Travel Info

Getting to Columbia:

If you are flying to the conference, you can fly directly to Columbia Regional (COU). There are presently daily flights to/from Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW). Starting in August 2017, direct flights to/from Denver International (DIA) will be available. Taxi service is available to/from the airport.

You may also wish to consider flying into St. Louis Lambert (STL), which is about 1 ½ hours away, and Kansas City International (MCI), which is about 2 hours away. Shuttle service is available to/from both airports. The cost is about $120 round trip; for this price the shuttle will take you directly to your hotel (or to anywhere else in town you may want to go). The shuttle service can be booked here.

Staying here:

Conference attendees have a chance to stay at Excellence Hall, a residence hall on campus (902 Virginia Avenue) where there are accommodations for university-sponsored visitors, and where the conference speakers will be accommodated. Single rooms are available at a rate of $52.50 per night and can be booked (on a first come first served basis) by calling 573-882-4440 during regular business hours (cash or check only).

Other lodging options are available in or close to downtown, but are more expensive:

Food and Drink Recommendations (Downtown):

Broadway Brewery – [816 E Broadway] Farm-to-table microbrewery with casual American fare. Lunch and dinner. Brunch on Sundays.

Café Berlin – [220 N 10th St] Local, organic breakfast and lunch with a “hipster” vibe.

Ernie’s Café and Steak House – [1005 E Walnut St] “Greasy spoon” American diner with ‘50s look. Breakfast.

44 Canteen – [21 N 9th St] Casual American and Mexican-inspired small plates. Lunch and dinner.

Glenn’s Café – [29 S 8th St] Cajun-creole restaurant, located in the Tiger Hotel. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

International Café – [26 S 9th St] No frills Greek and Middle-Eastern cuisine. Lunch and dinner.

Kampai – [907 Alley A] Japanese with contemporary décor. Lunch and dinner.

Lakota Coffee Company – [24 S 9th St] Coffeehouse with on-site roasting and Native American décor.

Main Squeeze – [28 S 9th St] Eco-friendly vegetarian/vegan food and smoothies. Lunch.

MidiCi – [1007 E Broadway] Neapolitan-style pizzas and salads made with fresh, natural, non-GMO ingredients. Lunch and dinner.

Pizza Tree – [909 Cherry St] Unassuming pizzeria with innovative, New York-style pizzas. Lunch and dinner.

Shortwave Coffee – [915 Alley A] Cozy, basement coffee shop offering hand-roasted, seasonal coffees.

Shotgun Pete’s BBQ Shack – [28 N 9th St] Authentic Missouri barbecue. Lunch and dinner.

Sycamore – [800 E Broadway] Fine dining with locally sourced, American fare and specialty cocktails. Lunch and dinner.

Szechuan House – [22 N 9th St] Chinese menu with Szechuan “heat”. Lunch and dinner.

Thip Thai – [904 E Broadway] Snug eatery featuring authentic Thai cuisine. Lunch and dinner.

Top Ten Wines – [111 S 9th St] Wine shop with evening bar scene.

Uprise Bakery – [10 Hitt St] Soups, salads, sandwiches, bread plates. Evening bar scene. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The Wine Cellar and Bistro – [505 Cherry St] Cozy, fine dining with many locally sourced and organic offerings and extensive wine list. Dinner.

University attractions:

  • Museum of Art History and Archaeology – [115 Business Loop 70 W] Currently located at Mizzou North, on Business Loop 70, the building is visible to the south from I-70 between West Blvd and Providence exits. The Cast Gallery is open, along with the 15,000 piece exhibits. There is also a restaurant on the ground floor. You can take Mizzou’s shuttle to get to this location if you are without a car. The Museum’s hours are Tuesday - Friday 9AM-4PM and Saturday and Sunday, noon until 4PM. Please call 573-882-3591 for more information about Tours or to request a docent. Here is more information on the shuttle.
  • Reptile Exhibit – [202 Stewart Hall] University of Missouri is the home for one of the most unique exhibits of native Missouri reptiles, including the various species of snakes found in the state.
  • The Botanic Gardens – Mizzou’s entire campus consists of these Botanic Gardens. While walking around campus, take time to look at the different flora which surrounds the buildings. If you are interested in anything in particular, here is a link to a map of the gardens.
  • The Columns – In front of Jesse Hall (the center building on the quad) you will find the historic columns. For more information on their history, please see the university website.
  • State historical society of Missouri – [1020 Lowry St] Located on the side within Ellis library, this Historical society boasts a collection of manuscripts, newspapers, artwork, and biographies of famous events and people of Missouri.
  • For more information and for other things to do, please visit http://www.visitcolumbiamo.com/

Keeping yourself entertained when not conferencing:

  • Stephen’s Lake Park – [2001 E Broadway] A wonderful park on the east side of town with good trails around a small pond.
  • Rock Bridge – [5901 South Hwy. 163] A place a bit outside of town with great hiking trails, the Rock Bridge stone formation, and a cave.
  • Shelter Gardens – [1817 W Broadway] If you don’t see the botanical gardens on Mizzou’s campus, you should check out these gardens downtown.
  • Ragtag Cinema – [10 Hitt St] A cute theater, complete with furniture that makes you feel at home, accompanied by some of the most popular independent films. Located inside Uprise Bakery, which becomes a pub by night.
  • Artlandish Gallery – [1019 E Walnut St] Local artists display and sell their artwork here. There are a variety of different artists and styles available. It is worth a look!