Top 10 Weekend Getaways in Missouri

Considered the title city of Missouri, St. Louis tops most middle-America bucket lists! This is a sprawling big city with enough attractions to make you want to stay for an extra weekend! It is mostly known for the 30-foot, towering arch at the entrance to the city. This Gateway Arch was created to honor the start of the 1804 expedition of the famous Lewis and Clark. Aside from that there are countless tasty restaurants to explore, sports games to attend, and so much history to be learned in this proud Missouri city.

Mostly known as the progressive, eccentric college town of Missouri, Columbia is a great place to go for everyone. Here you can visit some of the most incredible museums in the state, or tour one of the great Ivy League colleges of America. Not your cup of thrill seeking tea? Then try kayaking on the Finger Lakes State Park, or check out the Eagle Bluffs Reservation. You’re sure to make some memories in Columbia.

Technically more of a reservoir than a city, locals and tourists alike are raving about the Lake of the Ozarks. Many say you won’t find a prettier sight in all of Missouri! The lake here is a glistening, natural beauty and the many outdoor activity spots just add to the fun. Check out the Bridal Cave with jaw-dropping sights of the underground, or look to the Big Surf Waterpark for a little more family fun. Whatever you choose, you’re sure to love the Lake of the Ozarks.

As the state capital, Jefferson City is one stop you can’t miss in Missouri. It is home to a wide array of options available for families, couples, and backpackers looking to enjoy the weekend away. Here you can tour a 19th century prison, with an intimate look at the harrowing past of crime in the city. Tours here are knowledgeable and interesting and will keep you on your toes the whole way through the Missouri State Penitentiary. There is also a beautiful State Capitol building in the center as well as one of the best museums in the state: The Missouri State Museum.

Springfield should be number one on your list if you’re looking to appreciate the great outdoors and all it has to offer. From land to sea to even under-land, Springfield has it all! We’re talking about the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium, the Ozark Park Trail, and the Fantastic Caverns (both its name and descriptor is fantastic!). And this is just a shortlist of all the things to visit in Springfield. There is so much more to explore, all you need to do is look around.

Known as the premiere destination for families, Branson is a great place to get away for the weekend! There are plenty of outdoor activities to get the blood pumping, and just enough historic options to make the weekend educational with being tedious. Try Table Rock Lake for hiking, boating, and fishing, and check out the Titanic Museum and Branson Scenic Railway for some of the best innovations of the past. Branson is also the former site of country music history. Here performers from all over would come to celebrate the music. Now, it is a more diverse array of musicians, but no less enticing!

Yes, Kansas City is actually in Missouri! The name can be a bit misleading, and while it does reside close to the Kansas-Missouri border, it is still wholly apart of the show-me state. Here in Missouri City visitors can go from amusement parks to national world war museums without missing a beat. It is a lively, populated city with enough to keep the crowds entertained without feeling like a tourist trap or incorporating all that big city noise. It also has a few sports teams! Check out the local listings to find out if you’ll be in town for a game and enjoy all that Kansas City has to offer.

Known predominantly for the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, this is a great stop on any civil war history tour. It has a visitor’s center and a wide sprawling expanse of land dedicated to the history that battled it out on this very same plot all those years ago. Still found here are some of the old canon’s used, and a few other pieces of memorabilia to connect the modern day to the plights of the past. It is also the proud home to the J.R. Martin Park which is a good place to enjoy the day in beautiful Republic, Missouri.

Perfect for a weekend of nothing but relaxation. Here in Independence you can casually enjoy all the life of small town Missouri. This is a great place to get away from all the stresses of work, school, or anything back home and simply enjoy your surroundings for a nice weekend in Missouri. Here you can take the Little Blue Trace Tail for a nice sunrise walk or visit the Top Hat Winery for some of the best wine in the state. Check out McCoy Park if the weather is nice, and set up a nice, Missouri picnic in the sun.

One of the greatest places in the United States for literature buffs! Hannibal is most notably known for being the location of Mark Twain’s childhood. It now features his boyhood home, as well as a museum that holds facets and trinkets from his life and work. Many areas here are even named after him such as the Mark Twain Cave and Campground and the Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse. Come here if you’re looking for a relaxing weekend spent learning some things you didn’t know about one of America’s most treasured writers.