6 Of The Most Charming Small Towns To Visit In The Ozarks
The Ozarks have always rewarded travelers willing to slow down. Eureka Springs built its downtown of Victorian buildings up the side of a cliff and the streets still climb in the original up-and-down switchbacks. Branson packs an old-school entertainment strip onto 76 Country Boulevard with live theaters and family museums almost shoulder to shoulder. Van Buren sits along the Current River at the heart of the country's first national scenic riverways. Claremore runs from Will Rogers' museum to a massive firearms collection within the same compact downtown. The six below cover what's left of the kind of trip people used to take through this region before the chain restaurants showed up.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Eureka Springs is among the most popular towns in the Ozarks because of its natural springs and the Victorian-era architecture that fills its historic district. Notable buildings include the Basin Park Hotel, the Crescent Hotel, and the iconic Flatiron Building (1880), the triangular landmark on Spring Street that has worn many uses over its history. The whole downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The town has earned the nicknames "Little Switzerland of America" and "the Stairstep Town" thanks to its winding streets and the up-and-down pathways that climb the cliffs around downtown. The natural springs themselves still anchor the experience. Basin Spring is the most famous, just off Spring Street downtown. Eureka Springs blends artsy culture, distinctive architecture, and the original spa-town atmosphere that put it on the map in the first place.
Siloam Springs, Arkansas
Siloam Springs sits in the northwest corner of Arkansas right on the Oklahoma border. Sager Creek runs through downtown lined with dogwood-shaded parks and rock walls. The downtown blocks pair fountains, gazebos, and benches that turn the creek into the centerpiece of town life.
The annual events keep the calendar full. The Dogwood Festival in spring and the Light Up Siloam Christmas program in winter both draw locals and visitors downtown. The Crown Hotel from 1881 anchors the historic district as the town's signature 19th-century building. Siloam Springs is a friendly stop for travelers who want to walk a small downtown and take in the natural beauty of the creek that defines it.
Branson, Missouri
Branson is the family-friendly entertainment capital of the Ozarks. 76 Country Boulevard is the main entertainment strip in town. Dolly Parton's Stampede, dozens of live theaters, the Marvel Cave, and many more attractions line the road end to end.
Other stops include the Titanic Museum and Silver Dollar City, the 1880s-themed amusement park that anchors the western end of town. No other Ozark town runs as much entertainment per square mile as Branson. The two-story Hollywood Wax Museum is a quirky stop worth the time. Branson's draw runs deep with its many venues and family-friendly activities at every price point.
Van Buren, Missouri
Van Buren, Missouri sits along the Current River in the heart of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the first national scenic riverways in the country. The small Carter County town takes its name from Vice President Martin Van Buren.
The river is the main draw. The Current is one of the clearest spring-fed rivers in the country and runs strong all year for canoeing, kayaking, and floating. Big Spring just outside town is one of the largest natural springs in the world with average daily flow around 286 million gallons. The surrounding Mark Twain National Forest opens up countless hiking trails, swimming holes, and quiet creeks. Van Buren works as a slow-paced base camp for travelers who want their Ozarks experience close to the water.
Claremore, Oklahoma
Claremore, Oklahoma, sits in northeastern Oklahoma at the western edge of the broader Ozark region with a history that runs back to Indian Territory days. While the town is full of historic sites, it also has the modern amenities of a working small city. The Will Rogers Memorial Museum is the headline stop, a 19,000-square-foot tribute to the cowboy actor who grew up in the area. The J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum is the other landmark stop, holding a collection of over 20,000 firearms that brings collectors from across the country.
The outdoor scene runs strong too. The Claremore Mountain Bike Trails draw outdoor enthusiasts and Claremore Lake is a quiet picnic spot, ideal on a spring day. Claremore is not just remarkable for its attractions and museums; the local people are warm and friendly, which adds to the pleasure of a multi-day visit.
Rolla, Missouri
Rolla is a small and quiet town in the Ozark region with a substantial American Civil War history. It is also home to Missouri University of Science and Technology, a long-respected engineering school that lends an air of academic energy to the town. In the 1860s Rolla became a major transportation hub and an early terminus of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway, the line known as the "Frisco."
The local activities include nights at one of the live theaters: Ozark Actors Theatre or the Leach Theatre. The town also sits between the Meramec and the Gasconade rivers, opening plenty of options for paddling, fishing, and other outdoor activities. Rolla is a classic Ozark stop with friendly people, real history, and modern amenities for visitors.
The Ozark Trail
If you plan a visit to the Ozarks, these towns belong on the list. There are historic stops like Van Buren and Claremore plus the cliff-side springs of Eureka Springs. These towns offer historic sites and natural beauty in equal measure. There are plenty of outdoor activities like camping, fishing, and hiking, plus quiet downtowns where you can spend evenings with locals. These towns share a deep history that the locals embrace while moving forward into the future. Find a local brewery after a day of exploring and odds are someone there will fill you in on generations of Ozark history over a beer.
