To most, Branson, Missouri is synonymous with “shows and live entertainment.” But this city isn’t just lively shows and good music- there are so many things to do with family in Branson, MO!
Sweeping natural vistas and some of the best caving in the country offer outdoorsy families a veritable playground set for adventure on a grand scale. And kids that like furry encounters will find a variety of creatures, from winged butterflies to dingoes, all within the city limits.
Water rides? Mini golf? Go-karts? Branson has you covered. For those that simply want to escape the 9-5 and have a luxury resort experience, they’ve got that too.
With all the fun that this resort town in the Ozarks has to offer, a family vacation in Branson is a great idea! Use this guide to plan your next family getaway.
Visiting during the holidays? Check out our article highlighting all there is to do during Christmas in Branson.
Things to do with Family in Branson, Missouri
Experience a Couple of Branson’s Family-Friendly Shows
Missouri is the “Show Me State” and if you want to really see a show, you’re going to want to go to Branson. This town is like the Vegas of the Midwest, except much more family-friendly! You will definitely want to make time to see a show or too while you are in town.
Buckets N Boards Comedy Percussion Show: The Welk Theatre features amazing headliners and a gorgeous resort from which to make your base camp. Buckets N Boards is a family-friendly, high-energy mix of comedy and rhythm that entertains all ages.
You wanna know how good it is? They hit the seas with Disney cruise line to entertain ship goers with their clean comedy and supremely talented percussion bit.
Our favorite part? The screaming goat. Now you HAVE TO go see it to know what that’s all about, huh?
The Haygoods: This talented sibling group delivers a show filled with music, dance, and special effects. They have been playing together in Branson for over 30 years! You can find them at the Clay Cooper Theatre.
Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai: If you love circus-style performances, you will be in awe of the incredible acrobatic performances this Chinese troop brings to their show. Several other performers share this theatre, including Illusionist Rick Thomas and The Texas Tenors,
I enjoyed watching the classic, Branson-style entertainment at Presley’s Country Jubilee. This is another family filled with talent that entertains with a show filled with music and comedy.
There are so many show options in Branson that it is hard to choose which ones to watch! You can book several of them via TripAdvisor which guarantees the lowest rates. They include synopsis of each show in their descriptions.
Trekaroo Tip: Kid-friendly shows are offered more frequently in the summer months. After school is in session, many kiddo acts are elsewhere, making room for shows more likely to please snowbirds.
Visit Branson Landing
Branson Landing includes a picturesque boardwalk setting along Lake Taneycomo. Fun fountains burst with water- and sometimes fire- accompanied with lights and music. The mist of the fountain can be just what is needed on a hot and humid Ozark day!
Remember when I said Branson was like a family-friendly Vegas? Well, the talented folks that brought you the choreographed fountain and lights display at the Las Vegas Bellagio are responsible for this downtown gem too!
This summer Branson Landing is hosting a free, family-friendly Summer Concert Series in front of the Fire & Water Fountain Show. Concerts start at 7pm and you are welcome to bring chairs or blankets to sit on as you enjoy the show.
Several new restaurants have opened in this area including Guy Fieri’s Branson Kitchen + Bar, Heroes Tastes + Taps, and Bricktown Brewery.
We also suggest you stop into the mouth-watering, air-conditioned goodness at the White River Fish House. Enjoy an alligator appetizer and follow it up with some BBQ ribs or Mahi Mahi (you cannot go wrong with any menu selection) and wash it all down with some Sweet Tea, made only as they can in the southern states.
After you eat the kids will surely want to stop in Arcade City, a large arcade filled with video games as well as games where you can earn tickets to win prizes. There is also a Build-a-Bear, Old Time Photo shop, shooting gallery, a Bass Pro Shop, several ice cream shops, and lots of other fun stores to explore.
Trekaroo Tip: There is a schedule for the musical offerings at the fountains and the shows start at noon.
Step Aboard the Titanic Branson Museum
Near, far, wherever you are….it’s true. Your heart WILL go on if you don’t make it to the Titanic Museum. BUT, you’d be foolish to miss it!
This behemoth is located along the strip in Branson and is chock-full of history and adventure on the high seas (well, this one is actually for landlubbers, since it’s a replica stationed securely on asphalt).
