The Missouri Ozarks offer plenty of things to see and do, giving your family something fresh and fun to do over spring break. Check out our favorite four-day family trip itinerary for Southwest Missouri.
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In most school districts, students get to look forward to a week out of class in the spring. While college kids flock to the beaches, families tend to opt for something a little more wholesome and adventurous.
Here's an easy, action-packed 4-day trip itinerary for families in the Missouri Ozarks.
Day One: Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri, is known as the birthplace of Route 66 and the site of the first real Wild West gunfight. It's a smaller midwestern city with a population of around 170k residents. Today, Springfield is a college town with just the right mix of art, food, and outdoor fun.
Here's what we recommend:
Breakfast: Start the day off right with crepes and avocado toast at the local French eatery, The Aviary Cafe. You'll enjoy a feast of locally sourced ingredients from this locally-owned food joint. They open at 8 am and serve delectable bloody mary's.
Morning: Head straight over to the Bass Pro Shops HQ located in Springfield, Missouri for a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. The store features several museum exhibits and offers free entry to daily demonstrations. We've actually spent an entire day here before, but depending on your appetite for the outdoors or shopping, you might get through it more quickly.
Lunch: Enjoy the convenience of great food onsite at Hemingway's Blue Water Cafe located inside the Bass Pro Shops HQ. You can get everything from mahi mahi and shrimp tacos to bison burgers and a hearty bowl of New England clam chowder at Hemingway's. The restaurant is named for literary icon Ernest Hemingway and his insatiable stories of adventure, which you will later see depicted in the Wonders of Wildlife.
Afternoon: Take your time exploring the Wonders of Wildlife museum and aquarium. Again, this is also easily an entire day, but we tend to see the sights in a solid four to five-hour block with a mixed-age group.
Dinner: Go full American with Black Sheep Burgers & Shakes. This local eatery has multiple downtown locations in Springfield and is known for its creative and delicious gourmet burgers and decadent milkshakes. It's a casual spot great for families and anyone looking to enjoy a fun, laid-back meal.
Day Two: Branson, Missouri
Branson, Missouri, is 45 miles south of Springfield and takes a little under an hour to make the drive. If you're visiting mid-to-late March or any time in April, you're on the opening end of tourism season and may find that hours, services, and options are a little more limited than what you might find in the summer months.
But, trust us...there is still PLENTY OF FUN to be found!
In Branson, you have two real options for Spring break...(and it would be totally appropriate to add a bonus day to your trip so that you didn't have to choose between the two). Option 1 - Silver Dollar City (all day) or Option 2 - Best of Branson in the Off-season.
Alt 1: Silver Dollar City
This fan-favorite theme park opens for the season on March 9th, 2024. You will want to check the park calendar and weather before committing to SDC for your spring break family trip. Check out our complete guide to Silver Dollar City.
Breakfast: Start the day off right with cinnamon rolls at Eva & Delilah's Bakery, located just inside the entrance to Silver Dollar City. As an alternative, the park also offers Clarabelle's Cinnamon Bread a little further in, and several locations serve Starbucks coffee.
Morning: Get all Your Rides In at Silver Dollar City. We like to head straight for the rides before there is much of a chance for long lines or closed rides. We've always been with kids under 6, so The Grand Exposition has been our family's favorite. But there are plenty of fast-paced rides for older thrill-seekers as well.
Lunch: Feast in the park. There are more than a few options for dining, but when it comes to lunch, our favorites are the Lumbercamp (skillets and burgers) and the smokehouse (bbq). We tend to find that Miss Molly's is pretty heavy for a middle-of-the-day theme park lunch.
Afternoon: Shopping and demonstrations galore. As the park fills up and the ride lines get longer, shift your strategy to shopping and demonstrations to beat the headache. You can still hop on the occasional ride, like the SDC train, but you don't have to spend your day waiting in long lines.
Dinner: Fill your belly at Molly's Mill Restaurant. Silver Dollar City offers a full-service country cooking restaurant onsite. Stop here for all your favorites like fried chicken, meatloaf, and macaroni and cheese.
