Missouri’s Greatest Road Trip | Route 66

🚘 This is the year for the Greatest Missouri Road Trip ever

With the 100th anniversary of Route 66 plus the FIFA World Cup games in Kansas City, it’s time to explore Missouri while you’re here.

Whether you’re visiting Missouri from out of town, state or country, including leaving your own Host City and the crush of people who are in your area for the FIFA games, I’ve laid out for you exactly how you can hone in on the quintessential Missouri road trip down Route 66 with stops of historical significance and just plain fun.

✋ Personally tested by a 6th gen Missourian

Regarded as a “flyover state” for decades, the State of Missouri has slowly emerged into her own and is attracting travelers from all over the world.

You might have come across a few of these tidbits about Missouri:

1. Where the “Mother Road” aka Route 66 began → Springfield
2. Birthplace of Walt Disney, Maya Angelou, Sheryl Crow, President Harry S Truman, Mark Twain, Chuck Berry (and more)
3. Location of the World Chess Hall of Fame → St. Louis
4. First AVA “wine country” in the USA → Augusta (Napa Valley, California was second)
5. Birthplace of ragtime, jazz, and blues → Kansas City and St. Louis
6. Live music show capital of the world → Branson
7. Within a day’s drive of half the population of the country
8. More theatre seats than Broadway → Branson
9. The “Cave State” with over 7,000 caves
10. Longest Rails to Trails in the country at 240 miles → Katy Trail

What if you could take a road trip to explore Missouri and experience many of those points of interest in a single week?

Or if you add 2 days and combined it with attending one of the FIFA World Cup games in Kansas City?

Buckle up, buttercup, and let’s go!

🚙 Arrival Day (St. Louis)

St. Louis is the only logical point to begin the Great Missouri Road Trip: it’s the Gateway to the West.

Also known as:

• The Lou
• River City
• Chess Capital of the World
• Rome of the West

History lesson: 11 nicknames for St. Louis and the history behind them

Where to stay in The Lou

For St. Louis, we highly recommend a boutique bed and breakfast with our friends at Gothic Heights Inn or Tuxedo Park STL.

Both of the inns were once neighborhood churches that have been renovated into beautiful places to sleep, complete with stained glass windows.

👉 Bonus: all of the lodging in this article is a part of the Stay Inn the Heartland collaboration.

You can even buy a gift certificate that can be used at any of the lodging that is a part of the collaboration!

⚾️ Day 1 (St. Louis)

Breakfast

Looking for farm-to-table and locally sourced ingredients?

Start your day at Rooster: “a unique European-style urban cafe specializing in sweet and savory crepes, sandwiches, and delicious brunch fare…local coffee, craft beer, mimosas and our award-winning Bloody Marys.”

The breads are baked in house, the crepes are made from scratch using their own batter, and their eggs are farm fresh and cooked to order. 

📍 Rooster
3150 S Grand Blvd
St. Louis, Missouri

Morning

One of my husband’s favorite places in the city is the Missouri Botanical Gardens.

It’s an oasis of florals, with native and exotic plants interwoven with historical architecture. The gardens are open all year round, and if you’re lucky you’ll be there when they have a special festival, art installation, or event happening.

Founded in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the nation’s oldest botanical gardens in continuous operation and a National Historic Landmark.

There is an admission cost for adults, and children 12 and under are free. We recommend a minimum of 2 hours for wandering around the garden’s 79 acres of beautiful horticultural display.

📍 Missouri Botanical Gardens
4344 Shaw Blvd
St. Louis, Missouri

Lunch

Head to The Hill or “Little Italy” for lunch at Mama’s on the Hill.

The Hill is a unique neighborhood in St. Louis City that was traditionally founded by Italian immigrants in the early 1800s. Today the Hill is still one of the strongest and unique neighborhoods in the St. Louis area.

What to order: Appetizer of the toasted ravioli of course! Myth has it that this is where toasted ravioli was first created by accident.

And for your entree, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. But do save room for a cannoli for dessert.

📍 Mama’s on the Hill
2132 Edwards St
St. Louis, Missouri

Afternoon

Our top two choices are the Gateway Arch and the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour.

Do one or do them both! Simply depends if you are one who walks fast or if you prefer to mosey around and take your time to read all the information available on your stroll through these historical sites.

If you’re going to do them both in the same afternoon and follow our itinerary, do the brewery tour first so that when you park your car for the Gateway Arch, you can leave it parked in the same spot during the baseball game.

Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour

With several different experiences to choose from, you can explore the campus, visit the Clydesdales, and even taste beer straight from the finishing cellars.

If you don’t want to do a tour (I highly recommend you do if you have the time though!), you can also simply hang out in the Biergarten and enjoy the vibe of this iconic brewery.

📍 Anheuser-Busch Brewery
1200 Lynch St
St. Louis, Missouri

*Photos from Anheuser-Busch media

Passport stop

The Gateway Arch is the tallest monument in the United States and is landmark of architectural innovation. Designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, the Gateway Arch rises 63 stories above downtown St. Louis.

According to the National Park Service, millions of people from all over the world have traveled to St. Louis to take the Tram Ride to the Top of “The Gateway to the West” since 1965.

The Tram Ride is a small pod that seats up to 5 people and takes you up the leg of the Arch to the very top where you can look out the windows West across the city on one side and East into Illinois on the other side.

You will have about 10 minutes at the top to snap photos and drink in the views before you head back down to the bottom and underground.

I highly recommend getting tickets well in advance as they do sell out!

📍 Gateway Arch
St. Louis, Missouri

Dinner

What are you in the mood for?

Our go-to dinner before the ball game is either Schlafly Tap Room or the Broadway Oyster Bar, both within walking distance to the baseball game.

The Schlafly Tap Room

Local microbrewery pairing hearty pub grub with its signature beers, plus outdoor seating.

We recommend starting with the Bavarian pretzel sticks with cheddar sauce and the Tap Room Burger.

