Why Springfield, Missouri Should Be Your Family’s Next Vacation Spot
Did you know Springfield, Missouri, is known as the “Queen City of the Ozarks?” This family-friendly Midwest city offers the perfect getaway with a mix of adventure and Ozark hospitality. With a great blend of outdoor activities, unique attractions, and delicious dining, Springfield offers something for everyone. In this Springfield family travel guide, we will share our recommended top things to do, where to eat, where to stay, and the wonders that make Springfield the ultimate getaway for families.
Tips for Traveling to Springfield
Springfield, Missouri makes a convenient destination from many major cities. St. Louis and Kansas City are both only a 3 hour drive away. Springfield is also home to the Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF) with several major airlines making the city easily accessible from almost any U.S. location.
Top Indoor Attractions in Springfield
Springfield offers so many great attractions for all ages. Whether you are looking for an adventure to wow the whole family or a fun place for the kids to play and learn, check out these top Springfield, Missouri attractions.
Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium
As the largest immersive wildlife attraction in the world, Wonders of Wildlife combines an aquarium and wildlife museum under one roof. Your family can explore interactive exhibits and experience the beauty of a wide variety of aquatic species and animals. It’s an educational adventure that will have your kids learning and marveling at the wonders of wildlife and conservation. (You can read our best tips to visit from our first trip to Wonders of Wildlife in 2022 here.)
This attraction is massive with over 350,000 square feet of exhibits, 1.5 million gallons of water, and 1.5 miles of pathways. Each exhibit is highly crafted to truly immerse visitors into the experience.
I couldn’t believe the attention to detail throughout the experience and the kids loved the various bubble tubes that allowed them to be part of the tanks. I also love that there are restrooms at many locations throughout as well as stroller/wheelchair friendly path options.
The museum and aquarium also offers special tours and encounters. Adults and kids over 4 can participate in the penguin encounter to get a closer look at the penguins and learn more about them. Our family thoroughly enjoyed watching the penguins being fed and even enjoying a bubble machine! Anyone 10 and up that is brave enough can take a dive with the sharks by going underwater in the steel shark enclosure.
Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World
The original and largest of the Bass Pro Shop stores is located in Springfield. This store actually connects right to Wonders of Wildlife but the store is FREE to visit. You can find over 500,000 square feet dedicated to the beauty of the outdoors with waterfalls, animals, aquariums, food options, several museums, and endless shopping opportunities.
Discovery Center of Springfield
The Discovery Center of Springfield is an interactive science museum that features hands-on exhibits to make learning fun for kids. The center is a community supported non-profit with a mission is to inspire curiosity and a life-long love of learning through memorable and engaging hands-on experiences in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). From exploring the wonders of the human body to discovering the mysteries of space, each exhibit is designed to engage young minds.
I was surprised at how large this museum is and the wide variety of well designed exhibits. We had to drag our kids away after several hours and they kept asking to go back!
Springfield Conservation Nature Center
We love visiting the Missouri Department of Conservation Nature Centers and the Springfield location did not disappoint! This amazing and FREE nature center offers a place to connect with nature and learn the importance of conservation. The center has a self-guided exhibit area to learn more about nature and view several small critters. They also offers special programs and events. (Just note that the center is closed Sundays and Mondays, although the trails remain open.)
Outdoor Adventures in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri has several great ways to explore outdoors. From touring a unique cave to learning about life on the farm, check out these ideas to have fun outside.
Fantastic Caverns
Fantastic Caverns boasts the claim to fame of having the only complete drive-through cave tour in America. Jeeps pull trams along a one-mile path through the cave. Along the way, the tour guide points out special cave formations and gives an account of the colorful history of the cave.
One great thing about Fantastic Caverns if that it allows those with limited mobility the chance to tour a cave. It’s also great with little ones who may not be able to walk through a longer cave tour. In fact, ages 5 and under are even free with a parent!
Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park
Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park is an amazing kid-friendly gem! This 207-acre park was designed to provide an authentic farm experience through educational and recreational resources. The park includes animal barns and pens, visitor center and gift shop, farm-themed playground with a cute barn, a fishing pond, 20-acre native prairie, pasture land, and a one-mile paved trail.
The park also hosts special events like a Harvest Fest. While some special event activities have fees, admission to the park is FREE!
Sequiota Park
Springfield is home to several great parks and Sequiota Park is one of the oldest and most beautiful. The park features a playground, picnic pavilion, paved and unpaved paths, and lovely bridges over a small lake.
One highlight of the park is Sequiota Cave, home to a colony of gray bats. Other than special seasonal guided boat tours, the caves are closed to protect the bat population. However, you can take a peak inside and enjoy the scenic view of the lake.