Book your tickets to the Titanic Museum in advance and save time and money.
Step aboard and be dealt your fate as you take on the persona of a real passenger and learn how the ordeal went for that historical figure. This one even tailor’s the experience to the wee ones, giving them a “child persona” and a “kid-version” of the tour to keep it at their level.
This Titanic museum has recently added a new exhibit which has five of the 14 known Titanic life jackets as well as a collection of Titanic lifeboat plaques.
Explore more of the state. Check out our Top 10 Things to do in Missouri.
See (and Eat at) the Dolly Parton’s Stampede
No fork? No problem! At Dolly Parton’s Stampede, part of the fun is getting a little messy since there are no utensils!
As with any good show, there is audience participation, lots of action, a friendly competition, and plenty of clean comedy. The use of live animals during the show makes you feel like you’re part of the scene in the Civil War-themed spectacle. Many say this is THE show to see while in Branson, and indeed it’s promoted as the show that started it all.
Each person gets a chicken (yes, as in a whole chicken), a pork chop, a biscuit, soup, corn on the cob, a potato, an apple dessert, and a drink. Sounds pretty tasty, right? Enjoy your food while watching horse-riding stunts be performed in front of you in the 35,000-square-foot arena.
New for 2025- Butterfly Dream is a new segment of the equestrian show where the horses are adorned with butterfly wings to perform. Special effects and lighting bring to life colorful butterflies and blooming flower petals while an aeriliast performs.
Trekaroo Tip: Trekaroo families say this might garner the attention of middle schoolers on up, leaving wee ones a little antsy before the big finish. Children under three are free if they are on your lap.
Explore Marvel Cave
This cavernous adventure, originally called Marble Cave, was the first real tourist attraction for families, way back in the late 1800s. It was first discovered in 1500 AD by the Osage Indians who called it “the Devil’s Den” and refused to enter it. It was also once thought to contain the Fountain of Youth.
Located under Silver Dollar City, Marvel Cave is still one of the most popular things to do in Branson, MO. Your admission into Silver Dollar City includes a cave tour and they leave about every 30 minutes.
The tour is around an hour long and includes climbing about 600 steps! The cave is made of wet limestone that is still “alive” and growing new formations each day over time.
Adventurous cave explorers should opt for the Lantern Light Tour to explore the cave just as they did in the early days. Plus, this tour takes you into an additional area called the Mammoth Room AND you get to see a “bat wall!”!
Trekaroo Tip: Many folks are anxious to get to the park and rides right when it opens, avoiding the afternoon heat. If you are mostly interested in a cave tour that isn’t crowded, do it first! Conversely, if you’re looking for a great cool down in the afternoon, head to the cave and seek solace from the sun!
Know Before You Go: The number of steps and the fact that it’s rather strenuous means that it’s not great for little kids or those with health conditions that might become aggravated by exertion.
Spend the Day at Table Rock Lake
Branson is blessed with plenty of scenic beauty, including Table Rock Lake. Boating, kayaking, fishing, swimming, and even parasailing are the most activities to enjoy on the water.
Back on land, take a stroll on the Table Rock Lakeshore Trail. It is an easy 2.25 mile trail that is welcoming to both wheelchairs and strollers. If you would rather see the sites on two wheels, rent bikes at State Park Marina and hit the trail!
The Showboat Branson Belle
Want to experience the lake, a show and a meal all at the same time?. The Branson Belle is a fun, 1890’s-style paddlewheeler offering it all! Cruises on Table Rock Lake last about two hours and guests are entertained and fed as they enjoy the scenery.
There is music, comedy, magic, and lots of seasonal special experiences like the Christmas Show and Santa’s Pancakes & PJs Cruise.
Slow Down at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park
With 10,000 acres in Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, it’s certain somewhere out there in the wild green yonder you’ll find an adventure. A mere 30-minute drive can provide a serene getaway to wind down after a day or two full of entertainment and thrill rides in town.
The Canyon Discovery Tour is a guided tour on a tram through the park which is narrated by park interpreters, making stops for pictures along the way.
Waterfalls and well-maintained bicycle trails meander through the hills of this Ozark region park just outside of Branson. You can bike on your own or book guided bicycle tours which will give you a bit more information about the history and ecology of the park.