📍 Schlafly Tap Room
2100 Locust St
St. Louis, Missouri

Broadway Oyster Bar

Excellent live music, delicious food, AND a great bar, the Broadway Oyster Bar is a one of the best dive bars to experience in Downtown St. Louis.

Music includes some of the best local and national touring acts and a variety of musical genres, from rock, reggae, bluegrass, blues, funk, R&B, roots, and jam, plus showcasing a variety of New Orleans bands.

You’ll find New Orleans flavor in this St. Louis bar from food to drinks. We recommend the oyster po’ boy and a Creole Mary.

📍 Broadway Oyster Bar
736 South Broadway
St. Louis, Missouri

Evening

You simply cannot miss a baseball game with the St. Louis Cardinals at the legendary Busch Stadium.

This year may be a “rebuilding year” as they call it, but that will make it even more exciting when the home team wins!

We have memories of watching Ozzie Smith do his backflip in the field before a game, David Freese hitting the home run to win the World Series Championship, and the magic of Yadier Molina catching behind home plate.

If it’s a sweltering summer evening, choose the nosebleed seats at the very top. You’ll usually have a bit of a breeze and some shade as well as a bird’s eye view of the entire stadium.

📍 Busch Stadium
700 Clark Ave
St. Louis, Missouri

Dessert

✨Passport stop

A St. Louis tradition you don’t want to skip!

Made from a family recipe and a 4th generation family business, Ted Drewes is the best frozen custard you’ll ever have. 

If the line out front looks excruciatingly long, that’s normal. The Ted Drewes team handles thousands of folks every night, you won’t be standing in line for very long at all.

We recommend the Christy (brownie, hot fudge and caramel) or the All Shook Up (Reese’s peanut butter cups and bananas).

📍 Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
6726 Chippewa St
St. Louis, Missouri

🦁 Day 2 (St. Louis > Marthasville)

Pack your bags and check out of your bed and breakfast. After your explorations today, you’ll be on the road to your next destination!

But first: donuts.

👉 Book your wine country stay

Yes, you could book same day arrival, but I recommend you don’t wait. Our best places book out early.

You’ll want to book your wine country stay on the Katy Trail in Marthasville with Missouri Haus. The next closest town would be Washington, or locally known as WashMo.

Breakfast

Old-fashioned baked treats like donuts and eclairs are what makes Donut Drive-in one of the best.

Our faves are the chocolate long john and the glazed donut holes! 

📍 Donut Drive-in
6525 Chippewa St
St. Louis, Missouri

Morning

The Saint Louis Zoo is one of the BEST zoos in the country, plus it is FREE to visit!

In fact, most of Forest Park is free to visit, including the Science Center, the Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum and The Muny (select seats).

If you want to get free parking, arrive early to park on the street and be prepared for a nice long walk. Otherwise, there’s a paid parking lot at each end of the Zoo and well worth the money.

The animal habitats have been carefully built to care for the animals. Our favorite is River’s Edge with the elephants, hippos, and rhinos.

From there, get your train tickets at the railroad station and take a ride all through the zoo! Consider getting an Adventure Pass that incudes the train ride, the stingrays, the carousel and more.

📍 Saint Louis Zoo
1 Government Drive
St. Louis, Missouri

Lunch

Don’t leave the Zoo yet! Grab a bite at one of the several cafes, your lunch helps to support the zoo to keep admission free for everyone.

Afternoon

If you have explored the zoo to your heart’s content already and are feeling more science-y, drive over to the Science Center to connect with curiosity.

One of our favorite activities is to build a replica of the Gateway Arch with large building blocks. You’ll need extra hands, don’t be surprised if a stranger helps you out to complete the feat.

You can also experience the planetarium, the Omnimax theatre, and a flight simulator. Note that entry to the Science Center is free, but some attractions inside do have an admission fee.

We like to park at the McDonnell Planetarium and then walk across the Sky Bridge over I-64. Inside the bridge are speed detectors, and you can check the speed of the traffic zooming below you.

📍 Saint Louis Science Center
James S. McDonnell Planetarium
5100 Clayton Ave
St. Louis, Missouri

Dinner

Time to leave the city and head to wine country!

Take Route 66 aka I-44 West, you’re headed towards Missouri Wine Country on the Missouri River.

✨Passport stop

On your way, you’ll want to take a break at the Red Cedar Inn Museum & Visitor Center in Pacific and get your passport stamped.

📍 Red Cedar Inn
1047 E Osage St
Pacific, Missouri

We recommend either Hawthorne Inn for a delicious beautifully cooked steak at a very reasonable price or St. Louis style IMO’s pizza.

The Hawthorne Inn

Don’t be surprised if you’ll have to wait a bit, trust us it will be worth that wait.

The itsy bitsy tiny town of Labadie is easy to miss if you blink. While you wait for your table, hop across the street to Samuel Berton’s Distillery for a tasting of local spirits or browse the general store shop for local handmade items.

At The Hawthorne Inn, we recommend any of the steaks. We’re drolling just thinking about how lucky you are to eat here.

📍 The Hawthorne Inn
123 Main St
Labadie, Missouri

IMO’s Pizza

The square beyond compare.

The pizza that invented provel cheese, which is sprinkled on a cracker thin crust covered in sweet tomato sauce, spread edge to edge, and cut into squares. You’ll either love it or hate it.

We love it.

We recommend getting an extra large pizza, a side of cheesy bread, and a house salad. The house dressing is addicting, so be sure to take home a bottle of it before you leave town.

📍 IMO’s Pizza
1104 Washington Square Center
Washington, Missouri

Evening

It’s an evening to chill and put your feet up!

Checkin to your Missouri Haus vacation rental, drop your bags, and place your dinner leftovers in the fridge.

If you’ve booked the Bank Haus (legally launder in this bank in the Ozarks → the vault is the laundry room) or Katy Haus in Marthasville, you’ll have a private hot tub to relax in after your day of walking at the Zoo and Science Center.

