Family Activities in Springfield MO
Springfield, Missouri is a great place to visit with your family. See these Family Activities Springfield MO has for inspiration! There are many things to do in this vibrant city. Some of the top attractions include the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Dickerson Park Zoo, and Hammons Field. There are many more places to stop like the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden and Downtown Springfield or visit Table Rock Lake not too far away, but we just can’t cover them all in one post! Springfield also has a variety of museums and historical sites that will fascinate both adults and children alike. So if you’re looking for a fun-filled vacation destination, be sure to add Springfield to your list!
Looking for Family Activities Springfield MO Area? Check out our List of Ideas!
We love going and being outdoors but we also like getting a cabin or hotel room and enjoying our downtime. With board games, movies and art books we could stay inside and recover from all the activities we try and squeeze in to just a few days. With a little bit of planning ahead you can narrow down your top picks for places to visit and plan your days and budget as well. Don’t forget you will be close to Lambert’s Café as well if you are in the mood for some “throwed rolls” or head on over to Branson to visit Silver Dollar City or the Dixie Stampede.
Among other things on our list our family is really looking forward to while visiting Springfield Missouri is visiting the Fantastic Caverns. This is a guided tour in a jeep-drawn tram through the caves.
Fantastic Caverns:
This natural wonder is a must-see when you’re in Springfield. Take a guided, ride through tour of the caverns and see amazing stalactites and stalagmites up close. You can even go on a safari-style tour where you ride through the caverns in jeep-drawn trams! This tour will last about an hour so plan accordingly.
We really enjoyed our ride through the cave. We enjoyed the timeless beauty of Fantastic Caverns, one of the earth’s rarest treasures. There are only four of it’s kind in the entire world, and only one in North America. If you go you’ll discover one of the world’s most beautiful natural wonders; giant columns stretching from floor to ceiling, delicate soda straws glistening with minerals, tiny cave pearls hidden in crystal-clear water. And best of all, you’ll see it close-up from the comfort of a jeep-drawn tram!
Next on our stop that day was Incredible Pizza. We enjoyed a delicious pizza buffet. I have to say I am pretty impressed. I saw a sign that said if you have food allergies ask us to make your pizza for you. My children have nut allergies and their pizza was safe however I can not have gluten and the crust contains gluten. I asked them if they could make a pizza gluten free for me. They did so very kindly and it was delicious! I appreciate that. Of course I would of been content with their salad bar it had so much to chose from but pizza was an extra special treat for me! After we ate we went to ride the race cars & play games. We had such a great time together at Incredible Pizza!
Family Activities Springfield MO- Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield:
Located just outside of Springfield, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield is the perfect place to take your family if you’re interested in learning about American history. The battlefield is the site of the first major Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the battlefield or participate in ranger-led programs and activities. Check out the Visitor Center, tour road, battlefield, and trails (including horseback riding).
We went around and explored the battlefield and read the large signs along the way that told about the different area’s. The kids filled in booklets and answered questions so that they could become Jr. Rangers. At the end we watched a short film about the history of the battlefield. It was such a great experience for our family and we all learned so much! Even if you aren’t interested in historical sites, this is a great way to get outdoors so it’s definitely on our list of Family Activities Springfield MO has to offer..
Bass Pro Shops:
Bass Pro Shops is perfect for families who love fishing and hunting (or just shopping!). There’s an aquarium where you can see fish up close, alligators you can watch them feed on the weekend, an amazing restaurant, plus a shooting gallery and arcade games to keep everyone entertained. Our family loves to visit different Bass Pro Shops when we travel and dining at the Hemingway’s Blue Water Café was on our list of things to try. When we went we had a table by a window that looked out onto the store. There is a huge aquarium and many “windows” that make it feel like you are underwater! The food is good, but it is the atmosphere you go for. It is unlike any other restaurant I’ve been to. There are so many fun activities at this location you will want to spend hours here. When we went my son got to go fishing in an outdoor pond! (Catch and release obviously)
We had no idea that this Bass Pro Shop was the largest one and their home store. This store is dedicated to the beauty of the outdoors with art from local artists and craftsmen prominently displayed on all the walls and ceilings making the store part shopping experience and part art museum visit. It was truly an experience. We spent quite some time in there and I still do not think we really got to see everything!
