The 30 best free attractions in Springfield

I loved visiting the Springfield Art Museum! The museum has free admission, which is great for a family friendly adventure. They have a good variety of different styles of art. I really loved the Bradi Barth exhibition they had on display when I visited. They have many modern/contemporary artists featured as well. The courtyard is a nice place to relax. The staff here is great. I highly recommend if you're in the area.

Great visit with my granddaughters this week at the museum. No fee, great collections. We really enjoyed the watercolor exhibit. We were even able to vote for our favorites! They encourage you to sit and create for yourself or just take it all in. There was a room that the kids could add their own drawing to the wall as well. Fun. Interesting. Clean. Welcoming.

Had a wonderful visit and enjoyed much of the artwork. Could not share it all here, but I hope the pictures inspire you to visit. We spent a couple of hours just taking in all the art pieces, and they allow you to photograph without flash photography in the gallery. Have fun!

This was a beautiful art museum. I was nervous to take my kiddos but along with having pieces for kiddos, they have an entire room for children to explore art. It was nice to be able to enjoy art in a family friendly environment

It’s absolutely free which was surprising. The amount of art inside is incredible. Great atmosphere and you can spend at least an hour or two admiring the works of greats. You must leave your back packs at the front desk, they will tell you. You can’t bring any weapons inside too, there is a picture telling you on the outside

Unfortunately by the time we got to this museum (visiting from out of town) it was half an hour before it closed. But we still spent a pleasant and fairly peaceful 30 minutes surveying the museum and its exhibits, both the permanent collection and a neat exhibit on watercolors. There is a really nice area for kids that allows them to play and explore with art-related materials. It's not a large museum but it appears to be well cared for.

We were super surprised by the great time we had at this little museum. We've been to many of the great art museums of the world, but this gem we found to be charming. Not stuffy or dark. Nice variety in the exhibits. Interesting modern and temporary works displayed. We spent two hours here.

Had a wonderful tour guide. I've always wanted to go inside a cave like this. Due to my decreased mobility, riding in on the trailer, even though I had to bend over and duck at points, made it possible!! Wonderful even temperature and excellent lighting. Enjoyed the history and learning some science on the way.

To see stalegtight and stalagmites in person is impressive. To see formations that have taken millions of years in person was amazing. Very informative little tour and the guide was humorous. Though we loved the tour and information it is on the pricey side. Truly expected the tour to be more In length. In actually its a tour that stops often to listen to the guide. I'd advise to research prices and compare that to your fascination of underground formations

Fantastic Caverns offers a unique and memorable experience with its fully guided, ride-through cave tour. You’ll hop aboard a large tram that takes you deep into the cave, with stops along the way to learn about the stunning rock formations and fascinating history of the caverns. It’s a relaxing and informative adventure—no walking required in the cave. There is also really nice gift shop filled with great souvenirs to remember your visit.

Fantastic Caverns experience is well worth your time. The grounds before getting to the visitor's center are so well kept and beautiful. ( Deer were grazing, when we went.) There is a place outside with the story/ history of the caverns before you go in the visitor's center. The visitor's center and gift store are very nice. In the center there are comfortable chairs to wait for your tour. The jeep trams are roomie and not too crowded. They will allow pictures throughout. You are also allow to bring food ( popcorn from the gift shop) and a drink. The tour takes about 1 hour and is very educational and fun.

Not as dramatic as some cavern systems I have toured, but it was very accessible, had a great story and you could park several cars inside it. Our guide was authentic and very knowledgeable about the cavern. The story of the cavern's discovery was touching and the performance history of the cavern pre-dates Branson. Every time I am walking on a hill in this area, I think what could be hidden underneath my feet in the earth's drainage system.

Amazing cave, the drive through tour is really nice. It is perfect for seniors who could not otherwise make a more strenuous walk through a cave system. The cave has beautiful formations and great lighting. Thr tour guides were friendly and informative as well. Overall and outstanding diversion.

A great place to learn about caves, how they form and a little local history. Because you ride in a wagon pulled by a Jeep this tour is great for those who might not be able to walk far or stay with a group. I thought it was a little expensive relative to the time length of the tour but then it was so nice to ride and just look and listen to the guide.

Beautiful place to walk around. The trails & facilities are kept up well. My husband & I love bringing our daughter here. Tonight we had some car troubles right before the gate closed. The Missouri conservation employee (Tim) was very kind helping us & making sure we had a way to get home. We appreciated it very much!

Absolutely incredible—The trails were stunning and each curve took our breath away. Could have spent all day just enjoying the beautiful creation. Not to mention how kind the staff was at the Nature Center. There’s even a fun exploration room inside with learning activities for little kids!

Beautiful place to go hang out in nature and go for a lovely walk. They have trails surrounding the nature center plus the visitor center has lots of things to see and explore inside as well. Seems to be a great place to take kids on a field trip as we saw a lot of that while we were there. ~RoadLifeAdventure

Great area well Mark trails. Excellent wildlife. Perfect time of the year, even older people and Grandma and Grandpa can do the blue boardwalk trail all the way to the water

Wonderful place to walk and no worry of having to jump out of the path of an upcoming bicycle 🚲. No worry about getting trampled by a group of runners. Parking, restrooms, and vending machine.

I had a wonderful time exploring the Springfield Conservation Nature Center! The trails are peaceful and well-maintained, perfect for hiking and spotting local wildlife. The nature center itself offers great educational exhibits that really help you appreciate the natural beauty of the area. It’s a fantastic place for families, nature lovers, or anyone looking to get outdoors and learn more about conservation. Highly recommend a visit! It's also fun when you get to see the deer running through the trails!

I have been here a few times. This last time, I accompanied my daughter's home school class to a presentation by two of the staff. I am not sure of their actual job title, but they were knowledgeable and did a fine job engaging the children with animals of Missouri. Very good! The nature trails are superb!

Really disappointed as I have a lot of great memories here from when I was a kid. Everything is either broken, missing a lot of pieces, or a relic from the 90s. Only giving it a second star because the dinosaurs animatronics were neat but I suspect they will be out of order in no time.

This place is amazing and recommend it to anyone, with or without kids. The prices are great and if you get a family membership it’s even better. With a membership you and your family get in free all year, but there are also other centers around the country you can go to free as well. There are fun learning experiences for people of all ages, as well as special events all throughout out the year. We go several times a year and my son never gets bored of it (even now as a teenager!)

