Missouri battlefields road trip: 13 key Civil War sites in chronological order plus 2 can’t-miss museums for a smart, driveable Missouri getaway.

Missouri Battlefields in Order: 15 Must-See Stops
Plan Your Next Adventure!
Check Out These Books Published By The Sojourner’s Compass
- “Missouri in the Crossfire – The Civil War’s Forgotten Frontier” Series
- “Battles & Beyond” – Companion Book Series
Stay Connected
Support the Journey

Missouri Battlefields in Order: 15 Must-See Stops

If you’ve been wanting a Missouri battlefields road trip that’s actually easy to follow, this is the clean, chronological itinerary to bookmark. Missouri saw everything from early-war clashes to the decisive fighting of Price’s 1864 campaign—plus the brutal, messy border warfare that made this state’s Civil War story unlike anywhere else.

Below are 13 battlefields (chronological) and 2 museums that deepen the story. Two stops (Pea Ridge and Mine Creek) sit just over the state line, but they’re still Missouri-relevant because they connect directly to campaigns that shaped what happened inside Missouri.

Missouri Battlefields in Chronological Order

1) Boonville — June 17, 1861

One of the earliest significant clashes in Missouri, Boonville helped set the tone for who would control key river routes early in the war.

Travel note: A perfect “starter stop” because it’s quick to visit and easy to pair with a Missouri River weekend.

2) Carthage — July 5, 1861

A major early engagement in southwest Missouri during the chaotic opening months of 1861.

Travel note: Fits neatly into a Joplin/Carthage weekend with historic downtown walking and local eats.

3) Athens — August 5, 1861

A sharp early-war battle on Missouri’s northeast edge, remembered for how far north the fighting reached in 1861.

Travel note: This is a “quiet gem” stop—short visit, strong sense of place, easy to combine with river and border history.

4) Wilson’s Creek — August 10, 1861

One of the most important early-war battlefields in the entire Trans-Mississippi. If you want to understand why Missouri stayed contested, start here.

Travel note: Plan extra time—walking the ground is the whole point.

5) Lexington — September 12–20, 1861

Lexington is famous for the “hemp bales” story and it’s one of the best “battle + historic town” combos in Missouri.

Travel note: Don’t rush it. Pair your battlefield time with a slow walk through town.

6) Pea Ridge (Arkansas) — March 7–8, 1862

Not in Missouri, but absolutely essential to Missouri’s Civil War story. Pea Ridge shaped control and momentum in the region for the rest of the war.

Travel note: The perfect add-on day trip if you’re already doing southwest Missouri.

7) Lone Jack — August 15–16, 1862

A hard-fought battle east of Kansas City that reflects the volatility and violence of the border region.

Travel note: Great for a Kansas City weekend itinerary.

8) Island Mound — October 27–29, 1862

One of the most historically significant “less famous” stops in Missouri—small on the map, big on meaning.

Travel note: If you visit one underrated site for pure historical importance, make it this one.

9) Centralia — September 27, 1864

A sobering, pivotal stop tied to Missouri’s guerrilla war—one of the most infamous days of the conflict inside the state.

Travel note: Approach with the right mindset. This isn’t a “fun battle story” stop.

10) Pilot Knob / Fort Davidson — September 27, 1864

A major battlefield tied to the opening punches of Price’s 1864 campaign in Missouri, and one of the most rewarding sites to visit in person.

Travel note: This is a “you’ll understand it better on the ground” location—give it time.

11) Glasgow — October 15, 1864

Glasgow connects directly to the movement and momentum of the 1864 campaign through central Missouri.

Travel note: Ideal for travelers who like “small-town Missouri + big history” in one stop.

12) Westport (Kansas City) — October 23, 1864

Often called the “Gettysburg of the West,” Westport is a turning-point battle and a must for anyone exploring Civil War Kansas City.

Travel note: Great for travelers who want a history trip with modern-city perks (food, museums, neighborhoods).

