For most first-time visitors, Gateway Arch National Park is the best place to start.
It gives you a clear St. Louis landmark, a free museum, the free Old Courthouse, and an optional paid tram ride to the top.
Add the Ozarks if you want rivers and hiking, or Kansas City if museums and city life matter more.
Missouri is easier to enjoy when you pick one region at a time instead of trying to cross the state every day.
Missouri at a glance
| Rank | Place | Best for | Plan this much time | Cost | Main thing to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gateway Arch National Park | First trip, St. Louis, history | 2-4 hours | Museum and Old Courthouse free; adult tram ticket starts at $15 and can reach $19 | Tram tickets use timed entry and can sell out |
| 2 | Ozark National Scenic Riverways | Floating, swimming, camping, springs | 1-3 days | No park entrance fee | The park stretches along two rivers, so choose one area rather than trying to see everything |
| 3 | Silver Dollar City | Families, rides, Branson | Full day | Flexible one-day ticket: $95 plus tax | Pick-your-date prices can vary; food and extras add cost |
| 4 | National WWI Museum and Memorial | History, Kansas City, rainy days | 3-5 hours | Adult general admission: $19.50 | Tower and featured exhibition cost extra unless you buy a combo |
| 5 | Ha Ha Tonka State Park | Free Ozarks scenery, short hikes | 2-4 hours | Free | Some trails have steep grades, steps, and drop-offs |
| 6 | Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum | Literature, Hannibal, families | 2-4 hours | Adult admission: $20 | The ticket now covers two consecutive days |
| 7 | Katy Trail State Park | Biking, walking, road trips | 2 hours to several days | Free | The trail is 240 miles long, so choose a section |
| 8 | Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art | Free indoor stop, Kansas City | 2-4 hours | General admission free | Visitors still need to check in |
Best choices for different trips
Best overall: Gateway Arch National Park
Best outdoor trip: Ozark National Scenic Riverways
Best for families: Silver Dollar City
Best history museum: National WWI Museum and Memorial
Best free nature stop: Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Best literary stop: Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum
Best bike trip: Katy Trail State Park
Best free indoor stop: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
How we researched this guide
This guide is based on current research.
We did not personally visit every place for this update, buy every ticket, or test every trail and ride.
For prices, park rules, ticket details, hours, and trail information, we used official pages from the National Park Service, Missouri State Parks, Silver Dollar City, the National WWI Museum and Memorial, the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
We also reviewed current Missouri travel guides to see what first-time visitors are commonly comparing.
Those guides helped identify common questions, but they were not used as proof that one attraction is better than another.
The order is our judgment.
Places rank higher when they give visitors a strong Missouri experience, fit into a realistic trip, and offer something clearly different from the other picks.
1. Gateway Arch National Park - best overall
Gateway Arch National Park is the best first stop for most visitors because you can see Missouri's best-known landmark, visit the museum below it, and tour the Old Courthouse in one compact St. Louis area.
The museum and Old Courthouse are free.
The tram ride to the top is optional and uses timed tickets. National Park Service
What to know
Best for: First trips, St. Louis, U.S. history
Time: 2-4 hours
Museum: Free
Old Courthouse: Free
Adult tram ticket: Usually $15-$19, depending on date
Tram time: Allow about 45-60 minutes
Main limit: The tram requires a timed ticket
The tram takes visitors to the top of the 630-foot Arch.
The National Park Service says adult ticket prices vary by day, with current prices ranging from $15 to $19.
Buying ahead is useful because the tram runs on timed reservations. National Park Service
You do not have to ride the tram to make the stop worthwhile.
The museum under the Arch and the Old Courthouse both have free entry.
Choose Gateway Arch National Park if you have only one St. Louis sightseeing block.
2. Ozark National Scenic Riverways - best outdoor trip
Ozark National Scenic Riverways is the best Missouri choice for travelers who want clear spring-fed rivers, floating, swimming, camping, and forest rather than a city attraction.
The park follows 134 miles of the Current and Jacks Fork rivers and does not charge an entrance fee.
National Park Service
What to know
Best for: Canoeing, kayaking, tubing, camping, springs
Time: 1-3 days
Entrance: Free
Main rivers: Current and Jacks Fork
Developed summer campsite: $20 without electricity or $30 with electricity
Main limit: You need to plan around river access, transport, and where you will start and finish
Popular stops include Alley Spring, Big Spring, and Round Spring.
