These 11 Towns In Missouri Were Ranked Among US Favorites In 2025
Perhaps best known for the City Museum in St. Louis, utilizing recycled industrial and architectural material for the basis of creativity, and the Arabia Steamboat Museum in Kansas City, with a full-scale reproduction of the main deck of the Steamboat Arabia, the state of Missouri is home to a plethora of phenomenal attractions that are awesome for the entire family. Yet, it is easy to avoid higher populations in the larger cities within the “Show Me State” and still have an exciting time, though. From picturesque Carthage and the 66 Drive-In Theater to the less populated Rocheport and its historic district, the 11 towns below were ranked among people in the United States to be some of the best in 2025.
Carthage
Nicknamed “America’s Maple Leaf City,” the town of Carthage is home to some intriguing attractions, including the 66 Drive-In Theater, which opened in 1949, and is now only one of two along Rte-66 in the state of Missouri, and the Historic Phelps House, a Victorian mansion first constructed just before the turn of the 20th century.
Some other great attributes that contribute to the town of Carthage being one of the best-ranked towns in Missouri are the Battle of Carthage Historic Site and Precious Moments Chapel & Gardens. The Battle of Carthage occurred around two weeks before the famous Battle of Manassas. Precious Moments Chapel & Gardens offers several must-see attractions, like Grandpa’s Island and the Avenue of Angels.
Hannibal
Astride the Mississippi, the town of Hannibal is best known for being the childhood home of Mark Twain. Yet this “Show Me State” town has several attractions more associated with nature. Sodalis Nature Preserve, south of downtown, offers some scenic hiking trails, including the two-mile Sodalis Paved Trail and the (unpaved) two-and-a-half-mile Pirate Ridge Trail.
Several historic attributes are also within Hannibal. The Molly Brown Museum, the childhood home of Molly Brown, honors one of the 700-plus survivors of the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. The Rockcliffe Mansion also calls the town of Hannibal home. This 1898 mansion, once the home of a lumber baron, is now a B&B inn offering the luxury of the elite, complete with Tiffany lighting and a grand staircase.
Arrow Rock
The town of Arrow Rock, close to the Missouri River, is located around a hundred miles east of Kansas City. Even though this small town has a current population of around sixty people, it is still well worth visiting. It is home to several inspiring historic aspects, such as Lyceum Theater, drawing famous actors and musicians, like Celeste Holm and Johnny Cash, to its doors since it opened in 1961.
Arrow Rock also has several historic yet natural attractions, including Arrow Rock State Historic Site and Boone’s Lick State Historic Site. Boone’s Lick, around four miles east of town in Franklin, was first built in 1960 around a saltwater spring. Arrow Rock State Historic Site, within Arrow Rock’s Historic District, honors where the Santa Fe Trail crossed the Missouri River.
Branson
The picturesque town of Branson is known as the “Live Entertainment Capital of the World.” This is probably due to an abundance of live theaters, like Little Opry, Historic Owen, and King’s Castle. While the Little Opry theater offers exceptional country & bluegrass performances, Historic Owen hosts some awesome plays & musicals. King’s Castle, the creation of world-renowned theater producer Mr. David King, presents a diverse range of entertainment, including live musicals and Christmas shows.
The town of Branson, situated approximately 45 miles southeast of Springfield, is also home to several attractions that cater more to the younger kids than to adults and teenagers. Silver Dollar City, located between the towns of Branson and Branson West, offers roller coasters, amusement rides, and a variety of attractions that showcase the wonders of nature and history, including Marvel Cave and McHaffie’s Homestead.
Fulton
The picturesque town of Fulton, situated approximately halfway between St. Louis and Kansas City, is home to several historic aspects, including the 1856 Callaway County Courthouse, M. Fred Bell’s Speculative Cottage, and the Loganberry Inn. M. Fred Bell’s Speculative Cottage was designed by Morris Frederick Bell in 1893. Loganberry Inn, first constructed in 1899, is now a premier B&B inn.
Some of the natural attractions near the town of Fulton include Little Dixie Lake Conservation Area, which has nine fishing jetties and a fishing pier around the 200-square-acre Dixie Lake, and several phenomenal hiking trails.
Excelsior Springs
The charming town of Excelsior Springs, around thirty minutes northeast of Kansas City, has a plethora of great attractions. Tryst Falls Park, situated approximately five miles northwest of downtown, offers opportunities to experience tranquility within nature, featuring its own waterfall, Tryst Falls. There is also a scenic trail out to Tryst Falls, which is considered to be one of the only natural waterfalls in the area.
