Missouri · best-of list
22 Top Things to Do in Missouri
All 22 things to do our route editors picked in Missouri, across 7 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect sights and experiences, with Country Club Plaza contributing the most (4).
Our curated picks
22 things to do in Missouri, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Country Club Plaza 4 picks
Mill Creek Park and J.C. Nichols Fountain
Country Club Plaza · On our Kansas City New Year's Eve route
A small park at the Plaza's edge anchored by the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain and its bronze horsemen.
Tip: The fountain is usually drained in winter; the sculptures are still worth the stop.
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Country Club Plaza · On our Kansas City New Year's Eve route
Kansas City's free art museum, with a deep Asian collection and the glass Bloch Building; closed Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Jan 1.
Tip: Visit on Dec 30 if your dates allow; admission is free but timed check-in is required.
Plaza Lights
Country Club Plaza · On our Kansas City New Year's Eve route
Strings of colored bulbs outline the Plaza's towers and rooflines from Thanksgiving night, a tradition since the 1920s.
Tip: The lights typically stay on until mid-January; walk the loop after dark on Jan 1.
Shuttlecocks
Country Club Plaza · On our Kansas City New Year's Eve route
Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen's four giant shuttlecocks, scattered across the Nelson-Atkins lawn since 1994.
Tip: The museum is closed on Jan 1, but the sculpture park lawn is open to walk.
Photo: FeldBum · CC BY-SA 4.0
Branson 3 picks
Dewey Short Visitor Center
Branson · On our Ozarks Hidden Gems route
Lakeside center at Table Rock Dam with exhibits and a short nature trail.
Tip: Free; walk the Table Rock Lakeshore Trail from here.
Photo: Dewey Short Visitor Center · Google
Silver Dollar City
Branson · On our Ozarks Hidden Gems route
1880s-themed park with crafts, coasters and bluegrass in the hills.
Tip: Arrive at opening; seasonal festivals change the vibe.
Photo: Joel Fulton · Google
Top of the Rock
Branson · On our Ozarks Hidden Gems route
Big Cedar's hilltop with lake views, a natural history museum and Lost Canyon Cave cart trail.
Tip: Time it for sunset at the overlook.
Photo: Mark Govea · Google
Downtown Kansas City 3 picks
Liberty Memorial
Downtown Kansas City · On our Kansas City New Year's Eve route
The National WWI Museum and Memorial's lawn and tower look straight down on Union Station and the downtown skyline.
Tip: Come at dusk on Dec 30 for the classic skyline view as the towers light up.
Photo: Meganhaderphotography · CC BY-SA 4.0NYE Live! at KC Live!
Downtown Kansas City · On our Kansas City New Year's Eve route
The Power & Light District's ticketed New Year's Eve party on the covered KC Live! block, with DJs, live acts and a midnight ball drop.
Tip: Packages range from basic entry to all-inclusive drinks and VIP ball-drop viewing; buy ahead.
Union Station
Downtown Kansas City · On our Kansas City New Year's Eve route
The 1914 Beaux-Arts station, with a Grand Hall clock and holiday trains; Science City inside hosts a family Noon Year's Eve.
Tip: Science City's balloon-drop Noon Year's Eve on Dec 31 suits kids who will not make it to midnight.
Photo: Dean Hochman · CC BY 2.0
Downtown St. Louis & the Arch 3 picks
City Museum
Downtown St. Louis & the Arch · On our St. Louis New Year's Eve route
Old shoe warehouse turned into a playground of caves, slides, tunnels and rooftop climbs built from salvaged parts.
Tip: Wear long pants and knee pads if you plan to crawl through the tunnels.
Photo: Chris857 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Gateway Arch National Park
Downtown St. Louis & the Arch · On our St. Louis New Year's Eve route
The 630-foot steel arch on the riverfront, with a tram to an observation room at the top and a museum below.
Tip: Book tram tickets ahead and check holiday hours before you go.
Photo: Philip Leara · CC0
Kiener Plaza
Downtown St. Louis & the Arch · On our St. Louis New Year's Eve route
Downtown plaza facing the Old Courthouse and the Arch, home of the free Winterfest Neon Nights party on Dec 31.
Tip: Arrive by 7:30 p.m. to get a clear view of the 8 p.m. fireworks.
Photo: Lightmetro · CC BY-SA 4.0
Forest Park & the Central West End 3 picks
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis
Forest Park & the Central West End · On our St. Louis New Year's Eve route
Early 1900s cathedral whose domes and chapels are covered in one of the world's largest mosaic collections.
Tip: Go between Masses and look up at the main dome.
Photo: w_lemay · CC BY-SA 2.0Central West End
Forest Park & the Central West End · On our St. Louis New Year's Eve route
Neighborhood of brick mansions and private streets, with cafes and bars along Euclid Avenue.
Tip: Walk the gated private places off Lindell Boulevard for the grandest houses.
Saint Louis Art Museum
Forest Park & the Central West End · On our St. Louis New Year's Eve route
Free museum in the 1904 World's Fair Palace of Fine Art at the top of Art Hill.
Tip: Check holiday hours; if it is closed on Jan 1, visit on Dec 30 instead.
Photo: Laraquelx · CC BY-SA 4.0
Kansas City 3 picks
National WWI Museum and Memorial
Kansas City · On our Kansas City to Omaha route
The US museum dedicated to the First World War, under the Liberty Memorial tower.
Tip: Ride up the tower for a view of the skyline.
Photo: Jason Soupene · Google
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Kansas City · On our Kansas City to Omaha route
Moving history of Black baseball in the 18th & Vine Jazz District.
Photo: User SakuraAvalon86 on en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Union Station Kansas City
Kansas City · On our Kansas City to Omaha route
1914 rail station with a grand hall, science center and model railroad exhibit.
Photo: NotTheAverageGamerz · Google
Springfield 3 picks
Fantastic Caverns
Springfield · On our Ozarks Hidden Gems route
Ride-through cave tour by jeep-drawn tram, open year-round.
Tip: Tours run about every 30 min; cave stays 60°F.
Photo: Nfarrow · Public domain
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
Springfield · On our Ozarks Hidden Gems route
Civil War battlefield with a 5-mile tour road and walking trails.
Tip: Drive the tour road, stopping at Bloody Hill.
Photo: National Park Service · Public domain
Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium
Springfield · On our Ozarks Hidden Gems route
Huge aquarium and wildlife galleries built around Ozarks and ocean habitats.
Tip: Buy timed tickets online; allow 4 hours.
Photo: Robert Lawton · CC BY-SA 2.5
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the things to do in Missouri?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 22 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Missouri has the most things to do on this list?
Country Club Plaza has the most (4 of 22), followed by Branson (3) and Downtown Kansas City (3).
Are any of these free?
12 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Mill Creek Park and J.C. Nichols Fountain, Dewey Short Visitor Center, Liberty Memorial, Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Missouri
Top things to do nearby
Destinations on this list
- Country Club Plaza 4 on this list
- Branson 3 on this list
- Downtown Kansas City 3 on this list
- Downtown St. Louis & the Arch 3 on this list
- Forest Park & the Central West End 3 on this list
- Kansas City 3 on this list
- Springfield 3 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.