Visiting from out of town and looking to feel some time both my kids 15 and 8 had a lot of fun going all around the building so much to do and see and play here great place to spend some down time or looking for something fun for the kids

A pretty good price with a lot of things to do. It was a fun family friendly experience that we all enjoyed. Would recommend!!!!

Had a good experience here with the dinosaurs and all the gadgets of the kids had fun playing with. Unfortunately, I had to leave early due to a very sleepy baby but I saw a miniature golf on the second floor and the third floor had tons of stuff for toddlers I'll definitely be going back. Furthermore, it was cheap and definitely worth the price.

The staff was very friendly. It seemed to be a kids free for all but the exhibits were very informative and 100% awesome! As a homeschool family we really loved it. It was educational and a bunch of fun! They had stuff for kids of all ages but I would say most educational activities were for 6+ age range.

We enjoyed it. Definitely alot to see. It is geared more toward younger children. I have 2 teens but they still enjoyed themselves.

Been a place i have always gone to clear my mind over the years. Heck i moved to washington state and came back for my grandfathers funeral and still made sure to visit this park to clear my head and talk with an old friend. This park is ada accessible while providing plenty of parking. I highly suggest the hasta garden… who knew green could be done/look good in so many ways🤯. Any one of any age will find something they like here so bring a book a friend or just yourself and touch grass.

A must-see for nature lovers, trail walkers, flower garden fans, picnic havers, and general dilly-dalliers. Even the butterfly house is free and run by knowledgeable volunteers. It’s 118 acres of something interesting at every turn for free!

Probably the best park in Springfield! Very pretty, always clean. You get a good walk around the path. Lots of botanical/educational things as you walk. Nice pond/lake and waterfall. A few rivers to play in when the water isn't too high. Ducks, geese, squirrels and bunnies. Large fountain you can sit and enjoy. Lots of places to sit around the path. Very dog-friendly! Absolutely recommended!

This botanical garden is wonderful! There are a lot of plants for each season. Right now, the peonies are gorgeous! There's a beautiful shade garden with a natural water feature plus a big rose garden.

The place was very beautiful. Clean peaceful, relaxing. You can have a picnic there. You can have children playing in the park. You can see wildlife. It was a very soothing atmosphere.

I go here to pick up Pokémon and collect stops and gyms. I can’t do much walking at this time, I’m 71 and have cancer. So it’s great to be able to drive around to do my collecting.

One of my favorite places to chill, especially on warmer days when the attendance is lower. They have a fascinating and interesting assortment of trees, bushes, and flowers.

Our family moved to Springfield and have enjoyed coming to Dickerson Park Zoo! The animals are great to see and it was definitely an interesting experience to have peacocks roaming around the zoo! The biggest issue is the bridge being out by the bears, which makes you backtrack through the Asia area to view everything instead of circling around. However, it does look like it's currently being replaced, so excited to see repair work being done!

It was too hot for the poor Animals to be outside and to say hi! We saw a few and enjoyed that. Loved the fact that they had restrooms through out the park and food and drink! Loved the gift shop! Big fan of the penny press souvenir machines so I managed to grab a couple. Staff was good. Well maintained area! Fun for the whole family. Bought the tickets online.

What a wonderful little zoo. My wife and I found this place as we were waiting for our commercial truck to be repaired. We went on Wends 9-10-25, and it felt like we had the whole zoo to ourselves. Took about 3 hours to walk the whole park, and we maybe saw 2 other groups of people. While people weren’t seen as much, the animals were all out for viewing. Minus the bear enclosure that was being reworked, every exhibit was open/looked well maintained. Would highly recommend and at only $19 won’t break the bank. Walked in with drinks and food, no one seemed to care. So can probably save some money packing drinks/snacks.

Awesome zoo! Not quite comparable to St Louis or Memphis, a lot of exhibits were closed with a note that the animals were being treated by the veterinarian. However, the animals that we did see were AWESOME. We loved the peacocks, we got to see an elephant eat, fed goats, fed giraffes, and checked out a ton of reptiles. For a small town, we loved it.

This little Zoo had a surprisingly large variety of animals to view and interact with. The layout is easily navigated. Different paths to see all the facility or partial, with food, snacks, and restrooms strategically placed throughout. Plenty of rest benches and shade as well! Low entry cost is a bonus!

This was such a cute zoo! Me and my family had a blast! Easy to get around but could have a bit better signs since there was some construction going on.

Impromptu visit to the zoo on a gloomy Friday morning. The entry fee was reasonable and the park was much larger than I had expected. Even with the arrow signs and colored paw prints i got lost lol The grounds are well maintained with loads of surrounding shrubbery contrasting the black fences. Lots of restrooms placed around the park; which I appreciate the ease to go wash my hands. TBH was hoping not too many kiddos would be screaming throughout the park but idk what I was thinking. If there were 21+ only days (or few hours) at the zoo honestly would be more enjoyable (I have auditory sensory struggles; kids randomly 'screaming' or 'shouting' highten my flight or fight and end up in panic attack mode. really makes it hard to enjoy family friendly places 😪) Did not check out the cafe or the gift shop. I did not try the train. Parking was easy, although, I had arrived 30min after opening. I really enjoyed the lemur, vultures, zebras, blue macaw, and petting the goats. The area to feed giraffes was a decent size but can fill up fast with strollers and wagons. If you plan on feeding the goats take a few dollar bills incase the kiosk is closed. Overall I really enjoyed my trip but amenities are catered for family visits i.e. playground by the cafe, stroller rental although they allow outside strollers, splash pad for kids. the gazebo by the waterfall on the way to the flamingos was the most peaceful spot. i had my ear plugs in but was able to take the out for a bit as i found more monkeys and how to enter the flamingo viewing box.

We went on the Ghost Tour 👻 and had a good time. The ladies who led the tour had a lot of interesting stories, recordings and photos to share. Fun experience and interesting castle. We recommend taking the tour.

Took my wife for her bday and we had a blast! The castle was beautiful, and the staff was entertaining. If I could offer one piece of advice it would be to lean into your theme of ww2 on every aspect and ditch the non related decor. We did the ghost tour and highly recommend. The place was busy the Saturday we went.