Owned by the man behind Bass Pro Shops, Johnny Morris, the park has streams filled with fish and fly-fishing workshops to hone those skills. You’ll be channeling Norman Maclean as you don waders and “watch your drift”.
If you’re not a fisherman, you can see the buffalo roam, alongside elk, and Longhorns as a passenger on the tram tour within the park. There are also meet and greets with live animals such as snakes, salamanders, toads, turtles, arachnids, and hissing cockroaches.
One other spot you won’t want to miss is the park’s treehouse built by Animal Planet’s Treehouse Masters.
Trekaroo Tip: The bike trails are fantastic and bicycle rentals are available on-site. You might want to book tickets and tours in advance if you are visiting in peak season.
Make a Splash at White Water Park
It can be hot in Branson during the summer, so take a break and cool off poolside — or on a trapdoor slide, like the KaPau Plummet! No matter what your ride style, White Water Park has something for everyone!
The giant wave pool is a popular place to “haul-out” like a bunch of sea lions flopped over tubes, while the adventurous among the group may want to bound over to the Kalani Towers — which look like the kind of splashing good time that only the bravest will dare try!
Open May-September, White Water is a fantastic summer day getaway. Enjoy a “night swim” on certain dates during the summer and take advantage of every last drop of sunlight and see the stars from the Aloha River.
Dive-In movies are a hit with the kids, and are special screenings of family favorites like Disney’s Fire and Rescue, one the big screen at the wave pool. If you visit on a Saturday night in the summer, you can enjoy a fireworks show at 9:45pm.
Trekaroo Tip: There seems to be plenty of shade and seating all around the park without purchasing a cabana. Get there early and snag a good spot, using your towels draped over beach chairs to modify shady spots!
Learn About Fishery at Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery
The Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery and Conservation Center was a spot that we happened upon while trying to nap our dear children on-the-go before a show. It’s a smaller property but admission is FREE and the opportunities for fun and learning are many.
Make sure to load up on quarters– the hatchery has food pellet machines to feed the stock.
Ever laid eyes on a Western Cottonmouth? How about an Alligator Snapping Turtle? The rare Blue Trout can also be seen in the stocked tanks. All are residents of the hatchery, among other indigenous, crawly neighbors on display in the education center. The simple, yet fascinating sites that we sometimes wander up to often lead to the most rich and robust memories of the trip.
Look for the best hotel prices in Branson
Have a Thrilling Day at Silver Dollar City
Some go to Branson for the shows, but if you’re a kid or a kid at heart, Silver Dollar City may be what seals the deal for Branson to become your family-friendly mecca this year. Trekaroo families adore the options for park-goers young and old, making it a perfect multi-generational destination!
Live music and trade demonstrations captivate grandparents holding the hands of their grandchildren, entertaining and educating a few generations at once. It’s a special place to be shared by the entire family.
Mom and dad can get a little thrill ride on the Powder Keg or the new Wildfire while Grandpa bounces the baby and fills the big kids full of cotton candy. When the heat of the day starts to steam things up, jump in line for a “water ride” like Lost River of the Ozarks or RiverBlast!
You would do well to prepare your stomach for a flavor-fest, having many choices including some of the best BBQ around, at least according to the conductor of the Frisco Silver Dollar Steam Train. Of course your admission fee includes a tour of Marvel Cave, too.
In 2024, Silver Dollar City reimagined their classic coaster, Fire in the Hole. It combines the thrills of a coaster with the fun elements that a dark, indoor ride can offer.
New for 2025, the Spring Exposition is a brand-new festival celebrating the season with live music, a variety of tasty dishes, and Parasol Sky- a colorful canopy stretching over Valley Road. Be sure to buy a Spring Tasting Passport so you can eat your way through the festival.
Trekaroo Tip: If you head right to The Grand Exposition, there is an “Official Measuring Station” where kids can see just how much they have grown and get a print out of the only rides they are unable to board. They also give out wristbands with contact information for parents with phone numbers in case you are separated.
Good to Know: If you’re a breastfeeding mother, Silver Dollar City conveniently has “Nursing Stations” positioned around the park and are marked on the map with a smiley face. They are air-conditioned and have rocking chairs and a few baby maintenance amenities.
