14 Top-Rated Weekend Getaways In Missouri, The USA - Updated 2024

1. Blue Springs (from USD 125)

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If you’re in Kansas City, you must drive 19 mi (30.58 km) east to Blue Springs. It is located in the U.S. state of Missouri within Jackson County.

You can enjoy a peaceful walk in Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area wildlife. It is 8.1 mi (13.04 km) from Colonial Gardens and has restored prairies and woodlands. For golfers, there’s Adams Pointe Golf Club which has an 18-hole golf course. Lake Vista Trail and Miller Theatres are other attractions you can visit during your stay in Blue Springs.

2. St. Charles (from USD 239)

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If you’re here in St. Charles, you might try your luck at the Ameristar Casino Resort Spa; you can play various casino games or even stay in their hotel. Then, you may visit the Missouri Artists On Main, which will impress you with the artists’ works, such as paintings and sculptures.

Enjoy a bike ride at Frontier Park, less than a mile from Missouri Artists On Main. In addition, you could visit Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum, three minutes from Frontier Park.

3. Jefferson City (from USD 150)

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Jefferson City is the state capital of Missouri and is named after the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. It is located on the edge of the Ozark Plateau and Missouri River and is the center of historical and cultural attractions. You can visit the Missouri State Museum which has exhibits of Missouri’s Civil War battle flags and World War I flags.

You can drive four minutes from Missouri State Museum to The Missouri State Penitentiary, a Jefferson City prison operated from 1836 to 2004. Along with these attractions, there are many others, like the Museum of Missouri Military History and Jefferson Landing Historic State, which are a few miles away from each other.

4. Saint Joseph (from USD 155)

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If you’re in Kansas City and planning a long drive this weekend, you can drive to St. Joseph, approximately 30 mi (48.28 km) away. It was named after the town’s founder, Joseph Robidoux, and the biblical Saint Joseph. Here at Saint Joseph, you will find The Glore Psychiatric Museum, which exhibits the 130-year history of mental health treatment through the ages and has the American Indian and History Galleries.

You can drive 3.2 mi (5.15 km) to The Pony Express Museum which documents the history of the Pony Express, the first fast mail line across the North American continent. Many other exciting attractions exist in Saint Joseph, such as the Patee House Museum and Jesse, the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art, and many more.

5. Branson (from USD 93)

Branson is widely known as a great family vacation destination. Close to Arkansas’ border, the city is only 30 minutes away from the town of Ozark at about 28.4 mi (45.7 km) away. From fun outdoor activities to live entertainment, the city offers great options that make it a top-rated weekend getaways in Missouri. You can explore the world-famous Titanic Museum or even the 1880s-style theme park Silver Dollar City. One of the top attractions is the Showboat Branson Belle, especially in the summer. Get to the picturesque Table Rock Lake and enjoy some refreshing moments on a cruise with delicious food and live entertainment.

6. St. Louis (from USD 170)

Near the border of Illinois, where the Mississippi River crosses, St. Louis is the second-largest metropolitan area in Missouri. From Columbia, it only takes a short drive of under two hours to get to St. Louis. It’s approximately 125 mi (201 km) away. The city itself tops most middle-America bucket lists with enough attractions to make you extend the weekend getaway for a whole week. From Saint Louis city center, you will be less than a 5-minute walk from the 30-ft (9.1-m) Gateway Arch at the entrance to the city and Busch Stadium. Other top attractions include the Union Station, Forest Park, or St. Louis Zoo.

7. Lake Ozark (from USD 139)

Located midway between St. Louis and Kansas City — both about 170 mi (270 km) and less than three hours’ drive — is this hidden gem for travelers who like to spend relaxing weekend getaways. Lake Ozark is about a 20-minute drive to Lake of the Ozarks and 10 minutes from Osage Beach where there are plenty of outdoor activities nearby like boating, kayaking, and parasailing waiting for you. As part of the Ozark Mountains in central Missouri, this natural spot is a large reservoir created in 1931. The water sports attractions and the picturesque landscape turned the place into a vacation destination. Walking or driving around, you’ll find golf courses, scenic campgrounds, and first-class resorts.

8. Rocheport (from USD 243)

Located between Kansas City and St. Louis — 116 mi (186 km) and only two hours from both — and close to Columbia (20 minutes), there is nowhere else like Rocheport. Except for the lake area, the town is a fast-paced environment. As soon as you arrive for your weekend getaway, you’ll feel unbeatable tranquility to enjoy relaxing days. You can also add some adventure to your stay by going to the scenic Katy Trail. There are also downtown shops, restaurants, and galleries to check out. Later, please yourself with a glass of wine at the local award-winning winery.

Rocheport Blufftop Bungalow * spring low rates!