The riverways remain open year-round, but visitor center hours and some roads or access points change by season.
National Park Service
For an overnight trip, developed campgrounds charge fees and require reservations.
Summer rates are $20 for a standard non-electric site and $30 for a standard electric site. National Park Service
River levels, storms, and short-term access problems can change quickly.
Check the official park page shortly before a float trip instead of relying on an old status note.
Choose Ozark National Scenic Riverways if being on the water is the main point of the trip.
3. Silver Dollar City - best for families
Silver Dollar City is the strongest family theme-park choice in Missouri because it combines rides, live shows, crafts, food, and a full-day Branson experience in one place.
A flexible one-day 2026 ticket is $95 plus tax, while date-specific prices can vary. Silver Dollar City
What to know
Best for: Families, rides, Branson trips
Time: Full day
Flexible one-day ticket: $95 plus tax
Ages 3 and under: Free
Second day add-on: $20 more on the current flexible ticket offer
Main limit: Parking, food, games, and extras can raise the total cost
The park operates on select dates, so check the calendar before choosing a Branson trip date.
The standard flexible ticket is valid for one operating day through January 2, 2027. Silver Dollar City
Temporary discounts appear during the year, but they are not a good basis for a long-term trip budget.
Use the normal ticket page when estimating cost.
Choose Silver Dollar City if your family wants a full theme-park day.
Skip it if the Ozarks appeal to you mainly for rivers, caves, and hiking.
4. National WWI Museum and Memorial - best history museum
The National WWI Museum and Memorial is the best museum stop in Kansas City for travelers who want a deep history visit rather than a quick display.
Adult general admission is $19.50 and covers the main gallery and most other galleries. National WWI Museum and Memorial
What to know
Best for: History, Kansas City, rainy days
Time: 3-5 hours
Adult general admission: $19.50
Youth ages 6-15: $11.50
Children under 6: Free
Tower-only add-on: $6
Main limit: The featured exhibition and tower are not part of basic general admission
A full combo ticket includes general admission, the featured exhibition, and Liberty Memorial Tower.
Adult combo admission is $26.50. National WWI Museum and Memorial
The museum runs daily during its summer schedule from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
During the regular season, it is closed Tuesday.
Choose the National WWI Museum if history is a major reason for your Kansas City visit.
5. Ha Ha Tonka State Park - best free Ozarks nature stop
Ha Ha Tonka State Park is the best free nature stop near Lake of the Ozarks because one park combines castle ruins, a large spring, caves, sinkholes, a natural bridge, bluffs, and lake views.
Admission is free. Missouri State Parks
What to know
Best for: Free things to do, short hikes, Lake of the Ozarks
Time: 2-4 hours
Admission: Free
Castle Trail: 0.4 mile one way from the lower parking area
Main limit: Some routes include steep grades, steps, rough surfaces, or drop-offs
The paved Castle Trail leads to the stone ruins and several overlooks.
The upper parking area shortens the walk for visitors who need easier access. Missouri State Parks
For a harder walk, other trails reach the spring, natural bridge, and sinkholes.
Choose Ha Ha Tonka if you want an easy-to-add Ozarks stop without paying an entrance fee.
6. Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum - best literary stop
The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum is the best Missouri stop for readers who want to connect Samuel Clemens with the Hannibal setting that shaped much of his writing.
Adult admission is $20, and 2026 tickets are valid for two consecutive days. Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum
What to know
Best for: Literature, families, Hannibal road trips
Time: 2-4 hours
Adult admission: $20
Senior age 60+: $15
Student age 6-17: $6
Children 5 and under: Free
Main limit: Hannibal is a separate trip direction from the Ozarks and Kansas City
The ticket covers the museum's group of historic buildings in downtown Hannibal.
Summer hours run from March 15 through November 1, while winter hours are shorter. Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum
Choose Hannibal if Mark Twain or Mississippi River town history matters enough to justify the detour.
7. Katy Trail State Park - best bike trip
Katy Trail State Park is the best Missouri trip for cyclists and walkers who want a long former railroad route with river views, small towns, and many places to start and stop.