Fun Fact: Beverly Hillbillies filmed five episodes at the park
Talking Rocks Cavern
Known as “Missouri’s Most Beautiful Cave,” Talking Rocks Cavern offers guided tours where you will see stalactites, flowstone, and the ever-popular cave bacon. A highlight is the large central room with a 100-foot vertical view to the cavern floor. There is colorful lighting in this cavern designed to enhance the beauty of the formations. There are over 150 steps involved in this cave tour so it is neither wheelchair nor stroller friendly.
Back above ground families can also enjoy gem mining, mini golf, a SpeleoBox Crawl Maze, nature trails, and a Lookout Tower with views of the Ozarks.
Branson Zipline at Wolfe Mountain
About 10 minutes north of Branson is Wolfe Mountain, home to a zipline canopy tour, suspension bridges, nature trails, and the ever-popular Snowflex tubing hill.
There are a couple different zipline tours to choose from, and the Flying Prospector Canopy Tour is a good option for younger kids and first timers. It has 4 zips and 7 sky bridges and it is open to anyone weighing between 70 and 275lbs.
The Snowflex Tubing Hill requires no snow to enjoy zooming down the 400 foot slope. Kids as young as 4 can enjoy this experience.
Fritz’s Adventure
Fritz’s Adventure in Branson is one of the top indoor adventure parks in the Midwest, and it’s an especially great place to visit when the weather isn’t cooperating with your desire to be outdoors.
This multi-level indoor adventure park has all sorts of active experiences such as climbing, ziplining, and crawling through tunnels. There is a four-story ropes course, real airplanes suspended from the ceiling that kids can climb in, and even a Ninja Warrior Course with a Warped Wall!
Promised Land Zoo
The Promised Land Zoo combines up-close encounters and drive-thru safari experiences to provide much more than the typical zoo experience.
The drive-thru portion of the park allows you to drive your own vehicle on the path that winds through 2.5 miles of rolling terrain while spotting camels, zebras, kangaroos, ostriches, deer, water buffalo and more. You can feed the animals from your car window with animal feed purchased at the park.
At the Walk-thru Safari Village you will be able to feed goats, pigs, and tortoises while seeing some predators and even newborn animals in enclosures. There is also a parakeet paradise where you can feed birds.
Want more? Book a VIP+ Animal Adventure which includes guided tour, sloth petting, bottle feeding babies, and access to some animals that aren’t seen by general admission guests.
Where to Stay in Branson with Kids
If you want to be in the thick of it, the Grand Country Resort is a great option. It features the Grand Country Music Hall, Papa Grand’s Pizza, and the Fun Zone arcade. The accommodations also include a pretty neat waterpark on-site to cool off after a long hard day in the audience of so many shows and hiking all the hillsides in the Greater Branson area.
The Branson Hillside Hotel is phenomenal for families and has enough options to keep you busy even if you never venture off their property. With a kid’s club, the Splash-a-torium indoor/outdoor waterpark, free miniature golf, dining on-site, and the Welk Theatre, everyone will be clearing their schedules, calling in sick, and begging for just one more night!
Big Cedar Lodge is a sprawling resort offering a range of accommodations from private cabins to glamping tents. Amenities at this resort which overlooks Table Rock Lake include Fun Mountain (with bowling, laser tag, and climbing walls), fishing, hiking, and seasonal activities like movie nights and ice skating.
Easy Day Trips from Branson, MO
Lake of the Ozarks Area
The Lake of the Ozarks area can be a vacation in itself, easily. But, if all you have to spare is a day away, then make sure you still venture over.
The Lake Ozark area is about a two hours drive from Branson. The drive takes you through some lush, bluff country and past Bridal Cave, which is a 1-2 hour stop you should definitely make near Camdenton.
In the same area is Ha Ha Tonka State Park (Missouri State Parks offer free admission). The castle ruins are all it takes to conjure up Renaissance thoughts of Madrigal Dinners and dragons lofting up from the valley and spring below.
An easy hike, the ruins were a profound contrast to the surrounding landscape and provided great photo backdrops, perfect for capturing imaginative moments!
