Discover Missouri’s Last Four Historic Covered Bridges
I have always found something nostalgic about exploring Missouri’s backroads. The peaceful farms and forests, crystal clear rivers, and charming small towns offer glimpses of the past.
Hidden among the hills and hollers of Missouri once stood over 30 wooden covered bridges spanning creeks and rivers. Today, only four of these historic structures remain and are preserved as part of the Missouri State Park system. Whether you’re a history buff, a photography enthusiast, or a family looking for a unique day trip, visiting these covered bridges is a wonderful Missouri adventure that captures the charm and engineering of the past.
Sandy Creek Covered Bridge
Location: Sandy Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Site (40 min south of St. Louis)
Address: 9090 Old Lemay Ferry Rd, Hillsboro, MO 63050
Site Amenities: Vault restroom, picnic area
Hours: 8 a.m. to one-half hour after sunset, daily, year-round
Nestled in a scenic Jefferson County setting, the Sandy Creek Covered Bridge was built in 1872 as one of six bridges linking Hillsboro to St. Louis via a gravel road. This bridge utilizes the Howe‑truss design, a popular and durable structural system patented in 1840. After flood damage and reconstruction in the late 1800s, the bridge was restored again in the 1980s and now serves pedestrian traffic only. Its classic red appearance makes this bridge a favorite for photography. The clear creek it spans is also a perfect shallow depth for all ages to enjoy in the summer.
Burfordville Covered Bridge
Location: Bollinger Mill State Historic Site, Burfordville, MO (near Cape Girardeau)
Address: Bollinger Mill Rd, Burfordville, MO 63739
Site Amenities: Vault restroom, picnic area
Hours: Site grounds: sunrise to sunset, daily, year-round
Mill tour hours vary by season.
The Burfordville Covered Bridge is Missouri’s oldest remaining covered bridge, with construction beginning before the Civil War in 1858. Built primarily of yellow poplar and utilizing the historic Howe‑truss design, it originally provided a vital link connecting local farmers with the nearby mill. The 140-foot long bridge spans the Whitewater River. Today the bridge is open for pedestrian use only and sits beside the historic Bollinger Mill, which is also open for tours.
Union Covered Bridge
Location: Union Covered Bridge State Historic Site, Paris, MO
Address: 20700 Monroe County Road 962, Paris, MO 65275
Site Amenities: None
Hours: Sunrise to sunset, daily, year-round
The Union Covered Bridge was built in 1871 to serve the local community traveling near the Union Church. Unique among Missouri’s covered bridges, it features a Burr‑arch truss design instead of the Howe truss used in Missouri’s other remaining bridges. In the late 1960s, Missouri’s Mexico Covered bridge was destroyed by flooding, but it’s timbers were used in the restoration of the Union Covered Bridge. The bridge nearly succumbed to a flood in 2008 as well, but the strategic removal of lower siding allowed water to flow through and spare the structure. After serving road travelers for 99 years, the bridge today is open for pedestrian use only.
Locust Creek Covered Bridge
Location: Pershing State Park (near Meadville), Linn County, MO
Address: Ellen Road, Laclede, MO
Site Amenities: The state park has restrooms, picnic areas, trails, camping, and playgrounds,
Hours: Sunrise to sunset, daily, year-round
The Locust Creek Covered Bridge is the longest of Missouri’s remaining covered bridges, stretching about 151 feet. Built in 1868 using white pine and the popular Howe‑truss design, it once carried horse‑drawn wagons and early automobiles along what became one of the nation’s earliest transcontinental roads. The bridge was later bypassed by U.S. Highway 36.
Over the years, the creek’s channel shifted, leaving the bridge spanning a dry bed in places and in danger of damage from vandalism and flooding. In 2025, the historic bridge was moved 5 miles away to Pershing State Park in order to provide better preservation. While you cannot currently walk across the bridge while the access supports are being constructed, you can still view the bridge from behind a fence or from the iron bridge located downstream. When reopened, the bridge will be part of the boardwalk trail in the park.
Why Missouri’s Covered Bridges Matter
Missouri’s covered bridges offer both peaceful places to photograph or picnic and living artifacts of transportation history. Originally there were dozens of these wooden structures found throughout Missouri, but time, flooding, and modernization reduced their numbers.. Thanks to preservation efforts by the state and local communities, these four remain intact and offer travelers a chance to step back in time.
Missouri Covered Bridge Map
To make it easy to road trip to all of Missouri’s covered bridges, I have even created a map of all the locations. This map starts at the most southern bridge and continues to the northwest. Happy Exploring!
