Missouri is a great place for an inexpensive adventure. In bigger cities, there are many free museums and modern city parks. Out in rural Missouri, you can find amazing state parks and historical sites well worth a visit. Even if you have already splurged a little this summer, you don’t have to stop having fun under the summer sun. This list of 12 inexpensive road trip destinations features a lot of great free attractions that will only cost you a tank of gas!
- Forest Park - St. Louis
Saint Louis Art Museum/Flickr Forest Park was recently named the best city park in the nation. It’s easy to see why with well maintained grounds, endless opportunities for exercise, and the amazing free museums. Spend your day visiting the free zoo, art museum, history museum, or catch a showing at the Muny.
Cost: Free (including zoo and museums).
Find the park at 5595 Grand Dr., St. Louis.
- Ha Ha Tonka State Park - Camdenton
Jason Runyon/Wikimedia Ha Ha Tonka State Park is a great place to camp, hike, or swim at the Lake of the Ozarks. The main attraction at Ha Ha Tonka is the castle ruins that sit on the bluffs overlooking the lake.
Cost: Free
Find Ha Ha Tonka State Park at 1491 State Rd. D, Camdenton.
- Meramec Caverns - Sullivan
Tydence/Wikimedia Meramec Caverns is one of Missouri’s most visited caves. This amazing cave formation is open year round and is always a cool 65 degrees. At one point in its long history, the cave was thought to be a hideout of the outlaw Jesse James.
Cost: $21 Adults, $11 Children Visit the caverns at 1135 Highway W, Sullivan.
- Danial Boone Home - Defiance
Kbh3rd/Wikimedia Daniel Boone moved to Missouri with his family in 1799. His home and other buildings from the early 1800’s are now part of a small pioneer town in St. Charles County. Learn about what living in Missouri was like before it became a part of the union.
Cost: $8 Aults, $5 Children
Visit the Daniel Boone home at 1868 Hwy F, Defiance.
- Kauffman Memorial Gardens - Kansas City
Paulmcdonald/Wikimedia The Kauffman Memorial Gardens are a small and beautiful oasis in Kansas City. This city garden is tended to by Powell Gardens staff which means you will always find stunning and well maintained grounds.
Cost: Free
Find the gardens at 4801 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City.
- Johnston’s Shut-Ins State Park - Lesterville
Kbh3rd/Wikimedia Johnston’s Shut-Ins is located in southeast Missouri and is one of the best natural swimming destinations in the state. Hike the trails through the park on a hot summer day then cool off with a swim before you head home!
Cost: Free
Visit Johnston’s Shut-Ins at 148 Taum Sauk Trail, Lesterville.
- Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum - Hannibal
Andrew Balet/Wikimedia The Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum sits on the banks of the Mississippi River in Hannibal. Mark Twain is a beloved American author who penned The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. See the homes of the people who inspired some of the most popular characters in American Literature.
Cost: $11 Adults, $6 Children Visit the museum at 120 N. Main St., Hannibal.
- Hammons Field - Springfield
Springfield Cardinals/Facebook It can be a bit costly to see an MLB game but minor league games are just as fun and half the cost! The Springfield Cardinals are a minor league affiliate to the St. Louis Cardinals. Hammons Field is considered one of the best minor league parks in the nation, there isn’t a bad seat in house.
Cost: $8 - $49 (weekend games)
Find the stadium at 955 East Trafficway, Springfield.
- Grand Falls - Joplin
Seanbynum/Wikimedia You can find Missouri’s largest waterfall in Joplin. The falls are located just downstream from Wildcat Park that has a wonderful yet easy nature trail to hike.
Cost: Free
Visit the falls at 5400 S. Riverside Dr., Joplin.
- Mark Twain Splash Landing - Monroe City
Mark Twain Landing/Facebook Mark Twain Splash Landing is a great little water park north of Hannibal. This water park has fast water slides for thrill seekers and a great wave pool for those just looking to cool off.
Cost: $25 Adults, $20 Children
Find Mark Twain Splash Landing at 42819 Landing Ln., Monroe City.
- Watkins Woolen Mill Historic Site - Lawson
Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site/Facebook Watkin’s Mill is a historical site near Excelsior Springs where wool was produced into textiles. The mill opened in 1860 and is the only mill in the nation with it’s original machinery.