If you have time for a few days and nights, relax and have a vacation within a vacation at the Tan-Tar-A Resort, right on Lake Ozark. If not, still venture over for a fun time at a water park like Timber Falls or Miner Mike’s. You’ll also want to walk the historic halls of the Willmore Lodge and maybe splurge on some souvenirs at one of the many shops in Osage Beach.
Dip into Arkansas
Eureka Springs is only a stone’s throw from Branson (about an hour) and is home to the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, where you can see some of the world’s most regal big cats. It’s also a fantastic destination for fly fishing and supreme in the land of shopaholics!
The downtown district is on the National Register of Historic Places and offers walking tours. The Blue Spring Heritage Center is home to NW Arkansas largest spring and is chock-full of history; the area is famous for natural springs and has the namesake to prove it!
Also an hour away, Berryville, Arkansas is home to Cosmic Cavern where you can see the rare Ozark Blind Cave Salamanders. It is the perfect adventure for those little explorers that fell in love with Marvel-ous caves at Silver Dollar City and Bridal Cave and want more of the action!
Budding naturalists will appreciate seeing unique cave life. A cave tour is a little over an hour and is not too strenuous, featuring mostly flat ground and a lot of beautiful cave formations. “Wild Cave Tours” are offered and they are a pretty authentic taste of spelunking fun, not just handrails and oodles of stairs!
For some nearby, off-the-beaten-path fun in Arkansas, head to the Ozark National Forest west of Fayetteville (around two hours from Branson) and hit the dirt roads to the Hawksbill Crag/Whitaker Point Trailhead.
The hiking is spectacular and if you’re into experiencing nature in the raw, this is a great day trip for you! I would put it in the same special places as the Grand Canyon (responsible for many of the gray hairs on mother’s heads) but an adventure that is pretty epic to share at show-and-tell when the kids go back to school!
Visit More Great Cities in the South
- The Best Things to do in Baton Rouge with Kids
- Things to do in New Orleans with Kids
- Fun Things to do in New Orleans with Teens
- Family-Friendly Hotels in New Orleans
- Over 20 Things to do in Hot Springs, Arkansas
- 10 Fun Things to do in Charleston, SC with Kids
- Fun Things to do in Columbia, SC with Kids
- Great Things to do in Cartersville, GA
- Top Things to do in Atlanta with Kids
- 30 Free Things to do in Atlanta
- Over 20 Things to do in Nashville with Kids
- The Best Things to do in Chattanooga with Kids
- 15 Things to do in Raleigh with Kids
- The Best Things to do in Asheville with Kids
- A Vacation at Lake Junaluska, NC
- Fun Things to do in Virginia Beach with Kids
- Over 15 Things to do in Williamsburg, VA with Kids
- 10 Things to do in Richmond, VA on a Family Vacation
- A Day Trip to Charleston, WV
- Things to do in OKC with Kids
As a stay-at-home-mom, I was itching to show my children the world and keep traveling like I had before they were born. Now, a solo parent, I continue to want to show my children the adventures and life-long learning you can chase with noa dream and a passport. I am formally trained as a wildlife biologist, so outdoor adventure is always our agenda.One of my passions is being something of an expert in outdoor gear and have collaborated with brands like Columbia, Big Agnes, THULE, Terramar Sports, and Patagonia. I find so much joy in telling other travelers what really works when it comes to gear.
I am proud to be a regular contributor to Lake Country Journal, a regional print magazine in my native Midwest. Additionally, I've been featured in Matador Travel Network, Midwest Living, Family Handyman, and many other publications over the years. I have enjoyed working with individual travel bureaus and tourism groups, including Travel Wisconsin and writing for the Tradewinds Resorts newsletter, The Getaway.
I have worked with some of the most common household names in family vacation dreams -- Disney, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Visit Florida, Travel Alaska, and SD Tourism.
I reside in northern MN with two sons. Outside of traveling, I am a baseball fan (go Padres!) and spend as much time as possible underwater, scuba diving. In fact, my family all dive, so we are often diving while on vacation, too. I also love to read and enjoy being a patron of the local taco truck.
- Over 20 Great Things to do with Family in Branson, MO on Vacation - May 5, 2025
- Minnesota Christmas Events in Minneapolis and Beyond for 2024 - October 30, 2024
- Fall in Minnesota – Over 25 Places to Enjoy Minnesota Fall Colors - September 19, 2024