Online you can book a ghost or history tour with a minimum of 4 people for the history tour. We booked the 2pm tour and it took about an hour to walk through and here the history. It was a lot of fun for us and the kids highly recommend.

Had the pleasure of getting the opportunity to go on their ghost tour. The guide was fantastic! He was full of charisma, very knowledgeable about the history and encompassed both the history of the castle from all aspects of natural and supernatural. His beliefs are magnetic and he truly pulls you into a world in which anything is possible. I had a wonderful time and highly recommend anyone who loves history or has a fascination with the idea that there is something after death go. I honestly feel more connected to those who came before us after this and I find that comforting.

Definitely go at night. Some parts of the tour are not for the claustrophobic and not wheelchair accessible. Great place to take children and learn the history of the mansion.

I took the guided tour and it did not disappoint. The guide was informative and they took us around the entire Castle. So much fun... you should definitely go.

Went on a Ghost tour and it was fun learning the history of this place. Very well kept and maintained, very beautiful Castle

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield is a Park that you need to visit. Passport cancelation stamps are inside by the gift shop. There are three stamps here. There are many displays and exhibits here. There is a movie about the park you can watch. Lots of history here. Staff were friendly and answered any questions that I had.I would absolutely come back here to visit.

Great place to go for hiking. I really enjoyed learning the history of the Wilson Creek battle and the area. I didn't realize how much historical stuff outside of the battle occurred here. Great place to visit.

Several trails, many spots to turn off and park to explore and learn some history about this place. There is a creek that flows pretty steadily, but it's not recommended to swim in. You can walk, bike, or hike. Pet friendly, but on leash.

Super friendly gentleman behind the counter that I got to have a conversation with as a fellow history buff. Very nice welcome center, sprawling Battlefield the best kept I've ever visited! Springfield

Self guided tour, interactive, and very informative. National treasure. Well worth the visit.

This area is well-maintained overall. Good interpretive signs along the tour road. Trails are well-maintained and include additional interpretive signs and gun batteries. We didn't get to see the visitor center due to the federal shut down. It does a good job in presenting the history in a respectful and unbiased manner. Entry is free.

This is an amazing place to learn about. My kids got to watch history and even got to become Jr. Rangers!

What a fabulous place to visit! So much to marvel at! There are several free museums or other if you want you can pay to enter the Wild Life museum. You can certainly spend a few hours walking around and looking at everything! Remember to look up!

We had an amazing time. We went through all the exhibits, it took all afternoon and was well worth it. I would suggest if you have any health issues be aware there is lots of walking,they do offer scooters. This was the 4th Bass Pro property we have gone to and each one is different and wonderful. We love the exhibits and museums, they are Outstanding! We are not fishermen or hunters but we love Bass Pro.

Throughout my adult life, I’ve visited Bass Pro Shops in Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Omaha, and several other locations across the country. However, I had never made it to the flagship store — until now. I have to say, I was absolutely in awe. This location feels more like a Bass Pro mall than a store, offering an experience unlike any other. If you’re a Cabela’s or Bass Pro enthusiast, this destination deserves a top spot on your bucket list. It’s truly a must-see for any outdoor lover! My only critique is for the fishing department manager. I tried to purchase a Shimano Nasci 1000, but it wasn’t available even though one was on display. I would recommend removing or clearly marking items as out of stock until replacements arrive to avoid confusion.

We stopped in while in Springfield as a family member of mine had bought a boat here 30 years ago so we wanted to check it out. This location is huge!!! I thought the Clarksville, IN store was big, but this one was MUCH bigger with so much more to see. This one has so many fish tanks in the Bass Pro store, along with an archery and National Rifle Association museum inside thats FREE to look around. So many rifles from hundreds of years ago to look at. We spent over 2 hours wandering around inside, 100% recommend visiting!

What a cool experience. I am from Michigan, and most of our bass pros are on the smaller side, but this place is huge. I really enjoyed the fun museum and I could have spent hours there without shopping. If you are anywhere near this location, I recommend you stop in.

Worth the stop—even if you’re not an outdoorsy type.” This location is huge and packed with everything from boats to boots. The staff were friendly, and the layout made it easy to explore without feeling overwhelmed. Loved the museum and aquarium touches—they add a lot of character. Great for families, gearheads, or anyone curious about outdoor life. Just plan for at least an hour (or three).

The store is fine. Always fun to walk through and look at all the fish and taxidermy. However, today we came and were walking through the store after going through the aquarium. My 7 month old started getting hungry, so I decided I would make a quick restroom stop and then we would either find somewhere to nurse or head out. In the restroom I used (the ones on the second floor right by the huge stag statue, outside the aquarium/museum entrance), there is a plaque that says “nursing room available ask an associate for details.” Perfect. I went down to the front counter and asked the cashier (appropriately) named Karen (an older lady with tinsel in her hair) about the nursing room. Not only did she tell me no such nursing room existed, she told me that I could go nurse in the bathroom (ew). I questioned her on this, and told her that I just saw a sign that said there was one available. She called who I assume is her manager or supervisor and then confirmed to me that there is no nursing room, but this time told me there were fitting rooms that have the stuff to set clothes on, and I could go nurse my baby there. We went to the museum entrance and asked the person selling tickets (who was quite lovely), and they directed us to the aquarium lobby. We spoke to the lady manning the photo gallery entrance (who was also quite lovely), who told us exactly where the very existent nursing room was.

We visited today for the first time. My family of 6 thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience! It was a very welcoming, calming, well laid out, clean establishment. There is something there for all ages, adults and kids alike! We definitely didn’t spend enough time there so we will for sure be back!

The playground was really cool and my son loved getting to see the animals. The toddler area was cool but didn't hold my 2.5 yr olds attention for long. The sensory garden was a really cool addition.

This whole area is very neat! The playground was fun for all ages, which means you have to watch the little ones but at least it's big enough for the parent to fit in with them. The animal side was well kept, which was nice to be able to enjoy the other aspects of the park without foul animal odors. The gift shop is small but packed full of items, so make sure to take a little spending money. The grounds were clean and obviously well maintained. This park is definitely worth spending an afternoon at!

Honestly expected more. The gravel road made it difficult for strollers and wagons. Once on the grass it's ok. The animals are cute and they have the bouncy houses for older kids but other than that it's just basic. Hardly any pumpkins so maybe best to go later in October or just somewhere else.