The trail is 240 miles long and has 26 trailheads. Missouri State Parks
What to know
Best for: Biking, walking, multi-day trips
Time: 2 hours to several days
Length: 240 miles
Trailheads: 26
Admission: Free
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Main limit: Water and restrooms are not available at every trailhead
The route runs between Clinton and Machens. Most visitors do not need to ride the whole thing.
A short section near Rocheport, Augusta, or another trail town can give you the experience without a multi-day bike trip.
From November through March, Missouri State Parks turns off water and closes restrooms at trailheads.
Missouri State Parks
Choose the Katy Trail if cycling or walking is part of the vacation, not just a way to fill an hour.
8. Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art - best free indoor stop
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is the best free indoor attraction in this guide because general admission is free for everyone.
Visitors still need to check in before entering the galleries. Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
What to know
Best for: Art, Kansas City, rainy days, budget trips
Time: 2-4 hours
General admission: Free
Check-in: Required
Main limit: Special programs or exhibitions can have separate rules or costs
The museum is an easy counterweight to the National WWI Museum.
One gives you a focused history day; the other gives you a free art stop with much less pressure to stay for hours.
Choose Nelson-Atkins if you want a strong free attraction in Kansas City.
Gateway Arch or Silver Dollar City: which should you choose?
Choose Gateway Arch National Park for a first Missouri city trip.
Choose Silver Dollar City for a full family theme-park day.
The Arch can fit into a half day and has strong free parts.
Silver Dollar City needs most of a day and costs much more, but it offers far more rides and entertainment.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways or Ha Ha Tonka: which is better?
Choose Ozark National Scenic Riverways for a full river trip.
Choose Ha Ha Tonka for a free half-day hike and sightseeing stop.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways works best when you plan around floating, camping, or a full outdoor day.
Ha Ha Tonka is easier to add to a Lake of the Ozarks trip.
National WWI Museum or Nelson-Atkins: which is better in Kansas City?
Choose the National WWI Museum for history. Choose Nelson-Atkins for art or a free indoor day.
If you have a full Kansas City weekend, they are different enough to do both.
A simple Missouri trip plan
St. Louis, 1-2 days: Gateway Arch National Park plus another city museum, park, or neighborhood.
Kansas City, 1-2 days: National WWI Museum and Memorial plus Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
Ozarks and Branson, 2-4 days: Choose Silver Dollar City for a family day, Ha Ha Tonka for a short nature stop, or Ozark National Scenic Riverways for a river-focused trip.
Hannibal and northeast Missouri, 1 day: Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum plus downtown Hannibal.
Bike trip: Choose one Katy Trail section unless a multi-day ride is the main purpose of the trip.
Frequently asked questions
What is the number one thing to do in Missouri?
Gateway Arch National Park is the best first choice for most visitors.
The free museum and Old Courthouse make it worthwhile even if you do not buy a tram ticket.
What is the best free thing to do in Missouri?
Ha Ha Tonka State Park is the best free outdoor choice, while Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is the best free indoor choice.
What is the best thing to do in Missouri with kids?
Silver Dollar City is the strongest full-day family attraction.
For a lower-cost outdoor day, choose Ha Ha Tonka or a short section of the Katy Trail.
What is the best outdoor place in Missouri?
Ozark National Scenic Riverways is the best choice if you want to float, swim, camp, or spend several days around spring-fed rivers.
What is the best thing to do in St. Louis?
Start with Gateway Arch National Park. The museum and Old Courthouse are free, and the tram is optional.
What is the best thing to do in Kansas City?
Choose the National WWI Museum for history or Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for a free art visit.
Is the Katy Trail free?
Yes. Katy Trail State Park is free to use and open from sunrise to sunset. Missouri State Parks
How many days do you need in Missouri?
Three days is enough for one region. Five to seven days is better if you want both a major city and the Ozarks.
Trying to combine St. Louis, Kansas City, Branson, and Hannibal in a short trip creates too much driving.
Final pick
For most first-time travelers, start with Gateway Arch National Park, then choose either Kansas City or the Ozarks for the second part of the trip.
Add Hannibal or the Katy Trail only when they fit the route.
The best Missouri itinerary is not the one with the most stops.
It is the one that keeps each day in one part of the state.