13) Mine Creek (Kansas) — October 25, 1864

Just across the border, but it helps complete the story of the retreat phase after Westport in the 1864 campaign.

Travel note: If you’ve done Westport, Mine Creek is the next chapter that makes the campaign feel complete.

Two Museums That Make the Whole Trip Better

14) Bates County Museum (Butler)

A strong local-history stop, especially relevant if you’re visiting Island Mound and digging deeper into the border-war story in western Missouri.

Travel note: Check hours before you go—smaller museums can have limited schedules.

15) Jefferson Barracks (St. Louis County) — Missouri Civil War Museum

Jefferson Barracks is a cornerstone Civil War-era location in the St. Louis area, and the museum here is a great way to add artifacts and bigger-picture context to what you’ve seen on the road.

Travel note: This pairs well with a St. Louis weekend—especially if you’re already doing historic sites, parks, and riverfront stops.

Simple Planning Tips for a Missouri Battlefields Road Trip

Build it in loops instead of trying to do all 15 stops in one run:
- Central Missouri loop: Boonville + Lexington
- Southwest Missouri loop: Carthage + Wilson’s Creek (+ Pea Ridge add-on)
- KC/Border loop: Lone Jack + Westport (+ Mine Creek add-on)
- 1864 campaign trail: Pilot Knob → Glasgow → Westport → Mine Creek

Let the chronology guide you. Visiting in date order makes the war’s escalation in Missouri feel real—from early clashes to full-scale 1864 campaigning and the dark edge of guerrilla conflict.
Respect the ground. Many of these places are quiet and reflective. Stay on paths, read the signage, and leave the landscape exactly as you found it.

Wrap-Up

If you’ve been looking for a Missouri battlefields itinerary that’s clean, chronological, and easy to drive, this 15-stop list is a strong starting point. Pick one region, knock out two or three sites in a weekend, and build your way through Missouri’s Civil War story one trip at a time.

Plan Your Next Adventure!

Ready to hit the road?

Book your getaway with our travel partner Trip.com for deals on hotels, flights, car rentals, and more.

Need gear or planning tools? Visit our [Resource Page] for trusted outdoor essentials, eSIM solutions, and smart travel hacks.

Learn More About The Sojourner’s Compass

Welcome to “The Sojourner’s Compass”

Missouri Battlefields: Epic 15-Stop History Road Trip

Missouri Battlefields in Order: 15 Must-See Stops

Missouri Battlefields in Chronological Order

1) Boonville — June 17, 1861

2) Carthage — July 5, 1861

3) Athens — August 5, 1861

4) Wilson’s Creek — August 10, 1861

5) Lexington — September 12–20, 1861

6) Pea Ridge (Arkansas) — March 7–8, 1862

7) Lone Jack — August 15–16, 1862

8) Island Mound — October 27–29, 1862

9) Centralia — September 27, 1864

10) Pilot Knob / Fort Davidson — September 27, 1864

11) Glasgow — October 15, 1864

12) Westport (Kansas City) — October 23, 1864

13) Mine Creek (Kansas) — October 25, 1864

Two Museums That Make the Whole Trip Better

14) Bates County Museum (Butler)

15) Jefferson Barracks (St. Louis County) — Missouri Civil War Museum

Simple Planning Tips for a Missouri Battlefields Road Trip

Wrap-Up

Plan Your Next Adventure!

Ready to hit the road?

Learn More About The Sojourner’s Compass

Check Out These Top 10 Lists From Missouri

Explore Missouri’s Outdoor Destinations

Explore Missouri’s River Legacy

Explore Missouri’s Outlaw Past

Explore Missouri’s Civil War History

Explore The Importance of History

Check Out These Books Published By The Sojourner’s Compass

“Missouri in the Crossfire – The Civil War’s Forgotten Frontier” Series

“Battles & Beyond” – Companion Book Series

Stay Connected

Support the Journey

Leave a Reply Cancel reply