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Perryville, Perryville, MO

Photo: Markkaempfer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffLocal Gem

Perryville

· Perryville, MO

Why you should go…

Perryville, the seat of Perry County in southeast Missouri, grew around German and French Catholic settlement and still centers on that heritage, including a historic basilica and seminary buildings near the town square. The compact downtown and surrounding countryside make it an easy stop for travelers on I-55 between St. Louis and Cape Girardeau.

  • #heritage tourism
  • #catholic history
  • #perry county
  • #southeast missouri

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Perryville, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Shopping
    Local Gem

    ASL Pewter

    Free

    Working pewter studio and shop hand-casting heirloom pieces with colonial-era tools and techniques.

    22 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Ste. Genevieve

    Free

    Missouri's oldest permanent European settlement, with French colonial homes you can still tour.

    25 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Valor Bluffs

    Under $25

    A nine-hole par-3 golf course with two bars, casual food and a Fallen Heroes Memorial on 40 rolling acres outside Bonne Terre, Missouri.

    32 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Free

    Elephant Rocks State Park

    Free

    Clamber among giant pink granite boulders lined up like a train of circus elephants, with a paved Braille Trail looping past them.

    46 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Downstate Illinois

    Free

    Regional visitor guide to 22 counties of south central Illinois, covering history, caves, and small town charm.

    57 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Cherokee Street

    Free

    Historic antique and arts district on St. Louis's south side, home to Cherokee Street Antique Row.

    64 mi awayMore like this