This is a sprawling , publicly funded farm that is beautifully kept with numerous animals that include pigs , chickens , goats , cows , horses and other common farm animals. They grow crops there and have several acres , and it is a beautiful place to take the family and remember a simpler time of how people live off the land. The terrific and safe way to introduce kids to different basic animals at are in our society. They often host. Festivals like the pumpkin festival.We recently visited with jump houses , horse rides riding a various animals and corn rays and lot of other games for the whole family.

This place was awesome for all age groups! We checked out the pumpkin patch, the animals that we could pet, a pond where you can rent fishing supplies from shop and fish there. We had went alittle early so a few things were not ready such as corn maze. So we will be back soon!

Alot of fun. All the kids had a great time! Staff is warm & friendly! Fantastic gift shop.

The gardens were a lovely experience. There is so much beauty in the small details. Lovely colorsd evergreens and maples throughout. Tranquil, peaceful, and not over-crowded (even on Saturday). We were able to maneuver a wheelchair with no difficulty. Chatting with patrons here and there. Many places to sit and rest or capture a picture. Worth a visit or two.

Great place to take kids for an afternoon stroll! It's $6/ adults and $4/ kids 3 and older. 0-2 are free. They also offer group rates for 10 or more. Grounds are well kept. Ticket house also has clean restrooms and picnic tables for use. The playgrounds are right next door at Nathaniel Greene Park. Does have a different parking for other areas but is within walking distance of parking at Mizumoto.

Beautiful place to go walk and meditate. Bathrooms on site. They have a small gift/ souvenir shop. Lovely spot to read and relax. We went in the spring time and the smells of the blooming trees was alluring to the senses. It would be a beautiful place for pictures and weddings

I love the Japanese culture and enjoy the landscape and architecture they create. I believe they have a special ability to work with the environment and create spaces that are so aesthetically appealing and unique. This stroll garden is true to form. Developed by a talented and professional Japanese landscaper, this is a place that invites calm and peaceful reflection. You must experience it. Take your time and stroll through. Sit down and take in the view.

It was a nice place to still through. I had hoped to see more flowers but the beauty of the trees were nice. Good place to sit and think.

I went near dusk closing time and really cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this!! Quiet, peaceful, beautiful, just lovely!!!!

The best times to visit the garden is during the annual Japanese Fall Festival or Gardens Aglow (festive lights themed) event. The 2025 festival was a really great year for the yearly event. Good place to walk on a nice day out!

Beautiful park! The fountains are definitely my boys favorite place to go. They have several sections with fountains, some with bigger splashes and some with smaller ones. The water is less than a foot deep, so my young toddlers could play in it with no issue. Not a lot of shade in the fountains, but otherwise the park is super shaded. There are a couple of places with picnic tables, including one covered area. There is also a small playground. Parking is a little space, but other than that it is a great place to spend a warm afternoon

Love this place! Such a beautiful part of town! The park has a great place to walk, have lunch at a picnic table or play in the water. It's even open until 11pm

We had an Angleman Syndrom event there with live bands and about 100 people registered plus a few public wondering in and room for plenty more people. Great place to hold event with outdoor stage area could easily accommodate 500 people or more.

This park is really cool and has wonderful wading pool areas for kids. There are plenty of spaces to roam around and some pretty neat displays that are interactive. The only thing is that it took me a long time to figure out where I was supposed to park, and I had to go to the Parks and Recreation website to figure it out. For those wondering, you park at the ice skating rink down the street.

My 16 year old autistic daughter is so enthusiastic about this beautiful park the flowing water fountains and the flowers are so wonderful and with the clean smell of chlorine I am not at worried about any bacterial problems. I love it too the water was such a perfect temperature cool enough for the heat and when the sun began to set it was warm and delightful. We spend hours and never get bored or tire of it, also the people are so nice it's really an awesome friendly place for everyone.

Nice splash area for the kids to cool off in. The bricks are not attached, so kids pick them up and throw them. The rules say no to do this, but not one person read the rules while we hung out here. Eventually they will destroy the splash area, which will be sad. Still, it's a great free place to spend some time. Parking wasn't clearly marked, but everyone was parked behind the ice skating rink.

This is such a lovely park! With the good comes the bad. Too bad the homeless also think that 🙄. Had my grandchildren with me and saw a woman shaving her underarms! Parking is also an issue. Very small parking lot😕

Beautiful park, we were pleasantly surprised. Wish there were more restrooms available. Unfortunately, we were a week to early for the butterfly garden.

What a beautiful and peaceful park. Sitting in the shade at Drummond Cove on a very not day, enjoying the cool breeze off the water.

It had so many pretty flowers even this late in the summer. There were lots of people there enjoying it so that was good to see

Weather was perfect for a little morning stroll, tons of photo opportunities and lots of thing s to learn about.

We enjoyed a lovely morning walking through the gardens. It was very special to see so many others of all ages walking the paths.

Beautiful park , plenty of space to walk and just over all react . Have been going here since I was kid . Definitely a favorite

Really nice park so many different things to take in and they are still changing & adding

It's such a wonderful Artsfest again. It was my second time, and I had fun with my doggie.

Last night was my first experience with the art walk here and I must say that I was not disappointed. I spent most of the time in sheer awe of the talent I saw at every turn. Hopefully one day there will be some tactical art included.

A lot of nice artists work First time going there definitely will be going back next year it was a beautiful day and a great event

Use to go every Friday when I was 16

One of the better parks in Springfield. Always enjoy taking walks here. Good trails. Sad the bridges are closed right now though. When the runoff fills after rain it makes a nice little river to wade in. Lots of shaded spots. Cute playgrounds. The Pavillion in the middle is good for gatherings. Overall, definitely recommend this park to visitors

It was a bummer some of the trail was closed, looked a bit over grown which was kind of sad, I remember it being so beautiful. Wondering in they are going to spruce it up more next year, I sure hope so.

Small but beautiful park to walk and enjoy the outdoors and scenery. Nice walking path with shade for the dogs. Great little break spot.

Great park. Playground for kids. Pavilion for parties. Clean. Great trails.

Busy, yet, I wish the cave and trail were open. Novice,short hike, up to the top of cave; yields lovely photo op. There were tiny bats in the cave , so perhaps that was part of reasons for cave to be closed. I think of a time forgotten when looking at this park. Makes mewonder what facts we actually know of our ancestors and what they had to ensure for shelter and warmth. Really cool park and pond. Bring your own duck food. Enjoy nature!

