Exploring the Ozarks Is Hands-Down the Best Way to Enjoy Spring in Missouri

Missouri is absolutely beautiful. Truly, it's one of the most beautiful states I've ever experienced - and I've experienced many. It's lush, green, and vibrant, with an incredible number of historical attractions, natural wonders, museums, and more; and in the spring, it springs back to life in the most amazing ways. My favorite way to enjoy spring in Missouri is simple: I head to the Ozarks, one of our most beautiful places, and immerse myself in the season's joys.

But goodness, where to begin? What do you highlight first when a place is so intensely dreamlike?

The Ozark Mountains - more commonly referred to by folks as "The Ozarks" - span an incredible 45,000 square miles and offer some of the best hiking, biking, hunting, camping, and general outdoorsy opportunities in the entire United States. It's easy to immerse yourself - hiking trails and scenic drives abound, offering endless opportunities to fall in love with Missouri all over again.

In the spring, though, it becomes especially magical. Everywhere you turn, you'll find wildflowers. Little flowers of yellow and red seem to be the most common, carpeting fields and making the entire world just a little more wonderful. Among the wildflower species you can spot here are an assortment of cone flowers, primrose, cardinal flowers, prairie clover, and so much more. Flora enthusiasts will find this region to be incredibly fascinating, thanks to the diverse array of plant life that makes its home here.

Personally, my favorite time to visit this little corner of the world is in the late spring - that way, the trees have filled back in with leaves (which are always incredibly green, thanks to being slightly thinner than permanent leaves, allowing sunlight to filter through them more readily and making that color pop), the wildflowers abound, and every scene you stumble upon is like something from a movie.

So, where to begin? You can start anywhere you'd like, but I definitely have some recommendations. Missouri is home to some truly incredible state parks, a few of which are nestled within the Ozarks. You cannot leave the region without first experiencing Ha Ha Tonka State Park (which has some of the most amazing hiking trails in the state) and Lake of the Ozarks State Park (truly incredible for landscape lovers).

I also can't recommend enough the breathtakingly photogenic natural springs in Missouri - many of which you'll find in the Ozarks.

Big Spring is Missouri's largest natural spring, and thanks to its blue-green waters and the foliage surrounding it, it's easily one of the most photographed places in the state. In the spring, it's almost unfair how beautiful it is - especially in late spring.

The Missouri Ozarks are, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places on earth. I can't express enough just how much I love this region - it's like something from a fairy tale. You'll never look at spring the same way again - I promise. If you're planning to visit the Ozarks, I imagine you'll need a place to stay. Our friends at VRBO have some of the most unique options in the entire state.