The Queen City Century features a number of route options. Those looking for a challenge can opt for the Queen City Century 101 mile route with over 4000ft of climbing. Riders have the option to do The Queen City Half Century with a midpoint turn-around on the century route. Too much climbing? We have a Queen City Flatter Century Option with about 1700 fewer feet of climbing!

Any of these routes can be shortened to a ride length of your choice by simply turning around on the route at your desired mileage

Those looking for a more leisurely ride, can opt for the 24-mile guided tour of Springfield’s nationally recognized trail and bicycle route system. This ride will take riders through Springfield on a mixture of bike paths, paved trail, and local roadways – with stops along the way to check out historical and other sites.

You’ll be well supported, with SAG Stops every 8-16 miles and roving SAG ready to help if you run into trouble. Whatever your level of interest or fitness, you’ll find a route you’ll enjoy! Read on for more details . . .

Under each route description below, there are viewable, downloadable, & printable maps and cue sheets. We strongly recommend downloading your route in electronic format, and uploading to your favorite device before the ride. Or, you can download and print maps and cue sheets. Even simply saving the PDF map & cue sheet to your smart phone is a great backup plan.

On ride day, we will have a very limited supply of printed maps available. Most important, the course will be well marked on the road (fluorescent orange “Q” with arrows).

Get routes as RideWithGPS, as Electronic Files, or as printable PDF maps and cue sheets below.

Riders must maintain a minimum average pace in order to proceed onto the longer routes. All riders must be through each Devil’s Gate checkpoint by certain times in order to proceed onto the longer routes. Riders who do not make the cut-off times must turn around and complete the shorter mileage. Please do not argue with our volunteers or insist on continuing on alone if you are asked not to continue on; this helps with the safety of the riders, respects the time of our volunteers and staff, and assures more a more timely finish for everyone.

The 2022 Queen City Century features the historic Frisco Highline Railroad – via the paved portion of the Frisco Highline Trail – and the Leaky Roof Railroad, a fascinating historical railroad important to the development of the region, which parallels our route between Ash Grove and Walnut Grove. The route is out and back from Best of Luck Beer Hall in downtown Springfield.

This out-and-back route starts in downtown Springfield and heads to the Frisco High Line Trail, Willard Trailhead to Ash Grove, Phenix Quarry, Walnut Grove, Willard Soccer Park, and Robberson Prairie Baptist Church. Riders can adjust ride length by turning around and whatever mileage midpoint they desire. The route visits or crosses several of the statewide and national bicycle touring routes that MoBikeFed helps develop and maintain in Missouri:

• Bicycle Route 66 (USBR 66) – Springfield
• TransAmerica Trail (USBR 76) – Ash Grove & Walnut Grove
• USBR 51: Downtown Springfield through Frisco Highline Trail section
• Butterfield Stage Experience mostly gravel bicycle route: Frisco Highline Trail through downtown St Louis section

The main century route option features about 4200 feet of climbing – Springfield is in the Ozarks, after all!
For those who would like to get in the miles but aren’t quite ready for so many hills this early in the season, we offer a flatter century option with significantly fewer hills. Note that Springfield is still in the Ozarks.  There will still be hills.  However, you save between 1200 and 1700 feet of climbing over 100 miles, compared with the main QCC Century loop.

Both routes are loaded with scenic and historic places and features.  Check the route maps for many points of interest along the way.  And don’t forget to read up on the history of the Frisco Highline Railroad and the Leaky Roof Railroad, which you’ll be seeing along the way.

Queen City Guided Ride – loop route – 24 miles

The guided tour/trail route option for the Queen City Century 2022 is a circuit of some of the best trails, scenery, and historic attractions of the Springfield area.

Route highlights:

• Butterfield Stage station location & historic marker (Park Central Square)
• Many historic markers, points of interest, Civil War (Park Central Square)
• Springfield Brewery District
• Historic Route 66 & Bicycle Route 66 (our route crosses historic Route 66 at St Louis Ave and at Chestnut) – Springfield was the birthplace of Route 66 & the Route 66 association met for many years at the Kentwood Arms Hotel on St Louis Ave. Springfield has an excellent Story Map highlighting historic Route 66 locations around the city
• Historic Rutledge Wilson Farm
• Historic Butterfield Stage Route between Springfield and Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield (railroad crossing west of Nathaniel Greene/Close Park – the historic trail closely followed the present-day railroad corridor). This was the Wire Road and Military Road between St Louis and Fort Smith, and play a key role in Civil War battles and more.
• Trail of Tears route through Springfield and Trail of Tears historic marker on the South Creek Greenway Trail.
• Historic Gray/Campbell Farmstead, Botanic Garden, Kickapoo Edge Prairie, Lake Drummond at Nathaniel Green/Close Park

The route visits or crosses several of the statewide and national bicycle touring routes that MoBikeFed helps develop and maintain in Missouri:

• Bicycle Route 66 (USBR 66) – Springfield
• USBR 51: Springfield Park Central Square
• Butterfield Stage Experience mostly gravel bicycle route: Springfield Park Central Square and trail sections on the SW portion of the loop: 

The century route features four rest stops where you can rest, relax, and enjoy snacks, drinks, and restrooms. It also includes two water stops, with water and limited snacks available. The routes make double-use of most SAG stops, so that we have SAG stops every 8-16 miles along the entire course.

Note that most stops are fully stocked SAGs with volunteers, plenty of food, water, Gatorade powder, and restrooms. A few stops–marked on your maps a “Water Stops”–are more basic with water, a few snacks on hand, and no restrooms available. Check your map for details.

We will have roving SAG drivers on the course at all times. If you have mechanical trouble or need a pick-up for any reason, just call.

Whether you enjoy a short flat, ride or long road ride on beautiful country roads, Queen City Century has it for you! Many thanks to local riders who have spent many hours evaluating potential QCC routes and giving feedback and suggestions.

To get the routes on your RideWithGPS app:

 – Visit the RWGPS event page here

 – Click the “RSVP” link to sign up for the event on RideWithGPS

 – Now you can find the event in the RideWithGPS app under “More” and “My Events”

 – In the RideWithGPS app, tap the route you are planning to ride and “Save” (this saves the route to your phone so you can ride even if you have no data connection)

 – When you havigate the route, you will hear voice navigation directions at turns, upcoming Rest Stops, etc (note this may require some setup in your app – in Settings make sure all audio & spoken alerts, chimes, etc are enabled – and make sure your phone’s VOLUME is set high enough to hear them)

 – SUGGESTION: Once you start the ride, turn you phone to “Airplane Mode”. This saves battery and should allow most phones to ride all day with navigation, without running down the battery.

 – SUGGESTION: Bring a battery backup/charger just in case.