Rocheport, Missouri, United States
56.95 km (35.4 mi) from Missouri State Penitentiary

279 reviews   Superhost

ENTIRE HOME 3 Beds 6 Guests 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms

Accommodates: 6

Top guest reviews

Amenities & Room:

we had breakfast and dinner on the deck with helpful touches like coffee and creamer etc

stellar kitchen and lounging outdoors fireside on the deck is an uncommon pleasure

nice deck comfortable furniture quiet everything we needed to cook a meal nice decor

very good decorating & furniture / fixtures that make the place feel comfortable & upscale

we were able to sit outside on the cozy deck and soak up that warm sunshine

Cleanliness:

it was very clean and spacious

the house was clean smelled great and beds were comfortable

great place very clean and spacious

the house is clean and spacious

very spacious clean and well maintained

Host:

she is a great host

thank you for being an amazing host

great place very friendly and helpful host

amanda was very quick to respond to my questions and was very helpful

this place is amazing amanda was the perfect host

Location:

it's a perfect location in town just a short walk or bike ride from everything

gorgeous house big enough for many great location

great location relative to katy trail

amanda’s place is beautiful and also located in a beautiful area

great location in rocheport amanda was very responsive

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from USD

243

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9. Hannibal (from USD 136)

Heading north from St. Louis, you’ll find Hannibal 117 mi (188 km) and less than two hours away. Bordering Illinois, it is one of the greatest places in the United States for some literary inspiration. The historic city of Hannibal is where the writer Mark Twain spent his childhood. His boyhood home, as well as a museum that holds pieces of his life and work, are some spots you must check out here. Nearby the historic house, you can visit Mark Twain Cave and Campground, besides Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse.

10. Kansas City (from USD 153)

Don’t let the proximity between Arkansas and Missouri confuse you — though both states each has their respective Kansas cities, this time, we’re talking about Kansas City in Missouri. By the way, it’s the biggest city in “The Show-Me State”. It is 248 mi (399 km) away and less than four hours from St. Louis, passing through Columbia (about two hours), and features a lot of attractions. Museums are the must-sees of this destination. Some of them include Arabia Steamboat Museum, American Jazz Museum, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City. One of the most famous is National World War I Museum.

11. Eldon (from USD 89)

About 20 minutes (15 mi or 24 km) from Lake of Ozarks State Park, the small city of Eldon is one of the top-rated weekend getaways in Missouri, the USA. According to the 2018 census, the population is about 4,639. The place makes a great retreat to explore the natural beauty of central Missouri. Check out Stark Caverns, one of the top attractions here. The mysterious cave hides an underground lake and more to be explored. Columbia is also nearby, about 61.5 mi (99 km), or an hour’s drive.

12. Mark Twain National Forest (from USD 99)

Heading south from St. Louis — 140 mi (225 km) and two hours away — there is an area with 1,500,000 ac (607,028.4 ha), which reaches 29 counties in Missouri. This place, known as Mark Twain National Forest, holds a wide range of outdoor activities, over 750 mi (1,207 km) of trails, and 350 mi (563.7 km) of waters. When you get there, you can hike, ride a horse, bike, or even use a motorcycle to explore all the natural paths available, besides canoeing and kayaking.

Pine Valley at Dillard Mill - Cozy Cottage

Davisville, Missouri, United States
126.14 km (78.4 mi) from Missouri State Penitentiary

203 reviews   Superhost

Entire cottage 2 Beds 4 Guests 1 Bedroom 1 Bathroom

Accommodates: 4

Top guest reviews

Amenities & Room:

great kitchen to cook in with all the necessary tools we needed including a steamer for our veggies

truly is a cozy cottage in a beautiful very quiet mountain setting

good kitchen that was fully stocked with the basics

the cottage is very cozy and has a great selection of movies and books

we cooked dinner both nights we stayed and particularly appreciated the well-appointed kitchen that had everything we needed

Cleanliness:

everything is clean and fresh

super clean very cute cottage

absolutely fabulous clean peaceful cabin

clean cozy comfortable cottage with great hosts

the cottage is lovely was clean well-kept and beautifully decorated

Host:

great hosts attentive & quick to respond

the hosts are incredibly kind and even let us charge our car

the host was super friendly and went beyond expectations to make the trip enjoyable

jay was very responsive and accommodating

the owners were quick responders and very helpful

Location:

great location the perfect place to get away

cool location if you are outdoor minded

great stay beautiful location with a bunch of great hiking trails

it's a really great location as a base camp if you're exploring the national park

i highly recommend this location if you are looking for a peaceful getaway

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from USD

99

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13. Camdenton (from USD 118)

With Lake of the Ozarks State Park just nearby — 84.7 mi (136 km) and one hour and a half’s drive — Camdenton receives about 3 million visitors each year. Just 5 mi (8 km) from the town is a breathtaking landscape with hiking trails and European-style castle ruins. Ha Ha Tonka State Park offers over 3,700 ac (1,497.3 ha) filled with geological wonderlands, wildflowers, caves, and an interesting assortment of trees, where natural beauty and history come together. Take time to visit Bridal Cave too.

14. Columbia (from USD 174)

In the midway between Missouri’s two largest cities, St. Louis and Kansas City — about 126 mi (200 km) and less than two hours from each — there is a small town that is worth a visit for a weekend getaway or to be your home base for a vacation. Home to the University of Missouri, Columbia features a thriving environment with coffee shops, bookstores, record shops, and interesting events such as poetry readings. Despite the quiet scholar feeling inside the town, adventure awaits 4.2 miles (6.8 kilometers) or a 10-minute drive away at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park. Devil’s Icebox Trail is a 2.1-mi (3.5-km) loop trail in the heart of the park, with wooden bridges and pathways, and is accessible year-round for all skill levels.

Discover unexpected destinations in Missouri

Traveling to and from unique cities filled with fantastic attractions, such as Lake Ozark or Mark Twain National Forest, and many more, reveals other sides of Missouri. You will see that there is always something unexpected to be discovered. Start exploring these top-rated weekend getaways in Missouri, the USA, and get pleasantly surprised!