Major city · United States
AltonAlton, Missouri
Go only if you are floating or hiking the Eleven Point: 1–2 nights, no more. As a sightseeing town on its own, skip it.
Alton is a small Ozark town of about 870 people in Oregon County, southeast Missouri, sitting where US 160 meets Highway 19. It exists for travellers as a base for the Eleven Point National Wild and Scenic River, Greer Spring and the Irish Wilderness — not as a town to sightsee. Come for a float, a hike or a night between drives; a car is required.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (heat and humidity), Jan–Feb (ice on back roads)
- Airport
- UNKNOWN
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Alton911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Alton, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyAlton is a quiet rural town and crime is not the concern; the real risks are driving unlit deer roads at night, summer heat on the river…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportUNKNOWN No commercial airport in Alton (Thayer has a small airfield nearby; the practical gateways are Springfield (SGF), St.
- Getting aroundYou need a car.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or breakfast at a town café$5–12
- BeerBeer or soft drink$3–7
- Budget bedCampground pitch, a night, per roomUS$15
- Mid-range bedLocal motel room, a night, per roomUS$80
- High-end bedLocal motel room, a night, per roomUS$120
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$110 · High US$190
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- UNKNOWN No commercial airport in Alton (Thayer has a small airfield nearby; the practical gateways are Springfield (SGF), St. Louis (STL) or Memphis (MEM), each a 2.5–4 h drive. Check schedules.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Feb
Avoid
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Mar
not flagged
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Apr
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
May
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jun
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jul
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Aug
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Oct
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Nov
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Dec
not flagged
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jan–Feb, Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C) low), wettest May (11 rain days), driest Aug (7). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Alton: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
8 rd
Feb
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
8 rd
Mar
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
10 rd
Apr
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
10 rd
May
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
11 rd
Jun
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
9 rd
Jul
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
8 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
7 rd
Sep
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
7 rd
Oct
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
8 rd
Nov
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
8 rd
Dec
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
8 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
You need a car. There is no useful public transport; distances between the town, the river access points and Greer Spring are 10–30 km on two-lane roads. Fill the tank in West Plains or Poplar Bluff before you arrive, and expect patchy phone signal in the forest.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Greer Spring
goDoor to door: About 1 h from Alton
Drive Highway 19 south, then the marked forest road to the trailhead; short walk to the overlook
One of the largest springs in the Ozarks; the trail down to the river is steep.
Eleven Point River float
goDoor to door: Half to full day
Shuttle with a local canoe rental from Alton or the Highway 160/19 junction
Book the shuttle and boat ahead on summer weekends.
Irish Wilderness
cautionDoor to door: Half to full day
Drive to a forest trailhead, then hike in
Missouri's largest wilderness area; no facilities, no phone signal, bring a paper map.
Ozark Trail along the Eleven Point
goDoor to door: Half day or more
Drive to a trailhead on the river corridor
Section hiking only; arrange a pick-up or walk back.
Van Buren
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Drive US 60 east, about 60 km (37 mi)Drive US 60 east, about 37 mi (60 km)
Bigger river base with more beds and food.
West Plains
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Drive US 160 west, about 65 km (40 mi)Drive US 160 west, about 40 mi (65 km)
Nearest full-size town for fuel, groceries and a hospital.
Poplar Bluff
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min
Drive US 160 east, about 110 km (68 mi)Drive US 160 east, about 68 mi (110 km)
Worth it for services, not as a sight.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Alton town centre (Court Square and Market Street)
The motel and the cafés; walkable, and the only real cluster of beds in town.
US 160 / Highway 19 junction
Cottages at the crossroads; best if you are towing a canoe or arriving late.
River and forest campgrounds
Sites along the Eleven Point and in Mark Twain National Forest; book or arrive early on summer weekends.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $60–100 excl. bed
- Mid
- $100–170 excl. bed
- High
- $170+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Local motel room1 × 2 nights × US$80 | US$160 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$110 | US$440 |
| Canoe or kayak rental with shuttle, per boat1 × US$60 · check | US$60 |
| Fuel for a day of forest driving1 × US$20 | US$20 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$71 |
| Trip total≈ US$195 per person per day, bed included | US$781 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or breakfast at a town café | $5–12 |
| Burger, plate lunch or diner meal | $10–18 |
| Beer or soft drink | $3–7 |
| Canoe or kayak rental with shuttle | $50–80 per boat (check) |
| Campground pitch in the national forest | $10–25 (check) |
| Fuel, per US gallon | $3–4 (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Cell signal drops out in the national forest and along the river: download offline maps before you leave town.
- Rural roads are unlit and deer are common at dusk and dawn.
- Float trips need a shuttle arranged in advance; canoe rentals run on their own schedules and can be full on summer weekends.
- Summer heat and humidity are serious on exposed river and trail sections: carry more water than you think you need.
- Some businesses keep short or seasonal hours: check before you drive out.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
AltonAlton, Missouri
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
No consulates in Alton; nearest major-city consulates are in St. Louis and Kansas City. US visitors: no embassy needed.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Alton → West Plains by car: about 65 km (40 mi), 1 habout 40 mi (65 km), 1 h
- Alton → Van Buren by car: about 60 km (37 mi), 1 habout 37 mi (60 km), 1 h
- Canoe rental with shuttle: $50–80 per boat (check)
Say or show
- Where is the river access? — Where is the river access?
- Can I rent a canoe? — Can I rent a canoe?
- How much is it? — How much is it?
- Is there a shuttle? — Is there a shuttle?
- Where is the nearest gas station? — Where is the nearest gas station?
- Do you take card? — Do you take card?
Print this card; phone signal is unreliable in the forest.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Alton. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and humidity), Jan–Feb (ice on back roads) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 7 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for SGF, STL and MEM: drive times, last sensible arrival, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Court Square, Market Street, the US 160/19 junction, and the river access points.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Greer Spring, Eleven Point access points, Irish Wilderness trailheads) and eat pages with last orders.
- Float-trip fixtures: shuttle times, boat availability and summer-weekend sell-outs so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
Ask about Alton
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