won’t be disappointed!
Thanks so much for stopping by, we love Sedalia and can’t wait to come back and do more exploring!
I am just now seeing this article from 2019, and am so glad it surfaced. Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience in our town.
We love visiting your town! You have so much to offer! Definitely a diamond in the rough!