Alt 2: Best of Branson in the Off-Season
March and April are still early in the year and technically part of the off-season. If you've never been to Branson during the Spring, you might be surprised to learn that it's a lot less busy.
Breakfast: Get your grub on at Billy Gail's Cafe in Branson. This local eatery is known for its home-style cooking and generous portions. The pancakes are famous for being larger than the plate! It's a charming, rustic spot with a friendly atmosphere, but be prepared for a wait during peak times as it's quite popular.
Morning: Get up close with animals at Promised Land Zoo when the animals will be the most active, and then visit the Butterfly Palace. We loved how interactive the animal encounters were at the Promised Land Zoo, we even got to hold a baby kangaroo. The Butterfly Palace is also a unique attraction featuring more than 1,000 different fluttering species.
Lunch: Eat salads and burgers at the Black Oak Grill located in the Branson Landing. This restaurant was easily one of our favorites in Branson. Everyone at the table had something different and every bite was amazing.
Afternoon: See the sights at the Branson Scenic Railway and tour history at the Titanic Museum. Take a round-trip ride through the beautiful Ozark foothills and tunnels in vintage passenger cars. It's a relaxing way to see the scenic landscapes around Branson.
Dinner: Enjoy dinner and a show at Dolly Parton's Stampede. Finish things off right with a great dinner and big show, Dolly style. Seriously, do not leave Branson without checking this one out! It was such a fun experience! Our family left the show fully satisfied. the staff was impeccable and the show was top-notch.
Still looking for more? Consider booking an extra day or two at the Grand Country Resort and Waterpark (indoor) in Branson. Read our full review here.
Day Three: Table Rock Lake
Just outside of the city of Branson, Missouri, you'll find access to Table Rock Lake. Where you go and what you do will impact your commute times, but everything should be accessible within an hour's drive.
Breakfast: If you haven't gotten your fill of good, old-fashioned cinnamon rolls, try Grandma Ruth's. For those looking for a heartier, more savory dish, try The Farmhouse or The Hungry Hunter.
Morning: Hike a scenic, lakefront trail, fish or float on the lake. The spring is good for observing active wildlife and good fishing. Spend the morning enjoying the natural scenery, there will be plenty of things to spend your money on later in the day.
Lunch: Eat catfish (or other favorites) at Flat Creek Grill. There are a few locations, but all are accessible either by boat or car.
Afternoon: Explore Top of the Rock, another Johnny Morris attraction with the same look and feel as the Bass Pro Shops and Wonders of Wildlife.
Dinner: Eat on the lake with a dinner cruise on the Branson Belle.
Day Four: Roaring River State Park
If you're most excited about getting out in nature, this last day is meant for you. The spring is the perfect time to see Roaring River State Park in all its beauty, as water levels will likely be at their highest, and waterfalls will flow freely.
Breakfast: Enjoy the classics at Sunrise Cafe in Cassville. It's a local mom-and-pop diner with all the fixings. It's almost a tradition for our family to get Belgian waffles topped with fruit and whipped cream.
Morning: Hike the trails at Roaring River State Park and explore the visitor's center. We love morning hikes but keep in mind that the grass will still be pretty wet. I recommend wearing waterproof, full-leather hiking boots or shoes. Or at least bring a change of socks and shoes.
Lunch: Enjoy lunch at the Roaring River Restaurant located inside the Emery Melton Inn & Conference Center inside the park.
Afternoon: Check out the fish hatchery and put a pole in the water. Roaring River State Park is a fishing park. The hatchery is free to visit, but to participate in the fun fishing experience, you'll need:
A fishing license
A trout tag (from March through October)
A trout tag costs $4 for adults and $3 for kids under 16. You can pick both of these up inside the on-site Pro shop, along with any tackle you may need.
Dinner: Stop by the local barbeque hotspot, Hogtied, for award-winning (seriously, so many trophies). There are no wrong choices, but I'm choosing, I like the brisket! Ribs are also an easy favorite and you'll never go wrong with a simple pulled pork sandwich.
What did you think of this itinerary? If you visit the Ozarks often and have a go-to plan, let us know your favorite spots in the comments below.