This place is absolutely gorgeous I spent all day and even some of the night walking taking pictures exploring just relaxing being at one with nature this place has got some the coolest caves water spots just all around unique landscaping gorgeous scenery every time you turn you see something cool.. God's marvelous work.. breathtaking

Amazing, wish the trails were open. But the ponds and cave entrance was amazing and so peaceful.

This place is worth your time. I can’t wait to go back to visit again. It’s free admission, but donations are appreciated. They have a little dinosaur play corner for toddlers. My daughter liked it so well she didn’t want to let me move towards the back where they keep the cave and mineral items. There were so many cool things to look at and learn. I regret not going sooner. I’m so grateful places like this exist. Thank you to all the donors and volunteers who keep this place open.

Great little gem off the beaten path... a wonderful place to take your family and a must stop for any lover of earthly treasures. Entry is free and they have a cool gift shop and scavenger hunt for kids.

This place was so awesome the volunteers were so kind and knowledgeable about alot of things in the museum. I highly recommend checking them out. It's free admission but you can donation which if you can you should so this awesome place stays open. Lots of things to check out. Lots of dinosaur artifacts and fossils,

I had never heard of this place until we were looking for things to do with our kiddos before school starts. It was so cool and had lots of nifty things to look at. All three kids 10, 8, 4 loved it. Pretty easy to get to. Accessible but there is a gravel parking and might be a little harder to navigate with a wheel chair or stroller. Stay tuned though they have a class room building going up and also waiting on new things coming in.

It’s free to get in it’s a small museum has amazing fossils dinosaurs, fish, shells and older rocks and crystals has some history here to my 8 year old was entertained for just long enough to walk around the hole place there is a small gift shop we had to pick up a copper coin and some geo rocks you can donate to help support the free museum it’s not forced and they didn’t ask but we did as we appreciate having a free place to visit on vacation

Really neat place to visit if you enjoy fossils and geology. They have a decent collection of dinosaur and Ice age era fossils to look at, and the other half of the place is all rocks and mineral crystals. They also have neat things for sale like hard to find crystals and fossils. So far I've picked up a mosasaur tooth and an ice age bison bone for very reasonable prices. It's a must see for any rock/crystal/fossil collector, especially if you're after authentic pieces to add to your collection.

I e been here 3 times and will go back again & again likely. Staff is educated & helpful. Museum is very cool and be sure to go up to the dig site and find fossils!

My 4 year old son and I have come here a handful of times since he was 2. He LOVES it so much. They have several different types of play areas like a fire dept, grocery store, restaurant, vet, auto shop and more. There's a fun water table where kids can make dams and float boats. There's a small stage that's decorated like a fairy tale forest with costumes and also a small enclosed area for kids under 1 year old. Kids have free reign and are free to explore and make believe. It's awesome. Older kids may not have as much fun, but for kids under 6-7, it's a blast!! My son loves to make believe grocery shopping and then take his groceries to one of the play homes to make dinner. The staff is friendly and helpful too. It's a great place to visit for indoor play when it's far too hot or cold outside. We'd visit more often but it's about an hour drive from our home.

We were looking for stuff for the kids to do and this popped up and we are so glad that it did because this place rocks! It sits in the center of a shopping center and is very easy to find. They open at 8am so that’s nice too! We went on a Friday morning and it wasn’t too busy. It was $40 for two kids and two adults which was more than reasonable for the time we spent there. If you’re looking for a place like a children’s museum without the museum and traffic, this is the place! The kids loved it and didn’t want to leave. The best part is your admission is good for all day so you can leave and come back. This place rocks! So much to do and endless fun! We will be back!

It sort of felt like a run down daycare. Toys were just thrown everywhere, a lot of the rooms only had a few items in there. There was no hand sanitizer anywhere, there was a sink on the way out though. It was ok, but not sure it's somewhere I would go back to.

Such a cute play place. We were visiting from out of town, and I wanted my 1 1/2 year old to get some wiggles out. They have an area for 1 year olds that is secure from the rest of the “city” and there’s plenty of imaginative fun to be had for kids up to 5-6. My husband and I just walked around, with our coffees. My 1 year old served me pizza from the “cafe” 🤣 highly recommend for young families. We will be back!

I took my daughter to Itty Bitty City a couple week ago. We had been many times in the past and had a few birthday parties there. It was always so fun for the kids! Friendly staff, neat and orderly toys and activities! But, this last time was really bad. My daughter and I were so disappointed. The toys were disgusting, the carpets was torn and coming off the floor in so many places, and it smelled dirty. There was missing items from all the little rooms. The staff checking us in obviously had her kids there. So there was food and trash all over the tables. The toy sections was gone and half painted. We stayed about 5 minutes and my daughter asked to leave. I paid $20 and asked for a refund. She kindly gave me my money and I thanked her. Just super disappointed because it was such a neat place.

I used to bring my kids here a couple of years ago, and it was a decent spot for them to burn off energy. Unfortunately, it has gone completely downhill, and I’m honestly shocked it’s still in business. The place is filthy. I’m not talking about a few dust bunnies here and there, I mean stained floors, ripped carpet, filthy play equipment, and bathrooms that look like they haven’t been cleaned all week. Several of the play structures had visible grime and what looked like food splatter. My toddler’s hands were black within minutes of playing. There were random toys scattered all over, and most of the play areas were missing so many toys and accessories. I didn’t see a single staff member doing any sort of cleaning and the owner at the counter looked like they couldn’t care less. She snacked and loudly talked on her personal cell phone the entire time we were there. This place clearly hasn’t been kept up and is now just a health hazard. Save your money (and your kid’s immune system) and go somewhere else. We won’t be back.

Took my family here! Love the place. Really so much to do! The buildings are sturdy and so nicely decorated! Play areas galore are separated so nicely! My youngest two girls and two grandson's did not want to leave! Definitely very busy on a Saturday afternoon in end of February. But we will be back for a midweek session to hopefully get some more enjoyment with fewer roughhousing younguns. Definitely a place for more active imagination play and not running , screaming and wrestling!

Was not expecting such amazing displays and museums when we decided to visit BPS. What an amazing collection!

Tons of firearms to see and read about. Great to see the history of them throughout time. I spent way too long in there.

