It's time to gas up the car and head out on a little road trip full of waterfall adventures. We've designed the ultimate weekend waterfall road trip in Missouri, and we know you're going to love it. This quick trip visits several absolutely gorgeous waterfalls, plus some amazing little pit stops along the way. To see the full route and directions for this Missouri waterfalls road trip, check out the map.
Our road trip to see the best waterfalls in Missouri is designed to be broken up into two days, allowing for quality visits at each destination.
Please note: two of the original attractions on the road trip have closed since this article was first published. As such, we adjusted the trip accordingly, adding a visit to the wonderful Sybill's Saint James!
Hickory Canyon - Ste. Genevieve
Hickory Canyon Natural Area is home to 541 native vascular plant species and 152 bryophyte, not to mention a gorgeous waterfall.
Maramec Spring Park - St. James
Meramec Spring is the fifth largest spring in Missouri and is a premier fishing spot for trout. The man-made waterfall rushes from the spring in this hidden gem of a park.
Before leaving this beautiful area, break for lunch at Sybill’s Saint James.
Sybill’s provides elegant fine dining in a beautiful country-style manor, complete with a gift shop. It's a picture-perfect place to stop!
Grand Falls - Joplin
Grand Falls is the largest continuously flowing waterfall in Missouri and is located on Shoal Creek, just south of Joplin.
Dogwood Canyon - Lampe
Explore the 10,000-acre paradise that is the Dogwood Nature Center. Hike the trails, explore a tree house, ride with bison or just take a stroll past one of their gorgeous waterfalls.
After leaving Dogwood Canyon, spend the night in a cozy cabin at Tall Pines near Branson.
The Tall Pines Resort in Branson has a number of cabins from which to choose, depending on how big your party is. To book a cabin, visit the Tall Pines Resort in Branson website.
Hodgson Water Mill Waterfall - Dora
Another gorgeous waterfall connected to a spring. Both the waterfall and the water mill are a photographer's dream when it comes to capturing the most gorgeous nature shot.
Mina Sauk Falls - Ironton
End the trip by visiting Mina Sauk Falls, which is the tallest waterfall in the great state of Missouri. While hiking at Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, you'll also come across the state's highest point of elevation.
Waterfalls are just one of the many fantastic features of Missouri to explore, and it'd be a shame to only just see one! Have you been to any of these winsome waterfalls before? Do you think our Weekend Waterfall Road Trip in Missouri hits the state's best falls? Feel free to share with us which was your favorite, and other Missouri waterfalls you'd add to the list!
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!