Looking For Peace And Quiet? Plan A Visit To These 10 Remote Missouri Towns

Southwest Airlines had a slogan - Wanna get away?  All of us have had times in our lives when I am sure we wanted to do just that.  We want to leave where we are, and perhaps secure some solitude.  Thankfully, Missouri has a lot of towns that you may not be familiar with, that will give you some peace and quiet that you may want to visit sometime.  I will share some info on 10 of them for you.

1.  West Plains, Missouri

The town of West Plains has a population of about 12,000 people and it is located in Howell County.  West Plains was so named because the settlement was on a prairie in a westerly direction from the nearest town, Thomasville.  This town is located in the Ozark Mountains, and isn't too far from Mark Twain National Forest.  Low cost of living, good education system.  About 2 hours from Branson and Springfield, and about 3 1/2 hours from Sedalia.  Click HERE for the town's website and see what it can offer you.

2.  Portageville, Missouri

Small town values, guided growth, preservation of historical, cultural, and natural heritage are just a few of the core principles that makes City of Portageville a wonderful place to call home. Some of the places to check out in town are Gator's Pizza, and Katie's Diner.  Low crime, low cost of living, and the city is in New Madrid and Pemiscot counties, and has a population of 3,228.  Website for the town is HERE.

3.  Dexter, Missouri

Stoddard County is where you will find the town of Dexter Missouri.  Population of about 7900.  The nearly 35 thousand acres is also home to seven State Wildlife Conservation areas, open to the public for hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking, camping, or just getting away from it all. Website link is HERE.  Only 1 hour from Cape Girardeau.

4.  Queen City, Missouri

Want a VERY small town? I give you Queen City, Missouri.  In Schuyler County with a population of only 598.  20 minutes from Kirksville Missouri.  Being located along the railroad, it provided a fine shipping point for large numbers of railroad ties and other lumber products harvested from heavily wooded areas along the Chariton River several miles to the west. Very high graduation rates for schools.  Great local restaurant to check out is Jankos.

5.  Trenton, Missouri

An hour and a half from Kansas City, Trenton Missouri is the county seat of Grundy County, with a population of about 6000.  Website link is HERE.  The city is the world’s largest producer of Vienna sausages. ConAgra Grocery Foods plant, where these sausages are made, is also its biggest employer. Lots of ball parks, and check out Moberly Park.

6.  Kennett, Missouri

Kennett Missouri is the county seat of Dunklin County.  Hometown of Sheryl Crow, and only 4 miles east of the state of Arkansas.  About 11,000 in population and only about 20 miles from the Mississippi River.  It is an agricultural hub producing goods like cotton, soybeans, rice, and watermelon that are distributed nationwide.  The cities website is HERE.

7.  Fredericktown, Missouri

Surrounded on 3 sides with Mark Twain National Forest, the town of Fredericktown has only 4000 residents.  The county seat of Madison County, and it is the home of the historic Madison County Courthouse that was built in 1898.  Two city parks play host to an assortment of community events such as the Azalea Festival and the Madison County Fair, and the other hosts the public pool. Visit their website HERE.

8.  New Madrid, Missouri

The town of New Madrid is close to Portageville, and only has a population of about 3100.  It is located on the Kentucky Bend of the Mississippi River. It was founded in 1783.  Lots of history with this town with several historical landmarks like the Higgerson School Historic Site, and the Hunter-Dawson Home State Historic Site. LIKE their Facebook page HERE and check out their website HERE.

9.  Mound City, Missouri

Mound City is a city in Holt County, Missouri, United States, centered near the interchange of Interstate 29 and Missouri Route 118. The population is only about 100 people and it's located near the Squaw Peak National Wildlife Refuge.  A hour and a half from Kansas City, you may see spring snow geese migration and some natural wonders.  City website is HERE.

10.  Van Buren, Missouri

Van Buren is a city in Carter County, Missouri, United States. It is the county seat and largest city in Carter County. Van Buren was founded in 1833 as the county seat of Ripley County and was named after then Vice President of the United States, Martin Van Buren. It lies deep in the southeastern Missouri Ozarks, and is a major destination for recreational floating and fishing on the famous and beautiful Current River.

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So have you been through any of these remote towns? If you are looking for peace and quiet, they might be worth checking out for a getaway for a few days.

Photo of West Plains Washington Avenue by Truett Ray / CC BY-SA 4.0 (No Changes Made)

Photo of Dexter Visitor center and grain towers by Skye Marthaler / CC BY-SA 3.0 (No Changes Made)

Photo of QueenCityMo1 by Sector001/ CC BY-SA 3.0 (No Changes Made)

Photo of Ely and Walker Shirt Factory No. 5 by KFD129/ CC BY-SA 3.0 (No Changes Made)