This is such an amazing little museum, right in the bass pro HQ! It's free, and there are a ton of historical firearms to see, as well as so much history to learn. I highly recommend

A really detailed and educational dive into the American Gun History. I especially enjoyed the exhibit displaying all the standard issue American Guns for the US Military throughout history. They've got some unique stuff like the punt guns and gold/silver pistols. Recommend any visitors to this Bass Pro take a stroll through the museum.

So many historical guns...plus, it's in the Bass Pro Shop. It's free and took about 1.5 hours to scope everything out. Must see if you're into historical firearms. There is also a large archery Hall of Fame at the end of the firearms display.

We had an awesome time there it was very interesting my son enjoyed all the old guns from the wars it takes a lot of time to get through it unfortunately we didn't make it to the aquarium maybe our next trip AWESOME TRIP!!!

Not sure how many arms are in this museum. I highly recommend you make time to visit. There is a wealth of knowledge and history in here that is just amazing. Much bigger museum than I thought on my way in.

It was a bit flooded but Lake Springfield is always nice.

My sister and I attended the introduction to kayaking last Saturday. It was great, we enjoyed it so much! Our guide, Robin, was awesome. Explained everything and made sure we were safe. We'll definitely come here again.

Overall our day on lake Springfield was a blast. I get to spend quality time with my boat working on repairs. Swimming was a blast with a wonderful “earthy” aroma! Launching your boat here provides a great excuse to get closer with your primary care physician. I’ll be back next week!

Lovely little get-away inside Springfield. Boathouse with kayaks for rent, some souvenirs and small snacks as well as drinks are available. Pavilions plus the boat house(indoor venue complete with kitchens) are available. Playground at the South Pavilion plus swings at the North Pavilion along with a basketball court is also available. Paved trail along with a more rugged Ozark and Lake Springfield are also there. Bonus….a disc golf course too! Plenty of parking up by the entrance and how’s by the boat house.

Perfect place to try kayaking and canoeing. If you’re not sure if it’s your thing, you can easily rent one. Very affordable and worth the time! Chances are, you’ll be back! Very knowledgeable and friendly people here.

Went to my grandsons wedding it was beautiful. I would recommend this to every bride and groom

Wonderful nature space. Uncrowded, excellent wooded hiking trail system, great green spaces, play equipment, and a very nicely marked disc golf course. The only thing needed is an extension of the paved trailway for the elderly and parents pushing a baby.

I love the trail here!!! Very beautiful and lengthy with complete tree coverage. So peaceful and pretty.

Wonderful place with so much to offer! This is the best location I know of for bird viewing. Today we spotted what I believe to be a Yellow Crowned Night Heron, and three Hummingbirds without even trying. 🙌🏼

Very nice spot for a walk. Enough up and down to get the heart pumping a bit. Some interesting local history and a real, easily visible spring. Perhaps 1.5-2.0 miles depending on which side trails you take. 30-45 minutes for once around the lake.

Very nice nature place to walk through. A few spots to sit and just watch. A flock of geese were on the water. Nice little hike and educational centers around how the water gets to the tap.

Plenty of room here to spread out and get away from the crowds. There's some sidewalk for all ages, but most of the trails are uneven with endless rock and root tripping hazards, along with numerous elevation changes. Not to be discouraging, but just be aware. Much of the trail is shaded and there are several benches along the way. There are are also restrooms available.

Lots of interesting scenery in this area, including the lake and waterfall, forest, wetlands and stream. We enjoy looking at the spring that can be seen from the overlook. We couldn't find the side trail that is supposed to go to the stream, but we have walked the loop around the lake and through the wetlands a couple of times. Watch out for ticks. One of our visits was shortly after some rain, and too many mud puddles so we had to walk in the grass to avoid those. Found a nymph afterward.

Very beautiful; paved & unpaved trails, with plenty of water access to a pond & a creek. Very nice scenery with picnic tables for a nice family setting. Great place to take your dog for a wonderful walk & a cool dip in the creek!!! Nice walking bridge & this area usually has a nice breeze blowing. Took our "cheagle" dog (Shadow) out there & he had an awesome time; got a lot of exercise. We frequently visit this beautiful, peaceful, & serene park. One of the nicest parks in Springfield, MO to visit.

My favorite park in Springfield. There is a wonderful music park and two different playgrounds. They are a little more suited for little kids, but I love that there are not really places to fall off! The park is far from the road, so there is lots of space for little kids to run around without a parent on them all the time. My kids love it, too!

It's a nice park. We were there at night, it seemed safe. There was some sort of uniformed bicycle operator with a lot of lighting that seemed to be patrolling the place in some manner. They could've just been the World's Safest Bicyclist though. There's a stage with columns that don't appear to have ever had any structure associated with them. There's a well lit wall that has appeared in music videos. There's an art installation there that could be described by many terms: speech balloon, thought bubble, quote bubble; it's actually an Ernest and Ruth installation. We had a wildlife interaction with an inch worm. I'm not sure what's larval in September in SWMO. Video attached.

Great park for many occasions. From casual Saturday morning play time with little kids to picnic date nights, Phelps Grove has something to offer for just about everyone. Also the trees are beautiful.

Went to the park Labor Day afternoon to hit a few tennis balls. Phelps Grove Park is a beautiful park just south from MSU on National Avenue. Great jogging / walking trails, lots of trees for shade, BBQ stations for those so inclined, swings and play equipment for the kiddos and restroom facilities all surrounded my a very nice neighborhood. Best park north of Sunshine street.

We enjoyed a wonderful evening at Phelps Grove for a family baby shower at the large stone pavilion. The parking lot was close by but we did have to make several trips to carry everything. Next time we will bring a little wagon. Restrooms were convenient at one end of the building. We reserved the Pavillion with the park office but its a very popular location. We shared the large space with several other parties. Everyone had plenty of room.

Very nice park,large historic shelter house, relaxing .Never seems crowded, Large modern playground. Restrooms are dated but definitely usable. Next to art gallery with free admission, tennis courts, nice flower garden. The park is kinda spread out almost like two or three separate park areas , but as far as I know it's considered all one park.

Our family really enjoyed this park! I loved the accessibility of park benches close to the playground equipment. I also really enjoyed the uniqueness of the music area that had multiple musical instruments for the kids to play on and enjoy. They especially enjoyed the playground zipline.

