Discover the Serenity of Trail of Tears State Park

Getting There

• Walking

  If you're starting at downtown Cape Girardeau, head northwest on Broadway St towards the riverfront. Continue on Broadway St until you reach the intersection with North Main St. Turn left onto North Main St, which will lead you through the historic district. Follow North Main St until it becomes Kingshighway St. After approximately half a mile, turn right onto MO-34 E. Continue on this road for about 7 miles until you reach the city of Jackson. Once in Jackson, turn left onto MO-34 E. Follow this road until you see signs for Trail of Tears State Park. The park entrance will be on your right at 429 Moccasin Springs Rd. The walk is approximately 7-8 miles and may take around 2-2.5 hours, so plan accordingly.

• Bicycle

  To reach Trail of Tears State Park by bike, start from downtown Cape Girardeau and head northwest on Broadway St. Follow Broadway St until you reach North Main St, then turn left. Continue on North Main St, which turns into Kingshighway St. After about half a mile, turn right onto MO-34 E. This route is more direct and has a bike lane in certain areas. Cycle along MO-34 E for approximately 7 miles into Jackson. When you reach Jackson, follow the signs directing you to Trail of Tears State Park, taking a left onto MO-34 E. The park entrance is at 429 Moccasin Springs Rd, which will be on your right. This bike ride will be around 7-8 miles and should take about 30-50 minutes depending on your pace.

• Public Transit

  To get to Trail of Tears State Park using public transport, you can take a Greyhound or a regional bus service from Cape Girardeau to Jackson. Check the bus schedule for the timings, as they may vary. Once you arrive in Jackson, you can either walk or use a local taxi service to reach the park. The distance from the bus stop to the park is about 3 miles. If walking, head south on Main St, then turn right onto MO-34 E, and follow the road until you reach the park entrance at 429 Moccasin Springs Rd.