Excelsior Springs also has several vineyards, including Four Horses & A Dog and Shamrock Hills, for those who want the experience of tasting nature. Additionally, situated downtown in a former bank, the Excelsior Springs Museum features exhibits showcasing genealogical artifacts, notable local figures, and a military room with records and artifacts spanning from the Civil War to the Iraq War.
Sedalia
Situated an hour west of Jefferson City, which is the capital of Missouri, Sedalia is home to the Missouri State Fair. This prompted Sedalia to be called the “State Fair City,” as the state fair has been held there since 1901. Another excellent attraction near Sedalia, Kahrs-Boger Park, is 15 minutes south of town, offering over 100 acres of fishing, hiking, hunting, and camping options for the adventurous outdoor enthusiast.
Spring Fork Lake is also located 15 minutes south of Sedalia, although it is approximately nine miles east of Kahrs-Boger Park. Possessing a boat ramp, a walkway, and a floating dock, Spring Fork Lake offers an abundance of natural amenities, including fishing, boating, dog training, hunting, and hiking. There are even opportunities to see some of the most phenomenal birds there, including an occasional Bald Eagle.
Hermann
Situated halfway between St. Louis and Jefferson City, historic Hermann is home to a wealth of attractions that showcase its deep German roots. The Deutschheim State Historic Site preserves several authentic 19th-century buildings, including the Pommer-Gentner House (built around 1840) and the Strehly House (built in 1842), which together tell the story of Missouri’s early German immigrants and winemaking heritage.
Hermann Farm Museum and Historic Hermann Museum also provide a sense of true heritage to Hermann. Historic Hermann Museum, inside an 1871 German school building, showcases the history of Hermann through vintage photographs and artifacts. Hermann Farm Museum, located on East 1st Street, provides an interesting history within an 1847 Teubner-Husmann Greek Revival Mansion.
Kirkwood
A suburb of St. Louis, which is most famous for the Gateway Arch that is alongside the Mississippi River, the town of Kirkwood has its own phenomenal attractions that draw people from all over the U.S. From Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, which features over 100 acres of oak hickory trees, to Emmenegger Nature Park, which has just under 100 acres of scenic hiking options, including Bluff Creek Trail, outdoor enthusiasts can find tranquility in Kirkwood.
Kirkwood is also home to a plethora of historic and cultural attributes, including an actual Frank Lloyd Wright House. This unique construction, also known as the Kraus House, was designed by the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1950 and constructed in Ebsworth Park in 1951. It follows a Usonian design, which Frank Lloyd Wright also called “organic architecture.”
Weston
Just off the Missouri River, the town of Weston is home to some rather unique natural attractions, including Green Dirt Farm and Red Barn Farm. Green Dirt Farm, three miles outside of downtown, is a creamery with a quaint cafe serving up some delicious sandwiches with cheese made at the farm. Red Barn Farm offers not only a full-service wedding and event venue, but is also a working farm.
Weston is also home to the National Silk Art Museum, exhibiting several hundred French, American, and English silk tapestries, most of them produced at least 200 years before on punch card mechanical looms. For those interested in antiques, the town of Weston also offers several antique options.
Rocheport
Home of the Rocheport Historic District, which features several houses, buildings, and establishments, like the 1912, only a block from the Katy Trail, and the 1914 School House B&B. This makes the tiny town of Rocheport, with fewer than 300 permanent residents, the ideal place to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life across the United States.
Rocheport is also home to several art galleries, including Shirahaze Gallery, Art & Antiques and Blacksmith Shop, and Bauernhof Siebeneck, for those who wish to experience art through the visual. There are also several wineries and vineyards in the town of Rocheport, like Les Bourgeois and the Blufftop, for those who prefer to taste and smell art rather than see and feel it.
The Best Towns To Visit In Missouri In 2025
From tiny towns like Arrow Rock, with barely sixty people, to suburbs of larger cities, like Kirkwood, with over 20,000 people, the many towns scattered across Missouri each have their own unique attributes that encourage people to visit again and again. Whether you are looking for a fascinating museum, like the National Silk Art Museum, or searching for a scenic escape, like Tryst Falls Park, there is something for everyone in these eleven best-ranked Missouri towns.