As someone who travels to a lot of rail museums, I can very much say this is one of my favourite out of the hundreds of museums I've been to. Hundreds of unique preserved artefacts of railroad history, all lovingly cared for by a friendly & knowledgeable team of volunteers, definitely worth a visit & I'll be returning time & again

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A Must-Visit for Train Lovers and History Buffs! As someone who loves trains, visiting the Railroad Historical Museum in Springfield was an absolute treat! The museum is packed with fascinating history about the Frisco Railroad and its impact on Springfield and the surrounding region. The exhibits are well-curated and detailed, showcasing everything from vintage railroad equipment to historic photographs and memorabilia. You really get a sense of how important the railroad was to the growth and development of the area. The volunteers are knowledgeable and passionate, happy to share stories and answer questions that make the experience even richer. Whether you’re a train enthusiast or just curious about local history, this museum is a hidden gem that’s definitely worth your time. If you’re in Springfield and love trains or history, don’t miss it!

Wonderfully presented, and wonderfully made, this Railroad Museum is great for any lover of Trains and their history. The volunteers who run this Museum are passionate and eager to answer any questions!

The museum volunteers were very knowledgeable and passionate about the history. Unique museum. Fun for age 6 to 106.

We had my sons 7th birthday party here today, it was great!!! The kids LOVED looking @ all the stuff they have out, going up & down the stairs in the 2nd to last car, playing w all the knobs, etc in the locomotive, blowing the whistle, & more! Thank you so much for a great experience & a birthday party to remember!!! The fact that it's air conditioned made it all that much better in todays heat! Thanks again!

My 3 yr old son is crazy about trains, when we arrived he was so shocked and in awe he didn't know what to do or say, but that didn't take long about 10 min later he is giving tours to the volunteers . lol

Lot of nice older people that will answer all your questions but there only open from 2 to 4 on Saturdays

Really enjoyed the multiple things that the kids can do. We did order pizza and had boneless wings. Pizza was good didn't enjoy the boneless wings as much but we did get different types of sauce to choose from. We did the picture booth every time we go and I enjoy keeping that as a keepsake.

My grandsons had a blast here. We were there a good 3 hours and still being entertained. Great place to go to get out of the heat or rainy day.

Took the grandkids to play for the day on Sunday afternoon. Got there about two and left when they closed at eight. They had a blast. We got the group passes that included the pizza, drinks and socks. We thought it was a pretty good deal at around $120 I believe. Late Sunday afternoon is a good time to go,there weren’t a lot of people. Several birthday parties were going on earlier in the day, but most people cleared out after 4 o’clock. The staff was all very friendly and helpful. We will definitely be back again. The Pizza was very good, much better than I expected. Plenty of places to sit down. bathrooms were clean. Plenty of parking. Located in the Battlefield mall on the backside.

I wish I could rate a 0 !!! This location is terrible …. My poor son broke his tibia on Sunday this past weekend. He is only two (2) years old. !!!This location is absolutely horrible for children around this age. Unsafe all around… There is no supervision at this location whatsoever.no where for young ages can even play… They are lucky I Signed a waiver, or I’d be suing their place closed ! There’s an area where it’s only supposed to be kids seven and below, and I saw teenagers and above inside of it do not take your children here it is not safe! The worst experience I’ve ever had a trampoline park.

Hours and hours and hours of fun to be had here! I enjoyed sitting at a table getting work done while the kids played non stop. I brought snacks which was nice to not have to leave if kids got hungry. KEEP your socks so you don’t have to buy ones the next time you return!

Always plenty of room for kids to play. Adults can play too! Or sit and relax! Watch for summer play specials! Outside food & drinks are not allowed except water bottles. Food selections are minimal but they recently added a gluten free pizza made with a cauliflower crust. Delicious! Kiddos liked this pizza better than their regular pizza because it was thin crust. Highly recommend this place if kiddos need to burn off some energy or rainy summer day.

Just had my first experience here and it was amazing. Took my 7 yr old son and his friend, we stayed for almost 3 hours. They wanted to stay longer. They keep it chilly in there for the kids so take a hoodie if you're not gonna play. They do allow adults to play, which I will definitely do next time. They stay extremely busy. The staff was absolutely amazing. They were very sweet and understanding with all the screaming kids. Found out about a membership offer which is a fabulous deal. We had a great time and we'll definitely be going back on a regular with our yearly membership.

Great place to walk if you need a paved path. Lots of open space so be careful if it’s windy.

A nice place to walk, ride bikes, explore, and play in the water when there's running water. This is a nice hidden gem. 8/18/25 It was less nice than usual this visit. They are doing some sort of work on the first big open space...there is usually nice grass growing there, but one side is dirt and the other side is choppy grass and a dirt pile currently. There were some nice areas with pretty ground cover though. The weather has been dry, so the water is pretty dried up. They have added a nice covered pavilion since last year.

This place was recommended to me by a friend. My dog and I had a very nice time there! There is a little creek just deep enough for her to swim in; there were lots of kids with their families playing in the water as well. There is a trail to walk, as well as a picnic area by the parking lot. Very clean and comfortable atmosphere.

Super awesome creek to take doggos and kids too. It is slippery in places because it’s a real creek so be mindful! It was so calming and felt like a wonderful place to relax and connect with the earth

Absolutely gorgeous area full of wildlife and adventure. Much of the trail at the start does not offer shade or much else, but less than a half mile in you start to see more trees, streams, and animals. I only hiked about a mile worth of the trail. I'd say I just started getting to the good part. If you are there for wildlife, I saw deer, fish, skinks, and a variety of birds just on my short walk. Great trail/park. Highly recommend!

Very cool park that meets up with the Greenway trail. A little light on amenities, but over the top with scenery. There are chemical toilets, a swingset, and a few barbecue grills and picnic tables.

Great paved walking trail! We took our two cocker spaniels on a 2 mile walk today and really enjoyed it. Nice mix of shade and sun. Good parking area near the trailhead. We'll definitely be back.

I was blown away by this amazing museum. We were out for our sons Basic Training graduation and decided to visit the Bass Pro Shops while there. This place was beyond my imagination, and this particular museum that I was not expecting was my favorite by far!