If you still have energy and want to hang with the locals, walk down the street to Cori’s Twin Gables for live music and a drink. Cori’s has an outdoor patio and is a favorite for not only the locals but also bikers and bicyclists, a true biker bar in every sense.

📍 Marthasville, Missouri

🚲 Day 3 (Katy Trail + Wine Country)

The longest Rails to Trails in the country at 237 miles long plus the very first established American Viticultural Area (AVA) aka Wine Country is today’s agenda.

Get ready to experience a beautiful ride on the Katy Trail with stops at local vineyards!

👉 Bring your bicycles or rent some

You’ll want a bike with the right type of tires for the packed limestone of the Katy Trail. We recommend going with gravel or hybrid tires with a width of 35mm – 45mm.

Prefer to rent a bike?

• Revolution Cycles
• Katy Bike Rental

Breakfast

This morning you’ll stroll to a local breakfast spot, weather permitting and if it’s a day they’re open. 

Walk one block over to Maverick’s in the old Hardware Store building for a classic American breakfast or a couple blocks the opposite direction to the end of the street to the KT Caboose for a quick healthy bite to eat.

📍 Mavericks
201 Depot
Marthasville, Missouri

📍 KT Caboose
600 Depot
Marthasville, Missouri

Morning

Mount your bicycle, it’s time to ride!

You started on one of the greatest road trip routes in the country and this little detour is a slice of one of the greatest biking trails in the country.

From Marthasville to Augusta, it’s a straight and flat 11.5 miles on a wide crushed limestone trail under a canopy of trees (much of the way).

You’ll ride past farms, fields, cows, limestone bluffs, and a small airport that might have some small aircraft landing and taking off if you’re lucky.

Keep your eyes open for wildlife: deer, frogs, dragonflies, squirrels, chipmunks, snakes, and mosquitos. In fact, you will want to spray yourself with bug repellant before you begin your ride, unless you plan to race the mosquitos.

When you pull up to Augusta at the trailhead, it’s time to visit the wineries. Go ahead and bring your bike, there’s bike parking at the wineries for you.

First stop is Augusta Winery, you can’t miss it with the bright red building.

Every winery has tastings and many of them include a souvenir wine glass with the tasting. You’ll want to start your wine glass collection on this trip.

Augusta Winery has several award winning wines, and our favorite is the Vidal Blanc, a nice crisp white for a summer day.

📍 Augusta Winery
5601 High St
Augusta, Missouri

Lunch

After the tasting, get ready to walk your bike up the hill. Or ride it to prove your strength. Your choice!

Mount Pleasant Estates is at the top of the hill and overlooks the valleys on the other side. The buildings are bright pink, you won’t miss them.

This winery is the oldest in Augusta and will also be your lunch spot. First stop in the tasting room to choose a wine for lunch. Then order lunch and take it outside to the tables under the trees.

We’re partial to the baked brie for a starter and then a margherita flatbread with a bottle of the Dry Vignoles.

If you’re there on the weekend, you’ll be treated to live music.

📍 Mount Pleasant Estates
5634 High St
Augusta, Missouri

Afternoon

Time to ride back west towards Marthasville, but you’re not going all the way back yet.

You’ve got one more winery to visit just off the trail. You might have noticed Lake Creek Winery up on the bluff in the morning, a farmhouse with a wraparound porch glowing in the sunshine.

Lake Creek Winery is one of our favorites, for the view, the wines, and the people. We even held our wedding reception here many years ago.

Order the tasting flight of course, and be sure to include the Norton. Sit back, relax, congratulate yourself on a wonderful bike ride on the Katy Trail.

And if it’s the weekend, there will be live music most likely!

📍 Lake Creek Winery
15088 Boone Monument Rd
Marthaville, Missouri

Dinner

If you’ve taken your time to ride the Katy Trail in a leisurely manner, by this time it may be getting late in the afternoon.

So go ahead and ask for the dinner menu at Lake Creek Winery to enjoy an early dinner of local German fare.

But if you prefer to ride back to Marthasville for dinner, then you’ll want to eat at Philly’s Pizza.

The best pizza in the county. Hands down.

Hand tossed crust with fresh ingredients, the only location in the entire world and served with down home love.

Pile the toppings high or get a special recipe pizza, but also add on an order of mac n cheese bites.

Do they deliver to the Bank Haus and Katy Haus? Yep, free delivery for those 30 steps across the street to your door.

📍 Philly’s Pizza
207 Depot
Marthasville, Missouri

Evening

Marthasville may be tiny, but it sure loves music.

The Preserve holds concerts in its speakeasy, so check its event calendar. Did you pack your dancing shoes??

And if there’s no concert at The Preserve, next check the Concert in the Park Series. These concerts are held only a block away in the City Park, so essentially you could listen to the live music from your private hot tub at the Bank Haus and Katy Haus.

📍 The Preserve
105 W S St
Marthasville, Missouri

🐷 Day 4 (Unique stops)

Today will be the longest travel day of around 230 miles total.

If you were to drive straight through, it would be an easy 3 hours plus pit stops. But don’t worry, we’ve got several stops planned for you!

(And tomorrow will be a much more relaxed pace.)

👉 Where to stay for the next few nights

Spoiler: We’re going to take you on a detour 45 minutes south of the Mother Road for a few nights to Table Rock Lake and Branson.

For the best selection and dates, book your stay at Branson Family Retreats sooner than later.

Yes, you can book for same day arrival, but why not book earlier and remove the stress about not finding a place?

Breakfast

Get an early start for the very full day ahead of you!

We recommend heading to one of the family-owned-many-decades-old breakfast hot spots in WashMo as early as 7:00am.

Once you cross the river into Franklin County, choose to either hang a right to the west and go downtown to Cowan’s on Elm Street or pass the hospital and land at Rothschild’s only two blocks east from your route.

