12 Unforgettable Missouri Day Trips, One For Each Month Of The Year
By Beth Price-Williams|Updated on November 28, 2022(Originally published November 25, 2022)
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Three cheers for a new year! Let’s make this our best year yet, the year we get out and explore our beloved Missouri. There is so much fun to be has in the show-me state, and these 12 amazing Missouri day trips – one for each month of the year – promise an abundance of fun for the whole family. (Each of these short day trips link to more information to help you plan your year.)
Note: Remember to contact the attraction featured in the day trip, before hitting the road, to check for current hours, prices (if applicable), and to ensure it is still open.
January – Hidden Valley Ski Resort in Wildwood
Hidden Valley Ski Resort, 17409 Hidden Valley Dr, Eureka, MO 63025, USA
Let’s get outdoors and enjoy the snow this month! We’ve got several spots in Missouri to go snow tubing, but Hidden Valley Ski Resort just might be the best. It is home to Polar Plunge, a snow tubing park with the largest snow tubing run in Missouri.
February – Splash Country Indoor Waterpark in Branson
Splash Country Indoor & Outdoor Waterpark, 1945 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616, USA
Starting to suffer from cabin fever? Sure, you can start counting down the days until spring, or you can enjoy a blast of summer at Splash Country Indoor Waterpark. The epic indoor waterpark offers something for the whole family.
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March – Adventure Ziplines in Branson
Adventure Ziplines of Branson, 501 N Wildwood Dr, Branson, MO 65616, USA
Ready for some outdoor fun this month? Buckle in for an unforgettable ziplining adventure at Adventure Ziplines in Branson. (Try to go during or after a fresh snowfall to drink in the sensational, snow-capped scenery.) Your zipline adventure will include seven ziplines and speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.
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April – Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly Garden in Chesterfield
Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, Located in, 15050 Faust Pk, Chesterfield, MO 63017, USA
Embrace spring with some of the season’s most beautiful creatures – butterflies. The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House is home to more than 1,500 butterflies, which includes around 60 species. Stroll through the butterfly house, where you can interact with the butterflies and admire a gushing waterfall.
Can you think of a better way to spend a day than sipping wine and gazing at gushing waterfalls? If not, you’ll love this wine and waterfalls day trip through Missouri, which will take you from Cave Vineyard in Ste. Genevieve to Rocky Falls Shut-In.
June – Cape Splash Aquatic Center in Cape Girardeau
Cape Splash Family Aquatic Center, 1625 N Kingshighway St, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, USA
Summer’s all about fun under the sun and in the water, right? Swing by Cape Splash Aquatic Center
for a day of swimming in the pool, leisurely meandering on the lazy river, and slipping down slides. Or, just grab a beach chair and relax under the golden sun.
Cool down and feel like a kid again at Rowdy Ribbit's, an inflatable waterpark that features a sandy beach, volleyball nets, and plenty to do in the water. Jump on a trampoline, for example, before catapulting into the water.
August – The Landing in Van Buren
The Landing - Current River, 106 Olive St, Van Buren, MO 63965, USA
August can be a scorcher in Missouri, so why not spend it on the water? Slip into an inner tube for a leisurely float along the Current River
. If you opt for the all-day trip, you’ll be on the water for around six hours.
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September – Fun Farm Pumpkin Patch in Kearney
Fun Farm Pumpkin Patch, North Jefferson Street, Kearney, MO, USA
Fall’s just around the corner (this month – yay!), and that means the return of fall festivals and tons of autumn fun. Plan an autumn day trip to Fun Farm Pumpkin Patch
, where you can go pumpkin picking, climb aboard a hayride, or get lost in one of the corn mazes.
Lace up your hiking boots for a scenic fall hike along Mina Sauk Falls Trail when it’s drenched in the colors of fall. The three-mile hike boasts spectacular scenery, including the breathtaking Mina Sauk Falls, which drops a total of 132 feet.
November – Silver Dollar City in Branson
Silver Dollar City Parkway, Silver Dollar City Pkwy, Sunset Cove Township, MO, USA
Marvel at one of the largest Christmas trees in the country at An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City
. The theme park transforms into a Christmas wonderland, drenched in twinkling lights and hosting a nightly parade during the holiday season.
December – Santa’s Magical Kingdom in Eureka
Santa's Magical Kingdom, 5300 Fox Crk Rd, Pacific, MO 63069, USA
Pile the whole family into the car for a drive through Santa's Magical Kingdom
(otherwise known as Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park). Admire the countless Christmas lights from your car or from a wagon. Afterward, stop in Kringle’s General Store to meet Santa and to buy souvenirs.
Do you agree that these are the best short day trips in Missouri? Let us know in the comments! Love waterfalls? You’ll definitely love this road trip to the best waterfalls in Missouri.
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More to Explore
Best Day Trips In Missouri
Beth Price-Williams|December 17, 2021
What are some of the best things to do in Missouri?
Missouri boasts so much to do. For perhaps the most unique things to do in Missouri, check out:
Uranus a small “town” that’s filled with whimsy. Visit the Uranus Sideshow Museum and the Uranus Fudge Factory and General Store