Sequiota Cave is also the site of Springfield’s annual Art in the Park. This yearly fine art and craft show is held annually by the Southwest Missouri Art and Craft Guild to showcase the work of regional and national artists. Our family had a great time browsing the many booths of the fair during our visit. There were so many beautiful and intricate works of art that even our kids loved admiring.
Dickerson Park Zoo
As a young child, I lived about 90 minutes from Springfield and the Dickerson Park Zoo was an attraction we visited every year. It’s amazing to see how much this 101 year old zoo has grown and changed since then! Today the zoo is home to over 450 animals that can be viewed along a 1.2 mile path. I love this zoo for littles because it is easier to see the animals and you can even hand feed the giraffes!
Springfield Botanical Gardens
The Springfield Botanical Gardens are a FREE outdoor oasis in the city. The site includes several themed gardens, the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden, arboretum, butterfly house, trails, and playgrounds. We didn’t have time to visit the gardens on our last trip, but it looks amazing!
Springfield Conservation Nature Center
As mentioned above, the Springfield Conservation Center is free to visit with both a nature center and outdoor recreation. The grounds contain three miles of trails including a boardwalk trail and a connector to the Ozark Greenways bike and pedestrian path system.
Historic Adventures in Springfield, Missouri
With it’s location on the crossroads of America, Springfield is filled with history and stories. There are several great historic sites and museums to add to your Springfield, Missouri itinerary.
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield is a National Park Service site that preserves the first major Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River. Located just outside of Springfield, this site was a costly Southern victory that focused national attention on Missouri. Wilson’s Creek is one of the top three most pristine and well preserved battlefields in the National Park system.
Today, visitors can explore exhibits about the battle and war in the Visitor’s Center, drive the tour road with either interpretive stops, and hike one of several trails. Kids can also earn Junior Ranger badges by completing several activities. This is a great spot for both kids and adults to learn about history even when it is difficult to process.
History Museum on the Square
We ran out of time to make it to this museum, but it’s been on my bucket list! History Museum on the Square brings the stories of Springfield to life through hands-on experiences, world-class exhibits, and activities for all ages. The eight interactive galleries tell how the region shaped history including exhibits on Route 66, Wild Bill Hickok, early pioneers, the Civil War, and much more.
Where to Eat in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri offers a wide variety of delicious dining choices with many kid-friendly options. Here are just a few of the places we enjoyed on our recent visit.
Hurts Donuts
Hurts Donuts is as fun and colorful to visit as it is delicious. My kids loved the bright decor and the fun swings. Hurts offers a huge variety of one of a kind donut creations with gourmet options plus gluten and dairy free choices.
Aviary Cafe
A little bird told me that you have to try the Aviary Cafe! Open for breakfast and lunch, this cafe serves up amazing crepes, omelettes, sandwiches, and more. I can still taste those sweet and savory crepes, they are the perfect way to start your day!
Civil Kitchen
Civil Kitchen is located on the square and offers a great variety of dishes for lunch and dinner with both indoor and outdoor seating.
Pappo’s Pizzeria
Not only does Pappo’s Pizzeria offer great pizza, breadsticks, and salad, but you can even watch them make the pizza. My daughter enjoyed watching the dough being tossed in the air.
Black Sheep Burgers
Black Sheep Burgers has won awards for the best burger in Missouri and after one bite, you may agree. We enjoyed the delicious burgers and the impressive variety of fries and sauces.
Hemingway’s Blue Water Cafe
If you are exploring Bass Pro or Wonders of Wildlife and want a close location to dine, check out Hemingway’s as it is located inside Bass Pro. Not only can you enjoy seafood, salads, or sandwiches, but you can also watch fish in the aquariums. They offer kid-friendly meals as well.
Andy’s Custard
No visit to Springfield is complete without dessert. Andy’s Custard was founded in Springfield and now has multiple Springfield locations with the best custard creations and sweet treats.
Lambert’s Cafe
Not far from Springfield you can find the famous Lambert’s Cafe. Best known as the home of hot, throwed rolls, this cafe is offers country cooking in a fun atmosphere. Be sure to bring your appetite as the portions are huge!
Where to Stay in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield offers a wide variety of hotel options. We enjoyed our stay at the Bass Pro Shops Angler’s Lodge, conveniently located across the street from Wonders of Wildlife. Our two queen room even came complete with gummy worms, much to the kids delight. The lodge includes an indoor pool and a breakfast buffet.
Why you should visit Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri is a hidden gem that offers a variety of adventures for both kids and adults. From interactive museums to natural wonders and community events, there’s so much to explore. Time to pack your bags, gather your family, and get ready for a spectacular trip to Springfield!
Disclaimer: Springfield Convention & Visitor Bureau hosted and compensated our family for a visit. All opinions and reviews are our own.