Both are classic American food, don’t be surprised if you have to wait a bit for a table. Cowan’s is also known for its Mile High Pies, consider getting a slice to go for a mid morning snack.

📍 Cowans
114 Elm
Washington, Missouri

📍 Rothschild’s
1026 E Fifth
Washington, Missouri

Morning

✨Passport stop

This morning you’re tracking the trail of bank robber Jesse James down Route 66 and heading to his hideout at Meramec Caverns.

Also known as the Greatest Show Under the Earth as well as America’s Cave, the Meramec Caverns is phenomenal and not to be missed.

Plan to take the guided tour down into the cave to see some of the rarest and largest formations in the world.

We recommend getting to the cave for one of the first tours at 9am (as early as 8:30am in the summer, see their website for current hours and to book your tour slot).

Plan for a total of 2 hours at the cave to complete the tour, look through the gift shop, and get your Route 66 Passport stamped.

📍 Meramec Caverns
1135 Hwy W
Sullivan, Missouri

Lunch

The oldest operating tavern on Route 66 according to the East Office Bar & Grill menu, this is a dive bar you don’t want to miss.

My oldest son would stop in for lunch as a teenager working as a guide at Meramec Caverns. He recommends the Philly Cheesesteak pizza.

📍 East Office Bar & Grill
406 E Washington Blvd
Cuba, Missouri

Afternoon

Get ready for more fun stops along Route 66 all afternoon!

First up: don’t leave Cuba without seeing all their murals. Know as Mural City, Cuba has 14 outdoor murals in the tiny town.

Great walk for after lunch or do a little drive by if you’re ready to move on down the road. 

Simply head west on Washingon Blvd and you’ll see them only a few blocks away.

📍 Mural City
506 West Washington St
Cuba, Missouri

The number two stop for the afternoon is Uranus Fudge Factory.

This is the time to let your inner silliness snicker and giggle like a 10 year old. So go explore Uranus because…

…the best fudge comes from Uranus. And then you can say you saw Uranus and all you got was a t-shirt or maybe one of the other fun kitschy souvenirs in the store.

Be sure to take Route 66 versus I-44 so you can drive through Devil’s Elbow on your way to Uranus Fudge Factory.

📍 Uranus Fudge Factory
14400 State Hwy Z
St. Robert, Missouri

Bonus stops here: 

📍World’s Largest Belt Buckle 

📍 Muffler Man statue

Don’t get too comfortable in the car, your next stop is not even 3 miles down the road.

✨ Passport stop

You’re halfway through Missouri on Route 66!

Quick visit for a stamp and a photo at the Pulaski County Visitor Center before you head to your next destination only a mile from this one. 

📍 Pulaski County Visitors Center
137 St Robert Blvd
St. Robert, Missouri

Next up is the new Route 66: Neon Sign Park, located in George M. Reed Roadside Park, one of the longest continuously open roadside parks on the Mother Road in Missouri and still has the original concrete picnic tables when the park was built in 1952.

The park displays restored Route 66 neon signs that hve been orphaned through the years. Each sign will feature corresponding story boards with the history of a sign.

📍 Route 66: Neon Sign Park
506 West Washington St
St. Robert, Missouri

✨ Passport stop

Get your Route 66 passport out and ready for a stamp! You’ll be going to the county library desk window for your stamp and then all the way down the hall to the museum.

The Lebanon Route 66 Museum is free and is a self-guided tour. You’ll get a glimpse into the history and progression of Route 66, with touches of nostalgia and a good emphasis on local Route 66 history.

📍 Lebanon Route 66 Museum
Lebanon Laclede County Library
915 S Jefferson Ave
Lebanon, Missouri

Need to use the loo? Maybe stretch your legs again?

The Conway Welcome Center and Rest Area is a classic American roadside rest area stop.

And, this one is our favorite rest area when we’re traveling through Missouri.

You’ll be tempted by the giant billboards for Phillipsburg exit and the Candy Store to stop there for nostalgic candy and popcorn, quirky road souvenirs, and bathrooms with chandeliers.

Go ahead and stop there, especially if you need to fill up the gas tank.

But consider planning to also stop at the Conway Rest Area to stretch your legs and maybe eat the delicious bag of popcorn you just picked up in Phillipsburg.

The picnic tables are connected by a paved path and each table has its own replica biz, like an old gas station, a barber shop, and more. 

Inside the main building is a Missouri Welcome Center with all kinds of Route 66 information and a large floor mural of Route 66 going across the country.

If you have kiddos with on this trip, there’s a playground outside for them to get some energy out. Oh, and yes, the restrooms are clean and well cared for!

📍 Conway Welcome Center and Rest Area
Westbound, 110619 I-44
Conway, Missouri

There’s only two Buc-ee’s on Route 66, so you’ll want to be sure to stop at one of them, especially if you’ve never visited a Buc-ee’s before.

What is a Buc-ee’s? It’s a bit difficult to explain, honestly. 

Take all your favorite road snacks, add in 100+ gas pumps, drop in a clothing and home decor gift store, and splash a beaver logo onto it all…as well as beef jerky, a barbecue station, and a hefty amount of politeness. Oh, don’t forget the giant brass beaver statue at the entrance.

Truly quirky and sensory overload where you can’t stop smiling it’s so outrageously fun.

But of course you want to take home a Buc-ee’s onesie! 

📍 Buc-ee’s
3284 Beaver Rd
Springfield, Missouri

Dinner

Hungry for dinner?

Between the stops for fudge, popcorn, and beef jerky all afternoon, you may be ready for some classic American diner fare.

We’re taking you just south of Springfield to the Cafe-B29 diner, a tribute to our veterans and covered in WWII memorabilia.

Don’t worry, we’ll get you back to Springfield and the Mother Road after this detour south. 

We recommend ordering the daily special, and if the weather is nice, dine outside.

