If you are traveling on a budget, a fun and relaxing trip to Springfield, Missouri, won't
cost you an arm and a leg.
Springfield is the quintessential All-American City. It's located along historic Route 66
and feels much more like a small town than a bustling metropolis. But even though it
might not be that big, Springfield still offers all of the thrills and exciting attractions
that much larger cities are known for.
From the majestic natural beauty of the Ozarks to the lively urban environment that is Springfield's
downtown district, this city is filled with memorable and must-see attractions.
Now, you could spend all day researching and documenting all of the things worth doing
and seeing in Springfield, Missouri, or you could simply join us as we cover the top 15
attractions waiting for you to come experience in this vibrant Midwestern city.
Discovery Center
The Discovery Center is a family-friendly, hands-on science center where guests of all
ages can create, learn and play while exploring hundreds of interactive exhibits covering
subjects like physics, health, culture, chemistry, and energy in an environmentally friendly
and sustainable environment.
A few of the most popular exhibitions and galleries featured at the center are the BodyWorks,
Discovery Town, HighWire Bike, and Energy Exchange exhibits.
Landers Theater
This historic volunteer-driven theater was built back in 1909 – making it the second
oldest civic theater in the state. It's been operational for well over a hundred years,
These days, it's one of the premier places in the city to watch a compelling performance
like The Sound of Music or Cinderella. The gorgeously restored architecture of the building
is worth a visit on its own.
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Frisco Highline Trail
This trail winds through 35 miles of the scenic Ozark landscape. It's a favorite route among
Springfield's local walkers, joggers, and cyclists and isn't very difficult. Going for
a walk here with your significant other or pet is one of the most serene things to do
in Springfield during the warmer months. It's also a phenomenal spot to visit in the Fall
when the leaves are changing colors. If you're looking for a little fresh air or simply want
to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, this sprawling trail is sure to meet your
needs.
Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden
Located at the Springfield Botanical Gardens is this 7.5-acre Japanese garden which features
a large lake stocked with koi fish, a moon bridge, a meditation garden, and a tea house.
It was built back in the 80s in a partnership with Springfield's sister city, Isesaki, Japan.
The traditionally landscaped gardens are open seasonally from April through October.
Dickerson Park Zoo
Animals and humans intersect at the Dickerson Park Zoo. Enjoy the great outdoors and take
in the natural beauty of the region while seeing and learning all about animals from
all over the globe.
The Zoo's Ambler Diversity of Life Center is home to an impressive collection of reptiles.
After hanging out with the snakes and lizards, consider taking a ride on the Titus Express
miniature train or meet a giraffe face to face over at the giraffe deck. Younger visitors
will appreciate Dickerson Zoo's petting zoo where they can have a hands-on experience
with a variety of critters like sheep, goats, and ponies.
If you work up an appetite, grab a bite to eat at the zoo's cafe. And before you call
it a day, snag a souvenir over at the gift shop.
Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum
This 350,000 square foot museum and aquarium is actually the world's largest immersive
wildlife attraction. The facility is home to a 1.5 million gallon aquarium and adventure
zone that showcases more than 35,000 fish, mammals, reptiles, and birds.
The wildlife museum is also pretty remarkable as it effectively takes guests on a guided
tour of some of the wildest places on the planet. Visitors can explore 1.5 miles of
immersive hallways and trails while learning all about the natural world through hands-on
and interactive exhibits.
Fantastic Caverns
This incredible attraction is the only ride-thru cave in America – and there are only four
like it in the entire world. The cave system was discovered by an Ozarks farmer's dog back
in 1862 after it crawled through a narrow opening in a hillside. Five years later, the
first exploration of the caverns took place.
Today, guests tour the delicate caverns in Jeep-drawn trams. As you ride through, you'll
experience the stillness and splendor of this natural wonder.
Located just northeast of Downtown Springfield, Fantastic Caverns is one of more than 7,300
documented caves that pepper the Missouri countryside – leaving little wonder why
Missouri is known as 'The Cave State'.
Air & Military Museum Of The Ozarks
If you're a fan of interactive museums and learning about military and aviation history,
then The Air & Military Museum of the Ozarks just might be a great place to spend an afternoon.
History comes alive in a hands-on environment that does a great job at honoring this nation's
veterans.