Great archery museum located inside the Bass pro shops in Springfield Missouri

Free

I took my family to the glo circus this year. It was amazing! It was my kids' and wife's first circus experience. The Shrine Mosque is a wonderful place. It is where I had my first circus experience as a child, and I hope to take my grandchildren there in the, far, future.

The historic Shrine Mosque is an amazing venue for concerts, car shows, trade shows, boxing, even class reunions and big birthday parties. The Shriners that work the events are a great bunch of people and do everything they can to make each event a huge success.

We were just seconds late, and even though I had bought tickets days in advance, we were turned away. Told that we could come back later, but when we did, our tickets were invalid. Thankfully, another family had the same problem, and they finally let us all through. The show was fantastic, and I'm over the moon, happy that we were finally able to see it. It was my husband and kids' first time (I grew up going to shriner circus in kansas). Safe to say, it will be a new yearly tradition.

Some family went with me and my wife to a venue here where former champ and fan favorite Miles McDondalds was back in action (and won again). The ticket prices and concession where fair, and staff was awesome. The historic arena was in great shape and clean. I have been her multiple times, most have probably been here for the 🎪 or some other event at some point. And people, don't forget this is the Shriners and what they do!

The security staff moved people in very quickly, so longer lines getting in were deceiving. This was true of most of the event lines. New to the venue suggestions: 1. If you want to drink adult beverages, when you walk in, go to the right with CASH (shortest line) to get your wristband and tokens. 2. Merch table moves slow. Order the stuff online. It's probably cheaper anyway. The drink line was quick. We were there when it was in the 70s outside. The place gets really warm. Dress appropriately. People were taken out from over heating.

I usually only visit this place for the roller derby. Since the last time I was there, they have made some improvements to the old structure/building. It's nice to see this really cool building still standing and available for events. It's GREAT for things like roller derby. The stadium seating is perfect for viewing sports.

Great night at the circus, unfortunately some of the animals were removed from the show during covid so stuff fun but miss all the magic like it used to be

This review is long overdue and pertains to just the indoor basketball court. I've had a membership for almost a year and a half. The court is almost always VERY SLICK. It would surprise me if it's dry mopped once a week. I have never even seen someone dry mopping the floor the entirety of my membership. This should at LEAST be done every day, with actual liquid cleaning done at regular intervals. As of now (1-3-25) DO NOT GO HERE FOR BASKETBALL or anything that you need traction for in the gym until it is resolved. Call and ask if they cleaned it today before going. In closing not only is it super unfun to try and play basketball while your literally sliding around, but it's also unsafe. Something a FAMILY CENTER should have as a top priority. Please start cleaning the floor and I will change my review. 1-9-25 Gym was still super slick. 1-14-25 Still very slick. 1-20-25 Very slippery.

Good place to go if you have silver sneakers my family got a monthly pass very good place to take your autistic kid they have swimming pools they must have lifeguards on duty they have a water slide that's open daily

BULL! I went into the hot tub with my son, but he got called! And I was mad because my son has no conditions, so I stormed out fuming!

Great place for family fun and just a great place to take the kids. Also staff does a fabulous job with making you feel welcome 🤗

We work out here regularly. The equipment is well maintained, as well as the facility. They have a walking track that overlooks the basketball court. They play pickleball there as well. They have a swimming pool with a slide, a lap pool, and the hot tub. They also have a pool table and air hockey. The staff are always nice. And they do have child care available if you are coming there to work out. It is included with the membership, but I'm not sure if it is included with the drop in rate, or if child care is a little more if you do not have the membership. The membership is only $36 per month for a single person, so it really is a great deal. Especially when you consider that you can also go to the Chesterfield location and Don Kinney with the membership. This is my second year having a membership. I did look to see if I could find another place that might have a sauna, for approximately the same cost, but I could not find anywhere that included everything the community center has, for anywhere near this cost per month. In fact, this year I renewed in January during a time where they had a special going on, so I purchased the entire year. Based on the rate I paid, it comes out to around $25 per month. I definitely recommend a membership with the community centers. They do have some really great classes as well!

I was disappointed slide for kids not working they don't Tell you 😞 my grandson he didn't like it

Pretty nice public pool and hot tub and at a fair price.

Beautiful park, we were pleasantly surprised. Wish there were more restrooms available. Unfortunately, we were a week to early for the butterfly garden.

What a beautiful and peaceful park. Sitting in the shade at Drummond Cove on a very not day, enjoying the cool breeze off the water.

It had so many pretty flowers even this late in the summer. There were lots of people there enjoying it so that was good to see

Weather was perfect for a little morning stroll, tons of photo opportunities and lots of thing s to learn about.

We enjoyed a lovely morning walking through the gardens. It was very special to see so many others of all ages walking the paths.

Beautiful park , plenty of space to walk and just over all react . Have been going here since I was kid . Definitely a favorite

Really nice park so many different things to take in and they are still changing & adding

Staff here are always kind, professional and ready to help their patrons. The facility is large with a wide selection of materials from books to movies and even has all day computer access for patrons. I love the gift shop and wish the cafe would return, but not all vegan this time.

This is my favorite branch. Staff is always friendly and helpful. They treat everyone as equals, whether they're filthy rich or homeless. The gift shop is lovely, I love being able to get a Coke Zero and a snack without having to leave the library. They have a massive selection of mystery novels and just about any book you could imagine. I love the quiet area and all the newspaper and magazine options.

Okay I am not usually a reader...but after moving to Springfield, I decided to give it a try. Courtney helped us get all set up and it was so fun. The building is beautiful, there were so many book options, and I filled up on seeds from the seed library (such a cool feature). We are so excited to try all the wonderful activities put on by the library and will be back often! Thank you! :)

Today I went to the library to get my passport and Vanessa was so nice and so patient! She was so sweet and answered all the questions that I had! She made sure my picture was beautiful and did not get annoyed when I asked her to be patient so I can fix myself up! I definitely recommend coming here to get your passport! So much nicer than USPS!💙

I am disabled and the staff are always comforting and accompanating towards my handicap/ disability needs. Thanks for making various library facilities accessible to me and others. We appreciate you all. Thanks again for making my days spent at the library handycapable

Great library. Beautiful place with lots of community rooms and even a gift shop (i just learned it used to be a home improvement store). Plus, the self-chechout is great for my autistic adult son to work on his independence. It will be really nice after the construction

Really nice conference area! I have went to many meetings here and they are always accomodating.