📍 Cafe B-29
1751 W State Highway J
Ozark, Missouri

Evening

Detour a little more south down to Branson and Table Rock Lake to checkin at a vacation home rental with Branson Family Retreats.

 All homes have either a private hot tub or a private pool, so take the evening to relax and enjoy the views of Table Rock Lake. 

We’ve planned 2 full days for you to get a taste of Branson and Table Rock Lake before you continue your journey on Route 66 because you don’t want to miss this piece of Americana so close to the Mother Road.

📍 Branson Family Retreats
Branson, Missouri

🥾 Day 5 (Ozark Mountains)

The Branson and Table Rock Lake / Lake Taneycomo area is rich in history and has endless options for entertainment.

Keep in mind that the suggested itinerary that follows is a sampling and in no way, shape, or form able to encompass all there is about this part of Missouri.

With that said, please thoroughly enjoy what we suggest for the next few days and keep your eyes open to see all your options for your next visit to see us in the Ozarks!

🎟️ Your stay with Branson Family Retreats comes with free show tickets

With over 25 shows and attractions to choose from, every stay gets a free ticket or three. See all the details about our free tickets:

Breakfast

Yep, we’re going to recommend donuts again.

But see, these aren’t your every day donuts, or doughnuts as some say. We’re talking giant ones covered with outlandish toppings and ordered by name. Or ones that are layered with ingredients you never thought to put on a doughnut but so glad someone DID.

Our suggested morning activity is right next to Hurts Donuts, so consider picking up a couple donuts and a bottle of water for the nature hike/walk. 

Or if you’re feeling like a lazy morning, have these delivered to you by Door Dash if you don’t want to drive to the donut shop (you can even schedule the delivery the night before to arrive in the morning!). 

📍 Hurts Donuts
1600 State Hwy 76
Branson, Missouri

📍 Parlour Doughnuts
(has keto friendly and gluten free options)
482 Branson Landing Blvd #105
Branson, Missouri

👟 Haven’t used Door Dash before?

Sign up with our link and get $5 off your first order of $20 or more.

Morning

Ready to explore the Ozark Mountains?

This morning before the heat sets in (if you’re here in the summer), walk a path or hike a trail  at the Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area. It’s located right across from Hurts Donuts, just off the Strip.

Even though the location seems to be in the middle of town, you’ve got miles of shaded trails for all levels to explore. 

Ranging from easy walking to a more adventurous hike that includes 338 hand-lain stone steps and ends at Old Soldier’s Cave, you’ll get the opportunity to see Lake Taneycomo, wildflowers, and even the historic Owen Homestead cabin.

Here’s a link to the trail map. Our favorite route is to take Bluff Trail (blue) to the steps, then down to Taneycomo Trail and turn north (left) to see the grotto waterfall after rain and the caves.

📍 Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area
412 Owens Trail
Branson, Missouri

Downtown Branson is full of shops and restaurants, perfect for strolling, browsing, and picking up a souvenir or five.

Like at Dick’s 5 & 10 with rows upon rows of retro toys, old fashioned candy and even some salt and pepper shakers.

🅿️ Parking: We like to park in the lot at Atlantic and N Commercial, across from 417 Vintage. Sparky the Trolley has a stop right there, so whenever we are ready to return to the car, Sparky takes us right there on his route.

If you want to grab a late morning coffee or pick-me-up treat, the Pie Safe is right by the parking lot or go across the street to Transylvania Bakery & Cafe.

Downtown shops are a large variety from kitschy to flea market to zombies. Yes, there’s a walking taco shop with a zombie theme called Walker’s.

Jewelry, leather goods, spices, antiques, flags, clothing, shoes, ice cream, juice bar, motorcycle bar (family friendly), fossils, meteorites, and dinosaurs round out much of the other offerings.

Sparky the Trolley route map 

📍 Downtown Branson and Sparky the Trolley
1135 Hwy W
Sullivan, Missouri

Lunch

Sticking to the classic American fare, go to Clockers Cafe in Downtown Branson for homestyle cooking and breakfast served all day.

We’re partial to their country fried steak or the breakfast skillet. There aren’t many tables, so expect to wait if you come on a busy day.

📍 Clockers Cafe
103 S Commercial St
Branson, Missouri

Other nearby places to eat that you can’t go wrong with:

• Branson Cafe
• Walker’s
• Mythical ‘Which
• Hidden Pines
• Full Throttle Distillery Grill & Smokehouse

Afternoon

Mosey on across the railroad tracks over to the Branson Landing after lunch. Leave your car in the parking lot, Sparky will take you back when you’re ready. 

If it’s close to the top of the hour, make your first stop the Fountains for the Fire and Water Show (free). The Branson Landing Fountains were designed by the same designers who did the Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas.

Beginning at 12 noon daily, the Fire and Water show is at the top of the hour until the last one at 9pm (weather permitting). The water geysers are as high as 120 feet and are synced to some of your favorite songs, each hour a different performance.

The Branson Landing is a walkable outdoor mall along the bank of Lake Taneycomo with all kinds of shops, restaurants, and treats and is anchored at one end with Bass Pro Shops. If you don’t have time to visit this Bass Pro Shop, don’t worry as our itinerary will take you to the flagship store in Springfield in just a couple of days.

📍 Branson Landing
100 Branson Landing Blvd
Branson, Missouri

One of our absolute favorite nature activities is the Top of the Rock Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail (aka golf cart tour).

You’ll drive a golf cart 2.5 miles of paths through the Ozark Mountain area and see dramatic waterfalls, cross covered bridges, and coast through a cave with a bar. 

Yes, the Bat Bar. It’s real.

This self guided tour has many scenic overlooks and photo opportunities, so take your time and pull over to park and get out for photos as much as you want.

We recommend at least 90 minutes for the tour. 

But wait, there’s more! Your ticket includes the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum. Save another 90 minutes for the museum, possibly consider doing the museum first and then the golf cart tour.