We lived in Louisiana for 3 years. My kids always loved going to the alligator zoo’s so of course one of their favorite things to see were the alligators! Of course they were sleeping peacefully.
Our next stop for the day was Andy B’s I had never heard of it so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. It was such a nice fun place. We enjoyed bowling first! Then a game of laser tag. I wish I could of gotten pictures of that! We had never played laser tag before. It was so much fun! The laser tag room is downstairs in the basement. They also had a big arcade for the kids to play games in! We enjoyed some more fun there. They have a nice restaurant to enjoy a delicious lunch or snack!
Smallin Civil War Cave was a beautiful place. There was water running through the whole part of the front cave that we walked through. There is a nighttime tour you can go on and explore back a lot further. You will get off of the side walks when you go back there so you will get really wet wading through the streams flowing through! I would never be brave enough to do that so we just enjoyed the daytime tour of the cave that has lights and a whole lot of history and beauty! These two pictures were taken just inside the cave. I love how there is greenery just inside the mouth of the cave.
Discovery Center of Springfield:
The Discovery Center of Springfield is perfect for kids of all ages if you are looking for Family Activities Springfield MO. There are over 150 hands-on exhibits like the Festival of Trees for the holidays and Build (a Minecraft Exhibit), plus a planetarium and an IMAX theatre. A Very Grinchy Christmas begins on December 3 and lasts until December 18th. They do offer a party room for birthdays and the prices for events like that and their general admission prices are some of the best we’ve seen for these types of hands on places for kids.
My kids had so much fun at The Discovery Center! Actually I did also. Discovery Center is an interactive hands-on science center for all ages. Imagine, create, have fun and learn with hundreds of exhibits that explore physics, chemistry, energy, health and culture all in an environmentally friendly building, first southwest Missouri LEED Gold Certified. Explore galleries and exhibits such as HighWire Bike, BodyWorks, Discovery Town and Energy Exchange. My kids really enjoyed dressing up and reading and learning about other cultures.
They also had a play news station set up and they each enjoyed taking turns pretending to be weather men, news anchors and behind the scenes operators.
My husband has a way of finding beautiful places to visit. He did this all of the time when we lived in Louisiana. It is like he has a radar that says where to go and he just follows it. So we were driving around after our busy day just because we wanted to see more. We came across another national park called Ritter Springs National Park. We only explored the very outside of it because it was closing soon. What we saw of it was beautiful!
Dickerson Park Zoo:
Visitors of all ages will think the Dickerson Park Zoo is perfect for a day out with the family. The zoo has over 130 animals, including lions, tigers, bears, giraffes, and more. Plus, there’s a train that takes you around the zoo so you don’t have to walk too much. Hours vary depending on the season and they are closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. They do have spaces available to rent for special events like birthday parties or corporate events as well. They are also the home of the Dickerson Park Zoo’s Animal Hospital where they provide routine and unexpected care for the animals. You can make a donation to the hospital or the Zoo’s conservation efforts online as well.
The Dickerson Park Zoo was the only place we had left on our list on Sunday. I am glad because we spent most of the day there. It was a lovely zoo. I love zoo’s my kids have grown up going to the Oklahoma City Zoo since they were tiny babies! One of my favorite parts of this zoo was that the animals were so close and and you could see so much beautiful detail. I got so many great pictures. I really had a hard time choosing which pictures to share!
The zoo has up-close natural adventure with hundreds of animals from around the world. “Tropical Asia” features elephants, tigers and siamangs. “Missouri Habitats” features gray wolves, mountain lions, river otters and black bears. Reptiles in the Ambler Diversity of Life Building. Children’s playground and water feature. Cafe, gift shop and train ride (seasonal). It was a wonderful way to end our family weekend!
Now my very favorite part of the weekend was probably the zoo however my very favorite part of the zoo was feeding the giraffe’s. They are such beautiful graceful creatures. Such a fun experience!
Springfield Art Museum:
The Springfield Art Museum is a great place to spend an afternoon with the family. Since we are talking about family activities Springfield MO area, we want to tell you about what all they offer for families. They have bags of project kits you can take home as well as plenty of stations where the whole family can create their own art. Check out the art lab and book nook where everyone can create their own works of art and they even host special event days for homeschoolers! There are many different exhibits to see, plus a café if you need to take a break.
