11 Best Attractions To Visit In The Ozarks
The Ozarks can shift from a roaring river to a bright theater marquee in a single afternoon. Buffalo National River runs beneath limestone bluffs, while Fantastic Caverns carries visitors underground by tram. Silver Dollar City delivers coasters and crafts before the Branson Scenic Railway rolls through tunnels and wooded hills. Elephant Rocks adds billion-year-old granite, and the Great Passion Play fills an outdoor stage after dark. Across Missouri and Arkansas, each stop reveals the best attractions of the region.
Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City is a 61-acre theme park in Stone County, Missouri, located off of Missouri Route 76 on the Indian Point peninsula of Table Rock Lake. The park, opened in 1960, is an 1880s-themed experience. Owned by the same entertainment and hospitality group that owns Dollywood and Dutch Wonderland, Silver Dollar City is a truly family-friendly experience everyone will love. A full day in the park can be easily filled with riding rides, watching live performances, studying the art of the demonstrating craftsmen, and enjoying the incredible food. Plus, Silver Dollar City often hosts special festivals and concerts, and is an 8-time winner of America's Best Holiday Event for its An Old Time Christmas seasonal event in the park.
Sight and Sound Theaters
Sight & Sound began nearly 50 years ago in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, when a dairy farmer went from producing milk to producing live entertainment with the intention of bringing the powerful stories from the pages of the Bible to life on stage. This endeavor was so successful that by the early 2000s, they were envisioning a second location. In 2008, that dream was realized when the nearly identical twin theater opened in the beautiful Ozark Mountains of Branson, Missouri. Productions use a panoramic stage, towering sets, and live animals to immerse audiences in biblical stories. They have produced Broadway-caliber plays based on Biblical characters such as David, Noah, Moses, Jesus, and more.
Buffalo National River
Established in 1972, the Buffalo River was the first National River to be designated in the United States. Flowing freely for 135 miles, it is one of the only remaining undammed rivers in the lower 48. The river passes through varied scenery, ranging from rapids and quiet pools to forests and towering bluffs. From roaring rapids to quiet pools, and massive bluffs to peaceful forests, the Buffalo National River will take your breath away at every turn. The park manages 94,293 acres in three districts, while nearly 36,000 acres form the Upper Buffalo, Ponca, and Lower Buffalo wilderness units, each with different access and recreational conditions.
Dogwood Canyon Nature Park
Dogwood Canyon Nature Park is an outdoor paradise encompassing 10,000 acres in Lampe, Missouri. With all the natural beauty and rugged scenery of the Ozark Mountains, Dogwood Canyon is the perfect spot to escape the hustle and bustle of Branson. Hiking, biking, wildlife tours, horseback riding, and trout fishing are all offered amid the towering bluffs, waterfalls, creek beds, and wildlife that call the nature park home. Cross the swinging bridge to explore the park's treehouse, which contains information about local plants and wildlife. The treehouse was built by the team from Animal Planet's hit TV show, Treehouse Masters.
Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail
The Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail is a 2.5-mile golf-cart tour at Top of the Rock near Johnny Morris's Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Missouri. Hop in your cart and drive at your own pace, stopping at designated pull-offs along the way to get out and take pictures of the beautiful scenery. The trail takes you through stunning rock formations, waterfalls, a cave, and over lakes. You will also get the chance to stop at their skybridge for a breathtaking view of the Ozarks, which unfold beneath you as far as the eye can see.
Fantastic Caverns
The Fantastic Caverns in Springfield, Missouri, is the only cave in North America to offer a completely motorized tour. The 55-minute tour is conducted entirely in a Jeep-drawn tram that takes you through an incredible cave system left behind by an ancient underground river. Visit this attraction any time of year for its temperate climate, which stays a nice 60 degrees year-round. Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome to accompany their owners on the tram tour.
Elephant Rocks State Park
According to the Missouri State Park website, the Elephant Rocks were formed from 1.5-billion-year-old granite, and are so called because the giant boulders stand end-to-end like a train of circus elephants. Located on Highway 21 near Belleview, Elephant Rocks State Park is a day-use destination for hiking, picnicking, fishing, and bouldering. This state park is a great location for bouldering, a form of rock climbing performed without the use of ropes or harnesses, typically staying at heights below 16 feet. The park also provides hiking trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, a food truck, and fishing. The small lakes created by a quarrying operation in days gone by are not stocked, but offer opportunities to catch panfish such as bluegill.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is a 459-acre sanctuary in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, for abused, abandoned, and neglected big cats. They also house the occasional bear. The goal of this park is not to build a self-perpetuating business, but to put itself out of business by working to end the Exotic Animal Trade. Learn about the rescued animals and the exotic-animal trade that placed many of them in unsafe or neglectful captive conditions, while supporting the refuge's mission on a tram tour of the facility. Visitors can also book the Carnivore Caravan, a guided van tour of additional animal habitats and refuge facilities. For a truly unforgettable experience, check out their lodging options and spend the night among the cats.
The Great Passion Play
Under the stars in the beautiful Ozark Mountains, The Great Passion Play brings to life the last week of Jesus Christ in an elaborate outdoor drama with powerful music and dramatic performances. The play is performed outdoors in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, on a campus that also boasts a seven-story statue of Jesus known as "The Christ of the Ozarks," a modern replica of the Holy Land and Moses' Tabernacle in the Wilderness, a buffet, and several small museums. At Christmas, The Great Passion Play turns its property into a drive-thru light display in celebration of the Light of the World. They also create a forest of over 300 Christmas trees and set up a Christmas Snow Village with Trains.
Branson Scenic Railway
The tracks that the Branson Scenic Railway travels on date back to 1901 when the White River Railway was chartered. The White River Railway made the area accessible to travelers and is largely responsible for the development of Branson and the Ozarks as a tourism destination. Today, you can ride on a vintage train car on an excursion through rolling hills and deep tunnels to experience the beauty of the Ozarks in comfort. All trains depart from and return to the Branson Depot. Depending on freight traffic and track work, each excursion takes either the northern route toward Galena or the southern route to Arkansas's Barren Fork Trestle. During the holiday season, you can embark on a magical re-creation of the classic children's story, The Polar Express.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Sinkholes, caves, a natural bridge, sheer bluffs, a natural spring, ruins, and a sparkling lake are just some of the features of Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Missouri that make this spot a can't-miss. Fourteen hiking trails, many of which have boardwalks, make it easy for visitors to experience all the park has to offer, taking you through the historic castle ruins, geological wonders, and around the lake. All caves in the park are currently closed except Island Cave, which is open by permit from June 15 through September 15. The ruins of a huge European-style stone castle stand boldly against the backdrop of the Lake of the Ozarks. Fishing and boating are permitted on the lake, and kayak rentals are available for adventurous travelers.
The Ozarks are a destination where every turn reveals something new, from ancient rock formations and winding rivers to historic attractions and unforgettable live entertainment. These attractions offer just a glimpse of the region's incredible variety, giving visitors plenty of ways to experience its natural beauty, rich history, and family-friendly charm. Whether you are exploring a cave, floating a scenic river, watching a spectacular performance, or simply taking in the mountain scenery, the Ozarks make it easy to slow down, explore, and create memories along the way.