📍 Top of the Rock Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail
150 Top of the Rock Rd
Ridgedale, Missouri

🅿️ Note: Entry fee to Top of the Rock is $10 per vehicle. Park by the golf carts, and then take the shuttle over to the museum and for dinner.

Dinner

If you thought ahead, you may have made a reservation at the Osage Restaurant at Top of the Rock.

But if you’re like us and forgot, then head downstairs to the Buffalo Bar. Same menu, same great service. You can also simply get a drink to toast the nightly Sunset Ceremony or wander the grounds.

The views of Table Rock Lake and the Ozark Mountains from here are absolutely stunning. Magical honestly.

If there is not a wedding in the chapel, then you can walk through it and admire the handiwork and view.

There’s also a wine cellar, a whiskey bar, and an outdoor patio below the restaurant. If there isn’t a private event happening, you can explore through all of the levels of the building.

The attention to detail for the entire visitor experience at Top of the Rock is simply astounding.

Do your best to time your visit to stay for the Sunset Ceremony. Each night the bagpipes play as the sun sinks and then a civil war cannon is fired. Not to be missed.

📍 Osage Restaurant / Buffalo Bar
150 Top of the Rock Rd
Ridgedale Rd, Missouri

Evening

Good thing you booked a vacation home with Branson Family Retreats, you can relax in your private hot tub or pool for the evening or watch a movie on the big screen TV.

📍 Branson Family Retreats
Branson, Missouri

🎢 Day 6 (option 1: Silver Dollar City)

One of the top theme parks in the entire country, Silver Dollar City is a 1800s craftsman era themed park.

Yes, the most incredible roller coasters are here but also live demonstrations of craftsmen like blacksmithing and candle making, live music shows, and delicious food.

Plan to spend the whole day at the theme park, even as early as breakfast!

🍳 Trust us

Ask for the “special table” at Molly Mills for breakfast and tag us @bransonfamilyretreats on your socials 😉

Breakfast

You’re going to eat breakfast at Silver Dollar City today. 

Yes, we see their opening hours aren’t until mid morning, but the little advertised piece is that there’s a small section of the park that opens one hour earlier than official opening time.

And this includes Molly Mill’s Restaurant (as well as the shuttles from the parking lots).

So plan to arrive 60-90 minutes before the opening time. You’ll get a fantastic parking spot (which is FREE), easy ride on the shuttle (also FREE), and then have breakfast at Molly Mill’s before the rope drop for the day.

In addition, you’ll get to enjoy the opening ceremony and the enjoyment of the park before the heat arrives (if it’s summer when you visit).

📍 Molly Mill’s at Silver Dollar City
399 Silver Dollar City Pkwy
Branson, Missouri

🎒 What you’ll need for the day at SDC

Must have items:

• Good walking shoes that can handle paved hills
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses and/or hat
• Water bottle (you can also buy one there)
• Healthy snacks if you have dietary needs
• Stroller for littles (or you can rent one there)
• Branson Family Retreats drawstring bag to carry items

Bonus items:

• Small towel to dry your face after a water ride
• Change of clothes or shoes after the water rides (but the heat and breeze will dry you, too)
• Refillable SDC mug that a past guest left at the house for others to use
• Charging block for your phone

All day

Our usual route is to go to the right after the rope drops and the whole park is officially open.

But also, this means coming UP the HILL if you make a loop.

This theme park is built into the Ozark Mountains, which means there are elevation challenges for visitors. But don’t over think your strategy. If you get tired of walking, simply sit down on one of the many benches or tables spread throughout the pathways. Most of them are nicely shaded as well.

And in the heat, remember to drink lots of water. Most every food stand has free water, whether they fill a small cup or have a cooler to the side to fill a cup from. And there are many drinking fountains throughout the park.

Our favorite coasters:

• Time Traveler
• Powder Keg
• Wildfire

Our top shows:

• Saloon
• Street performers

Our favorite craftsmen:

• Candy maker
• Blacksmith
• Glass blower

Our favorite food:

• Skillets
• Funnel cakes
• Ice cream parlor

Get the tasting passport to try lots of different food, and plan to stay the whole day!

Evening

Cheers for staying in a vacation home with Branson Family Retreats! Head to the neighborhood pool, soak in your private hot tub, or pull out a favorite board game from the shelf or challenge your partner to a game of billiards or foosball.

Or simply put your feet up by the fire. You’ve got several excellent options for the evening.

📍 Branson Family Retreats
Branson, Missouri

⛵️ Day 6 (option 2: Table Rock Lake)

Table Rock Lake has nearly as many miles of shoreline as the coast of California.

Crazy to consider, isn’t it?

And tourism is NOT the number one priority of the lake.

What is? Controlling the flood waters of the White River to protect the rice crop in Arkansas.

Additionally, Table Rock Lake plays an important part in the region’s hydropower production, maintaining water quality, and preserving natural habitats.

Breakfast

The best spots are the ones with a few tables and incredible servers, this morning go to Hungry Hunter Restaurant.

Be prepared to wait if you go too late in the morning! You can also get your breakfast as takeout if needed as sometimes the wait can be 1-2 hours during high season.

We recommend the coffee and Bob’s Hashbrowns with a side of bacon or the stack of pancakes the size of a dinner plate, but also get a cinnamon roll to-go for later!

📍 Hungry Hunter
5753 Historic Hwy 165
Branson, Missouri

Our favorite spots on Table Rock Lake!

Morning

Let’s get in/on the lake!

You have several options to get in or on the water, ranging from free to several hundred dollars. All are great choices, pick what fits your budget and your energy level!

