[Spring Break] Best things to do in Branson

Is Branson a great place to visit on your Spring Break?

Sorry, but no.

It’s a FANTASTIC place to visit for your Spring Break. 

🌸 The dogwoods begin to bloom
🎵 Comedy, mystery, and variety shows are back open
🍩 Did someone say donuts?!
❌ No stifling summer heat with 100% humidity

Here are our top things to do in Branson during Spring Break, in no particular order, including several budget friendly and free activities:

1. 🍩 Hurts Donuts + 🥾 Hike the Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area

• Budget level: Practically free! Donuts are $2-3 each plus free parking and hiking

Hiking means you need some extra calories, right? Perfect reason to grab a Dirty Dozen of Hurts Donuts and then hop across the street to one of our favorite hiking trails: Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area.

Located right off the Strip (aka Main Street), the trailhead has plenty of parking. Have a seat at a picnic table to munch your layered donut (Adrian’s favorite: S’mores / Nick’s favorite: Yes) and then wash up in the public restroom before heading down one of the trails.

With over 5 miles of trails to explore, you can see views of Lake Taneycomo, traverse 315 stone steps, explore a grotto waterfall and small cave, and then loop back around to the Nature Playground.

• Hurts Donuts
  1600 State Hwy 76, Branson, MO
• Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area
  412 Owen Lane, Branson, MO
  More info

2. ⛳️ World class golf + 🦖 zany mini golf

• Budget level: Expect $75-150 for a par 3 course and $8-15 for mini golf

The Branson area has become well known for its world class golf courses, including ones designed by legends Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Arnold Palmer.

Check out the Top of the Rock course, the only par 3 course used for a PGA Tournament. It is now the home of the annual PGA Legends Tournament.

For mini golf (aka putt putt), we each have our favorites. Adrian is partial to Dinosaur Canyon with it’s life size dinos, rumbling volcano, and blue waterfalls.

While Tyann recommends Lost Treasure Golf (aka the one with the crashed yellow airplane), which starts with a little train ride to the first hole.

• Top of the Rock course
  150 Top of the Rock Rd, Ridgedale, MO
  More info 
• Dinosaur Canyon Golf
  2501 Green Mountain Drive, Branson, MO
• Lost Treasure Golf
  3346 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO

3. 🎢 Silver Dollar City

• Budget: $65-$95 per person (depends on age and size of group) 
• FREE SDC TICKET: Book a 4+ night stay with us and get a free SDC ticket, see details here

Opening Day for Silver Dollar City is nearly a local holiday and basically signifies the opening of “tourist season” in Branson.

Does that mean SDC will be packed? It depends on the weather. March can be finicky in Missouri, so be prepared for chilly 40 degrees while having the park to yourself or a balmy 70 degrees sharing the park with 15k of your new friends.

With some of the best roller coaster rides in the country, fun live shows throughout the day, true craftsman to watch (like a glassblower and a candy maker), and plenty of delicious food, be sure to save a full day (or more) for your SDC visit.

• Silver Dollar City
  399 Silver Dollar City Pkwy, Branson, MO
  More info

4. 🥩 Steak + 🐓 chicken dinners

• Budget: $20-50 per plate

Have you ever gone on a mission to find the best steak in town?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you.

Known for down home cooking, Branson has many choices for your favorite foods. We’ve had the steak and chicken at most places, and this year there’s a few more for us to taste test for you.

Here’s our faves:

• Nick’s pick: Saltgrass Steakhouse – New York Strip with Cajun topping 
• Adrian’s pick: Local Flavor – Country Fried Chicken
• Nat’s pick: Longhorn Steakhouse – Flo’s Filet with Lobster tail
• Tyann’s pick: Longhorn Steakhouse – Parmesan crusted chicken

New places we haven’t tried yet:

• Hidden Pines Restaurant
• Level 2 Steakhouse
• Full Throttle Distillery

5. 🎤 Live shows: Music, Illusion, Horses, Epicness

• Budget: $35-80/person
  
• FREE SHOW TICKET: Book a stay with us and get a free show ticket, see details here

With more theatre seats than Broadway in New York City and several shows that rival any Las Vegas special, you’ll want to plan to see at least one live show on your Spring Break trip.

The biggest challenge: picking which one to see!

The most popular shows are the most popular for a reason. They have uber-talented performers, dazzling special effects, and stories that touch you deeply.

Several have audience participation, and some even include a meal, like Dolly’s Stampede and SDC Showboat (check out Kailey’s review here).

• The Haygoods
• Dolly’s Stampede
• DAVID at Sight and Sound Theatre
• SDC Showboat

That doesn’t mean all the other live shows aren’t worth seeing! They wouldn’t be around if folks didn’t enjoy them. 

The best part of having so many choices is that you’re sure to find a show that fits your kind of fun and entertainment. Check out these shows also:

• Clay Cooper Country Express
• Legends in Concert
• MJ the Illusion
• Branson Murder Mystery
• + another 50+ live shows

Full show lineups

6. 🎣 Fish Hatchery + Table Rock Lake Dam

• Budget: FREE

Branson and Table Rock Lake have many free things to do, too! Between hundreds of acres of conservation area, a multitude of nature trails, as well as parks and playgrounds, there’s lots to explore.

The Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery recently reopened after completing a brand new build of their Conservation Education Center. And it’s FREE to enjoy!

Every year the hatchery produces between 350,000 and 400,000 pounds of trout. Both rainbow and brown trout are raised at the hatchery with 80 percent of production going into Lake Taneycomo. 

At the Center, you’ll see wildlife and habitat exhibits, a 7500 gallon aquarium, and more. 

Outside, there’s more than 3 miles of trails to walk as well as seeing the massive Table Rock Lake Dam from below. Bonus: some of the trails provide fishing access on Lake Taneycomo.

• Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Education Center
  483 Hatchery Rd, Branson, MO
  More info

Want to know of more free things to do in Branson? Grab our guide:

7. 🚦 Laser tag + 🕹️ Arcades

Budget: $12 and up

Who’s the best shot in your family? Take your aim in laser tag or via arcade games. 

Grand Country has laser tag as well as indoor go-karts, mini golf, bumper cars, and an arcade at their Fun Spot. These attractions are open to the public, not only guests at their hotel.

• 1945 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO
  More info

1984 Arcade is retro arcade game after arcade game. Find your favorite and play as much as you want as most games are included with their all day pass.

• Shoppes at Branson Meadows, 4240 Gretna Rd, Branson, MO
  More info

Arcade City at Branson Landing is your modern arcade to collect tickets on your Play Card as you play and then redeem them for a prize.

• 715 Branson Landing Blvd, Branson, MO
  More info

8. 🦇 Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail (aka golf cart tour)

• Budget: $20-45/person + $10 per vehicle
• FREE TICKET: Book a stay with us and get a free ticket, see details here

Have you ever driven a golf cart into a cave with a bat bar? Here’s your chance!

The 2.5 mile self guided tour around Top of the Rock is beautiful any time of year, but especially so when the dogwoods are blooming in the spring.

Drive your golf cart down the windy path that takes you through the woods, over creeks, past waterfalls up close, across a covered bridge, and into a cave.

With spectacular lookouts to stop and enjoy, don’t forget to get some family photos on this activity.

Tickets include entry to the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum. Leave your car parked and jump on the shuttle to get to the Museum. You can also explore the stunning Chapel of the Ozarks if there is not an event.

And if you time it right, see the Sunset Celebration. Bagpipes play as the sun sinks into the lake, and a Civil War cannon blasts once the sun is gone. The celebration is nightly during Daylight Savings.

• Top of the Rock
  150 Top of the Rock Rd, Ridgedale, MO
  More info

9. 🔎 Escape rooms + 🎲 Board games

• Budget: $5 to $45 each person

Love games, mysteries, critical thinking and competition? Then you’ll enjoy one of the many escape rooms in the Branson area.

Collect a few friends/family to play with, and choose a themed escape room. From zombies to history to fantasy, there’s a storyline for everyone.

The basics: get locked in a room with your group and then find the clues that will lead you out.

The catch: you’ve got limited time or you lose the game.

Doesn’t sound appealing but still love games? Check out the Dice & Dine: Boardgame Cafe with any game you could imagine on the shelf. Just $5/person gets you an all day pass to all day fun.

• The Escape Branson
  203 S Commercial St, Branson, MO
  More info
• Escape Code
  4560 North Gretna Rd, Branson, MO
  More info
• Cryptex Branson Escape Rooms
  1819 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO
  More info
• Masters of Escape
  120 Rojana Way, Branson, MO
  More info
• Puzzle Parlour
  1000 Pat Nash Dr #10-1, Branson, MO
  More info
• Dice & Dine: Boardgame Cafe
  103 S Bus Hwy 65, Branson, MO
  More info

10. 🛍️ Shopping + 🍭 Sweet treats

• Budget: $3 and up

Branson Landing is an excellent area to saunter through, whether you simply want to stretch your legs and window shop or use some of your spending money. The stores and options can be a bit overwhelming, so here’s our favorite path to take:

Park on the end near Belk Store. There’s a stoplight, so it makes it easier to get in and out of the area. Plus, there’s a specific stop to make before you get back to your car.

Enter the Landing between Belks and Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen. Stroll on the right side. Don’t worry, you’ll come back down on the opposite side later!

Check out the various shops, including some the sweet shops Northwoods Candy Emporium and IT’SUGAR. 

Halfway down, you’ll see the Fire and Water show at the Fountains (created by the same folks that created the Bellagio fountain show). It’s free and happens every hour on the hour beginning at 12 noon during season. Check hours at their website here

At the end of the Landing, take some time to check out Bass Pro Shops, a smaller store but still quite the stock of items. The turn around and head back down the other side.

If you’re of age, consider tasting some Moonshine, must have your photo ID with you. Further down, have a ring custom made at the Ring Bar.

Now before you go to your car, keep walking and go past the parking area to the strip of stores on the other side of parking.

You’ll want to pick up a dozen of the famous Parlor Doughnuts, layered doughnuts that are amazing. Plus, they have keto doughnuts that are also delicious.

• Branson Landing
  100 Branson Landing Blvd, Branson, MO
  More info

Before you go:

Have you peeked through our purpose-built vacation homes yet?

You just might find that staying at one of our curated properties gives your Branson experience some extra joy.