Close Memorial Park:
Close Memorial Park is perfect for a day out picnicking or hiking with the family. The Springfield Botanical Gardens are found at the Nathanael Greene / Close Memorial Park. There are many different trails to explore, plus a playground and a pond where you can go fishing. They have themed gardens and a play trail for the kids. The Springfield Botanical Gardens are perfect for a day of exploring nature with the family. There are many different gardens to explore, plus a butterfly house and an aquarium. The gardens and outdoor grounds are open from sunrise to sunset.
Botanical Center Hours Monday – Saturday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Butterfly House:
If your kids love butterflies or bugs you don’t want to miss the Roston Native Butterfly House. The Butterfly House is another great activity for kids of all ages. See butterflies up close as they fly around the exhibit and learn about their life cycle. The best part is that admission is free and there is usually someone around who can show you around and answer questions.
Springfield Conservation Nature Center:
The Springfield Conservation Nature Center is perfect for families who love being outdoors. There are many different trails to hike, plus an animal conservation area where you can see bald eagles, ospreys, and other birds up close. Do you love to take the family on a walking trail? They have three miles of trails! They also have a covered picnic area.
Hammons Field:
Hammons Field is perfect for families who love baseball. Root for the home team as they take on other teams from around the country! You can even take a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium to see what goes on behind the scenes of a professional baseball game. This is the home of the Springfield Cardinals of the Double A Minor League. If you plan on attending a game check out their kids club, it’s free to sign up for a special passport!
Wonders of Wildlife National Museum:
This world-class museum and aquarium is a must-see for anyone visiting Springfield with their family. The museum offers visitors the opportunity to explore the wonders of the natural world through interactive exhibits and hands-on activities. There’s also an aquarium where you can see over 35,000 aquatic animals up close. It is right next to the headquarters of Bass Pro Shop and so much of the theming reminds me of being inside a Bass Pro Shop. They have fish, sharks, ray and even penguins! Make sure you check out the Shipwreck Room, you don’t want to miss it. They have some of the cutest merchandise in their gift shop as well. So much fun for young kids and grown ups alike!
Missouri Institute of Natural Science:
The Missouri Institute of Natural Science is perfect for families with kids who are interested in dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. The institute has a collection of over 30,000 fossils, minerals, and objects from around the world. Visitors can also tour the on-site museum and see live demonstrations by trained paleontologists and go fossil hunting!
Military Museum of the Ozarks-Family Activities Springfield MO :
For families with kids who are interested in military history, the Military Museum of the Ozarks is a great option. The museum covers conflicts from World War I to present day and features artifacts from all branches of service. Kids will love seeing tanks, jeeps, and aircraft up close. Admission to the museum is free for all active duty military personnel and veterans, for everyone else admission is $5 for adults, $3 for kids 6-11, 5 years of age and under are free. They are open Tuesday – Saturday from 12-4pm.
Missouri Sports Hall of Fame:
Last but not least, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is a great place to take your family if you’re looking for a fun and educational activity. The hall of fame honors Missouri athletes who have made significant contributions to their respective sports. Visitors can explore exhibits featuring memorabilia from famous Missouri athletes like Jackie Joyner-Kersee and George Brett. They post their special events calendar on the website and have some great things coming up. Be sure to check it out. Their event space is great for birthday parties, weddings, reunions and corporate events as well. Monday–Saturday 10:00 am–4:00 pm Sunday 12:00 pm–4:00 pm and admission prices are amazing for individual families or larger groups as well:
Adults: $5
Children 6–15: $3
Children 5 & Under: Free
Seniors 55+: $4
Students: $3
Family of 4: $14
Groups of 10+: $2/person
Springfield, Missouri is a great city for families who are looking for things to do indoors or outdoors. There are plenty of free things for families who want to fit in more fun things or have a large group there is plenty to choose from. From natural wonders and outdoor activities to shopping and everything in between, there’s something for everyone in the City of Springfield! What do you think are some of the best family activities Springfield MO has to offer?
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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
- Facebook Group
- Explore Oklahoma Facebook Group
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- Hot Deals Group
- Recipe Group
- Homesteading Facebook Group
- Don’t forget to invite your friend’s to our Facebook groups! We would also love to see your vacation pictures!