Free (swimming or fishing)

• Dip in at a quiet cove by a public access point
  • We like Clevenger Cove near our Rocky Shores vacation homes
• Walk down to the lake access in the neighborhood you’re staying in
  • Our homes at Rocky Shores, Chateau Cove, Summer Bay, and Branson Cove all have a neighborhood trail to the shore
• Table Rock Lake State Park

Minimal cost (swimming and boating)

• Moonshine Beach
  • Small entry fee per vehicle
  • Only sandy beach at Table Rock Lake
  • Facilities include restrooms and playground
• Spirit of America catamaran cruise
  • Large boat with scheduled sailings
  • US Coast Guard approved captain and a crew
• Rent a kayak or paddleboard
  • Kayak Branson at Lake Vibez
  • State Park Marina
  • Table Rock Lake Toys

Higher cost (boating and fishing)

• Rent a wave runner, pontoon boat or speed boat 
  • State Park Marina
  • Long Creek
  • Indian Point Marina
• Hire a captain and boat
  • Bearded Boat Captain
  • Blue Belle Lake Tours
  • Captain Jake’s Lake Adventure
  • Private catamaran cruise on Spirit of America
• Hire a fishing guide
  • Buster’s Fishing Guide Service (417-335-0357)
  • Eric’s Elite Guide Service
  • Focused Fishing Guide
  • Freedom Fishing Guide

🪪 Do you need a boating license or fishing permit in Missouri?

Boating license:

• Yes, you need one if you are driving the boat (or you can hire a captain!)
• If you were born before January 1, 1984, your regular driver’s license is valid for boating
• If you were born after that date, you will need to take the online boater safety education course to receive your license to be able to operate a boat

Fishing permit:

• Yes, you need one if you are 16 years or older
• Purchase it online or at a local marina (~$9 for a single day)
• Trout fishing has an additional trout license, available at Scotty’s Trout Dock on Lake Taneycomo

Lunch

If you didn’t bring your lunch onto the boat, don’t worry, there are several lakeside restaurants with a courtesy dock that you can dock at and enjoy a meal.

Including a classic red-roofed Pizza Hut, the only one in the world you can arrive by boat to!

• Lakeside Resort & Restaurant
• Pier 28 Pizza & Grill
• Pizza Hut (the only one you can arrive by boat!)
• Rock Island Grill and Tiki Bar

Afternoon

For the afternoon, if you’re not out on the water, you may be ready for a nap.

It’s been a week of adventure, and you deserve some rest!

Good thing you booked a vacation home from Branson Family Retreats that has comfortable beds and room darkening curtains, perfect for an afternoon snooze.

Dinner

Local dive bar with delicious smoked barbecue tonight.

The Crazy Craig’s Cheeky Monkey Bar has the best greeting for every person that walks through the door. We’ll leave it as a surprise, and don’t worry, the greeting will bring a smile to your face!

Our favorite is the brisket quesadilla. And if it’s nice weather out, consider eating outside on the deck.

We recommend eating around 5:30pm so you have plenty of time to get to a show tonight!

📍 Crazy Craig’s Cheeky Monkey Bar
120 Montgomery Dr
Branson, Missouri

Evening

Being that Branson is the Live Music Show Capital of the World, your taste of the area absolutely must include a live show.

However, with 100+ shows each week, we’ve narrowed it down to 2 options to pick from for this trip. You’ll have to come back again to see more shows!

The Route 66 Centennial National Kick-off in Springfield featured Branson locals The Haygoods, and we highly recommend seeing their show while you’re here.

A group of siblings (5 brothers and 1 sister) with suberp talent and have been performing for more than three decades. Their vast musical skills cover nearly every music genre, a multitude of instruments, and even tap dancing upside down in the midst of fire.

Add in sibling rivalry, family stories, and even some down home comedy, its no wonder they sell out pretty much every show.

📍 The Haygoods
Clay Cooper Theatre
3216 W 76 Country Blvd
Branson, Missouri

If The Haygoods show is sold out or they are not playing the night you’re here, then you’ll want to go to Sight & Sound Theatre.

Sight & Sound Theatre in Branson has the largest theatrical stage in the country, wrapping around both sides of the audience, and they bring in live animals for the performances. The caliber of performers rival those who perform on Broadway in New York.

The show changes each year, and the shows are based on stories from the Bible. For 2026, see DAVID, a young poet and shepherd who became a warrior, killed a giant, and later was anointed king.

📍 Sight & Sound
1001 Shepherd of the Hills Expy
Branson, Missouri

End your evening at the nostalgic Cakes & Cream Fifties Diner.

Get a sweet treat, a late night snack, and even take it around back for their free movie drive-in replica behind the diner.

We recommend the classic banana split

📍Cakes & Cream Fifties Diner
2805 W 76 Country Blvd
Branson, Missouri

🐻 Day 7 (Springfield)

Time to hit the road, Jack! But we want you to come back, some more, some more, some more, some more.

We hope you had a fantastic time getting a sliver of the Branson experience and look forward to when you return.

Breakfast

Breakfast with a view this morning at Steamy Joe Cafe, perched on a ridge overlooking the Ozark Mountains.

If you’re lucky, you can snag a table at the windows in the sunroom. Order a specialty espresso or even a cortado to go with your breakfast, they even have several sugar free flavors to choose from.

We recommend the Bradford French Toast or the classic Eggs Benedict.

📍 Steamy Joe Cafe
3590 State Hwy 265
Branson, Missouri

Morning

Next up: Queen’s Gate 66 in Springfield, the Birthplace of Route 66!

This new sculpture was installed in April 2026, just before the National Kick-Off. You’ll want to get your photo here for sure.

They’ve also installed a Musical Road that plays ‘America the Beautiful’ as you drive the rumble strips at the speed of 30 mph.

According to KY3 “the song was selected as a tribute to America’s open road, the spirit of Route 66, and the upcoming celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.”

📍 Queen’s Gate 66
1700-1714 U.S. Bicycle Rte 66
Springfield, Missouri

✨ Passport stop

A few blocks down the road is the Springfield Visitor Center. Get your stamp, browse the information and pick up a brochure or two!