Cost: Free Visit Watkin’s Mill and Homestead at 26600 Park Rd. N, Lawson.
- Grand Gulf State Park - Thayer
Michelle Elkins/Alltrails Grand Gulf State Park near the Arkansas boarder is one of the most breathtaking spots in Missouri. This mini grand canyon was created after a cave system collapsed after centuries of natural erosion.
Cost: Free Find the park off Hwy. W in Thayer.
Have you been to any of these inexpensive destinations? Looking for more Missouri adventures? Check out these 15 once-in-a-lifetime adventures you can have in the Show Me State.
Saint Louis Art Museum/Flickr
Forest Park was recently named the best city park in the nation. It’s easy to see why with well maintained grounds, endless opportunities for exercise, and the amazing free museums. Spend your day visiting the free zoo, art museum, history museum, or catch a showing at the Muny.
Cost: Free (including zoo and museums).
Find the park at 5595 Grand Dr., St. Louis.
Jason Runyon/Wikimedia
Ha Ha Tonka State Park is a great place to camp, hike, or swim at the Lake of the Ozarks. The main attraction at Ha Ha Tonka is the castle ruins that sit on the bluffs overlooking the lake.
Cost: Free
Find Ha Ha Tonka State Park at 1491 State Rd. D, Camdenton.
Tydence/Wikimedia
Meramec Caverns is one of Missouri’s most visited caves. This amazing cave formation is open year round and is always a cool 65 degrees. At one point in its long history, the cave was thought to be a hideout of the outlaw Jesse James.
Cost: $21 Adults, $11 Children Visit the caverns at 1135 Highway W, Sullivan.
Kbh3rd/Wikimedia
Daniel Boone moved to Missouri with his family in 1799. His home and other buildings from the early 1800’s are now part of a small pioneer town in St. Charles County. Learn about what living in Missouri was like before it became a part of the union.
Cost: $8 Aults, $5 Children
Visit the Daniel Boone home at 1868 Hwy F, Defiance.
Paulmcdonald/Wikimedia
The Kauffman Memorial Gardens are a small and beautiful oasis in Kansas City. This city garden is tended to by Powell Gardens staff which means you will always find stunning and well maintained grounds.
Cost: Free
Find the gardens at 4801 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City.
Johnston’s Shut-Ins is located in southeast Missouri and is one of the best natural swimming destinations in the state. Hike the trails through the park on a hot summer day then cool off with a swim before you head home!
Cost: Free
Visit Johnston’s Shut-Ins at 148 Taum Sauk Trail, Lesterville.
Andrew Balet/Wikimedia
The Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum sits on the banks of the Mississippi River in Hannibal. Mark Twain is a beloved American author who penned The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. See the homes of the people who inspired some of the most popular characters in American Literature.
Cost: $11 Adults, $6 Children Visit the museum at 120 N. Main St., Hannibal.
Springfield Cardinals/Facebook
It can be a bit costly to see an MLB game but minor league games are just as fun and half the cost! The Springfield Cardinals are a minor league affiliate to the St. Louis Cardinals. Hammons Field is considered one of the best minor league parks in the nation, there isn’t a bad seat in house.
Cost: $8 - $49 (weekend games)
Find the stadium at 955 East Trafficway, Springfield.
Seanbynum/Wikimedia
You can find Missouri’s largest waterfall in Joplin. The falls are located just downstream from Wildcat Park that has a wonderful yet easy nature trail to hike.
Cost: Free
Visit the falls at 5400 S. Riverside Dr., Joplin.
Mark Twain Landing/Facebook
Mark Twain Splash Landing is a great little water park north of Hannibal. This water park has fast water slides for thrill seekers and a great wave pool for those just looking to cool off.
Cost: $25 Adults, $20 Children
Find Mark Twain Splash Landing at 42819 Landing Ln., Monroe City.
Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site/Facebook
Watkin’s Mill is a historical site near Excelsior Springs where wool was produced into textiles. The mill opened in 1860 and is the only mill in the nation with it’s original machinery.
Cost: Free Visit Watkin’s Mill and Homestead at 26600 Park Rd. N, Lawson.
Michelle Elkins/Alltrails
Grand Gulf State Park near the Arkansas boarder is one of the most breathtaking spots in Missouri. This mini grand canyon was created after a cave system collapsed after centuries of natural erosion.
Cost: Free Find the park off Hwy. W in Thayer.
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