On display is a Cobra helicopter, a T-33 jet, Army vehicles, and other pieces of restored
military equipment. You can even take a virtual flight in a Cobra helicopter simulator, type
a message on a vintage teletype machine, or have your very own dog tag custom-made. Whether
you're a history buff or not, there is fun and learning to be found at this very affordable
and well-curated museum.
Springfield Art Museum
With a collection that includes more than 10,000 pieces spanning millennia of human
history, there is so much to see at this excellent art museum. They are constantly changing what's
on display with rotating and special exhibits, but the museum's permanent collection is the
real draw. They started collecting back in 1928 when they acquired two small seascapes
painted by Philadelphia artist Mary Butler, and ever since they've continued to add more
and more to their galleries.
The museum features special collections such as American watermedia, Art of the Midwest,
Printmaking, and Asian porcelain – but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Walking through
this museum feels like taking a trip through time and space as numerous eras and cultures
are represented.
Make sure you give yourself enough time to fully explore and appreciate everything that
the Springfield Museum of Art has to offer. And it would be wise for you to consult their
website while planning your visit to see what special exhibits, events, and educational
programs are currently being featured.
The World's Largest Fork
Yup, the world's largest fork is one of the most popular attractions in the city of Springfield.
While it might seem a little absurd, if you take a moment to stand beside this 35-foot
tall eating utensil you'll see why it's such a big deal – pun intended.
This bizarre yet fun attraction is hidden away behind an office building. And while
it might exactly be the most thrilling attraction in the city, this 11-ton sculpture is still
worth visiting and taking a selfie with.
You've got to wonder though, where is the world's largest meatball when you really need
it?
Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
Sports fans take heed. This family-friendly museum features more than 4,000 pieces of
sports memorabilia, interactive exhibits, and informative displays. If you want to learn
all about the great state of Missouri's rich and complex sports history, you can do just
that right here. And the best thing is, tickets are super inexpensive.
Pythian Castle
One of Springfield's most striking event venues also offers frequent history, ghost, and murder-mystery
tours. The castle - which is said to be haunted - also hosts annual holiday events and is
available for private rental.
The castle was built by the Knights of Pythias, a fraternal organization out of Washington
DC, back in 1913. It was later owned by the U.S. Military and was used to hold German
and Italian prisoners of war back in World War II.
In 2009, the building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Route 66 Car Museum
While it might not be the largest or flashiest auto museum, the Route 66 Car Museum still
has a fairly impressive collection of 70 sports and luxury cars. Guy Mace started collecting
vehicles back in 1990 when he purchased his first Jaquar. The collection has grown extensively
since then. This 20,000 square-foot museum is located along historic route 66 – if
you didn't already gather that by its name – and admission is very affordable.
NRA National Sporting Arms Museum
This firearms museum opened its doors in 2013. It's actually the byproduct of a partnership
between the National Rifle Association and Bass Pro Shops and is located at the Bass
Pro Shops flagship store in Springfield.
The museum claims to celebrate the history of hunting, conservation, and freedom and
features a collection of firearms the likes of which the world has never seen. Visitors
can trace the development and history of hunting arms in America from pre-colonial times to
the modern day. Over a thousand historically significant firearms are on display.
There is also a really fascinating exhibit of guns used in Hollywood films on the museum's
upper floor. There you can see firearms that were used by the likes of movie stars like
Charlton Heston, Tom Selleck, and John Wayne. The museum also proudly showcases the gun
collection that once belonged to President Theodore Roosevelt.
History Museum On The Square
Opened in 2019, this museum was named 'Best New Attraction' by USA Today. Visitors can
explore Springfield's history at this 18,000 square foot facility jam-packed full of showcases,
exhibits, photographs, galleries, and interactive displays.
There are three floors and eight dedicated exhibits, six permanent galleries, and a space
that is used for special traveling exhibits. There's also a section that's dedicated to
sharing the history and culture of the region's Native American inhabitants.
Springfield, Missouri may not be as conspicuous as other travel destinations like New York
City or Orlando, but it's still a great place to enjoy a low-key, budget-friendly trip with
your family.
What do you think of the attractions that we covered in this video? Can you think of
any others that you think our viewers should know about? Let us know in the comments section
below.
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