📍 Springfield Visitor Center
815 E. St. Louis St
Springfield, Missouri

Springfield has over a dozen sculptures commemorating Route 66, and you’ll cruise past the Hubcaps on Route 66 Sculpture on your way to your next stop.

Hop out and grab a photo before you move on to the nearby car museum.

📍 Hubcaps on Route 66 Sculpture
1000 W College St
Springfield, Missouri

Love classic cars? You don’t want to miss this private collection of 75 classics at the Route 66 Car Museum.

The vehicles span from 1907 to 2005 and include vintage vehicles like a 1967 Austin Healy 3000 and a 1936 Horch.

Open daily, minimal entry fee, and will close April 2027 with all the vehicles being auctioned off May 2027.

📍 Route 66 Car Musem
1634 W College St
Springfield, Missouri

Lunch

For lunch, we’re taking you over to the flagship Bass Pro Shop and the Hemingway’s Blue Water Cafe.

The great American literary writer Ernest Hemingway was also an American saltwater fishing legend, an avid international sportsman and one of the pioneers of big game fishing. Johnny Morris, owner of Bass Pro Shop and lifelong conservationist, admired Hemingway’s works and created this cafe with that inspiration.

Enjoy the views of wildlife and sea life from your table or the bar as there is a 30,000 gallon saltwater aquarium overlooking the main dining room.

We recommend the Bison Burger and a Cookie Sundae for lunch.

📍 Hemingway’s
Bass Pro Shop
1 Bass Pro Dr
Springfield, Missouri

Afternoon

The Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium is simply incredible.

It is one of the best museums and aquariums we have ever been to. The attention to detail is spectacular and a testament to the conservationist that Johnny Morris is.

Ever wanted to swim with sharks? Feed the stingrays? Get up close to a penguin? You can do that here at the aquarium!

Special ticket pricing for Route 66 visitors, plus check out the live stream at any time.

📍 Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium
500 W Sunshine St
Springfield, Missouri

Big fork in the road now

Well, not literally, unless you go get a quick photo of the World’s Largest Fork at 35 feet tall and weighing 11 tons.

📍 World’s Largest Fork
2215 W Chesterfield St
Springfield, Missouri

What’s it going to be?

Do you take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the FIFA World Cup excitement in Kansas City, only 3 hours north of here?

Or do you continue on Route 66 towards Carthage and Joplin to finish Missouri stops?

If you are traveling this itinerary between June 11, 2026 and July 19, 2026 > choose to go to Kansas City and experience the Fan Festival even if there is not a game in KC that day.

But otherwise, keep going west, friend! Unless…you still want to take a little detour north to KC, that is.

We recommend staying at one of these boutique bed and breakfasts. Each has only 3 guest rooms, so consider booking your nights early so you don’t miss out, especially during the FIFA World Cup games.

Main Street Inn is in Parkville, just north of Kansas City, in a historic 1885 Queen Anne home with wrap around porch. And yes, breakfast is a thing here. A three-course, seasonal, made-from-scratch kind of thing as Innkeeper Kathy notes.

The Historic Browning is in Lee’s Summit, east of Kansas City, in a stately downtown home. Innkeeper Cynthia is also a culinary chef who has served celebrities like Prince, The Rolling Stones, and Diana Ross. 

📍 Main Street Inn
504 Main St
Parkville, Missouri

📍 The Historic Browning
202 SW Third St
Lees’ Summit, Missouri

⚽️ Day 8 (Fan Festival)

You may never be this close again

Even if you aren’t that into fútbol (soccer as we call it in the USA), the energy and excitement of these games is something to behold.

So why not? The Fan Festival will be open for 18 days during the FIFA World Cup games. See the schedule of days here.

You’ll want to leave your car at your bed and breakfast for the day and take the provided coordinated regional transit in the area. See the KC2026 transportation info for all the details of routes and more.

The Fan Festival is where to be all day. Located at the National WWI Museum and Memorial, you’ll have the opportunity to walk through history while on the grounds you’ll watch the national teams making history.

📍 Kansas City Fan Festival
National WWI Museum and Memorial
2 Memorial Dr
Kansas City, Missouri

Dinner

World famous award winning Missouri barbecue

Hands down Missouri has the best barbecue anywhere. Yep, anywhere.

Look at menus across the globe, and what do they have? St. Louis Ribs. Kansas City Strip. Now it’s your turn to indulge in real Missouri barbecue at Arthur Bryant’s.

📍 Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque
1727 Brooklyn Avenue
Kansas City, Missouri

Evening

If you’re in Kansas City during the summer, take the opportunity this evening to attend a show at the Starlight.

An open air theatre that has presented Broadway musicals, concerts, and community programs since 1950. I remember seeing “Annie” performed when I was young!

The 2026 concert season includes Charlie Puth, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Sarah McLachlan, Darius Rucker, O.A.R. and Jerry Seinfeld. See the entire concert lineup.

For the Broadway shows, the schedule for 2026 includes Hadestown, Spamalot, and Beetlejuice. See the full schedule.

📍 Starlight
4600 Starlight Rd
Kansas City, Missouri

🏁 Day 9 (Missouri finish line)

Every beginning has an ending

Sadly this is the end of our Greatest Road Trip Ever itinerary.

From here you’ll head back south to the Mother Road at Carthage, then Webb City and Joplin to finish out your passport stamps and photo ops on Route 66 in Missouri.

Enjoy your homemade 3 course breakfast before you hit the road, though.

And tag us @bransonfamilyretreats in all your photos and videos you share on socials if you’ve followed our itinerary, even if it was for a single afternoon!

And to leave you with my favorite quote that I told my sons as they each left home to travel the world:

“Have fun, don’t die.”

And special for Missouri: Watch out for deer.

😄 Did you follow our Route 66 itinerary in Missouri? Tell us about how it went!

Send your comments, stories, and photos to hello@bransonfamilyretreats.com.  And tag us in your social media posts @bransonfamilyretreats.