Overview
Springfield is the third largest city in the state of Missouri, with a population of more than 168,000, and more than 462,000 (2019) in the metro area. It is also known as the Queen City of the Ozarks, and the birthplace of Route 66. Though it's on a flat plateau, the more picturesque Ozarks are just southeast of the city.
9 sights · 11 things to do · 18 places to eat · 7 bars & cafés · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Springfield
Fantastic Caverns
Springfield's most popular attraction is the only cave in which you ride in a tour vehicle, rather than walk.
The Dickerson Park Zoo
Home to 450 animals representing 160 species. It is located northeast of the intersection of I-44 and Missouri Hwy. 13.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River. The bloody Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focused greater national attention on the war in Missouri. The nearly pristine lan…
Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium
Sprawling conservation-focused complex featuring wildlife exhibits & an aquarium with huge tanks. Connected to Bass Pro Shops.
Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
Springfield Art Museum
Proof that Springfield doesn't have to be a cultural desert.
Plan your trip
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SGF Springfield Branson National Airport, Springfield — 5 mi away. Directions
- BKG Branson Airport, Branson — 48 mi away. Directions
- TUL Tulsa International Airport, Tulsa — 160 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium, Springfield Art Museum, Craft Axe Throwing
- Lunch Gailey's Breakfast Cafe
- Afternoon 1984, Discovery Center
- Dinner Gilardi's
- Evening Mudhouse
Day 2
- Morning Fantastic Caverns, The Dickerson Park Zoo
- Lunch Crosstown Barbecue
- Afternoon Missouri Institute of Natural Science
- Dinner The Tower Club
- Evening Pappy's Place
Day 3
- Morning Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park
- Lunch Mexican Villa
- Afternoon Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park
- Dinner Cielito Lindo
- Evening The Springfield Brewing Co
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Missouri does not have statewide legislation banning cigarette smoking in restaurants. However, the Springfield City Council has banned smoking in all restaurants inside city limits. A popular local dish is "cashew chicken", a pseudo-Chinese dish found at all Chinese restaurants in Springfield. The dish is fried chicken pieces served on fried rice and covered with an oyster sauce. The dish is then garnished with green onions and cashews. Chinese restaurants are quite plentiful in Springfield because of the popularity of the dish. (However, most southwest Missouri Chinese restaurants' cuisine has been adapted to the Ozarkian palate, featuring sweeter, thicker sauces than West Coast Chinese restaurants. Natives of the West Coast, or of China itself, may be in for a rude awakening.) If you want local food, there are several restaurants.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
The [https://www.springfieldmo.org/ Springfield Missouri Convention & Visitors Bureau] is the official information source.
Climate
The city lies within the boundaries of the humid subtropical region as defined by the Köppen climate classification system. As such it experiences times of exceptional humidity; especially in late summer. According to Forbes magazine's list of "America's Wildest Weather Cities" and the Weather Variety Index, Springfield is the city with the most varied weather in the United States.
Get in
By plane
By car
- Springfield runs along Interstate 44 in southwest Missouri which runs from St. Louis through Springfield on to Tulsa. US Routes 60, 65, and 160 all run through town too. Missouri Highway 13 is another main road.
By bus
- Greyhound has regular service running up and down I44. Buses typically transfer in Tulsa for onward service to Dallas & Austin.
By taxi
- Yellow Taxi is the primary taxi service in Springfield, though others do exist.
Get around
Just about everyone drives, but because Springfield is so flat, bicycling or walking are good options.
Districts
- Downtown -- A busy professional atmosphere by day, and vibrant nightlife to follow. This area is an entertainment hub. Coffeehouses, theaters, bars, restaurants, shops, parks, fountains, and nightclubs are abundant. Stop by the Square and see the location where Wild Bill Hickok shot Dave Tutt.
- Commercial Street -- This Historic District features coffee houses, thrift stores and renovated loft space. Many regard this area of town as the most interesting up-and-coming area of town. Stop in at Lindberg's for a beer.
- MSU campus -- Not the most bohemian college in the country, yet the area has a youthful energy and vitality to it.
See
See Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River. The bloody Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focused greater national attention on the war in Missouri. The nearly pristine landscape allows visitors to experience one of the best-preserved battlefields in the nation. A 4.9 miles (7.9 km) paved tour road provides a self-guided auto tour. There are eight interpretive stops at significant battle-related locations. There are five walking trails off the tour road, varying in length from 1/4 to 3/4 of a mile. A 7 miles (11 km) trail system for horseback riding and hiking is accessible from the tour road.
Museums
Do
Do Springfield Cardinals Baseball
The Springfield Cardinals, a AA minor league baseball team, plays at Hammons Field in downtown Springfield.
Do 1984
A vintage video arcade containing many classic games from the 1970s and 1980s, including Asteroids, Deluxe Asteroids, Gravitar, Tempest, BattleZone, Space Invaders, Ms. Pac Man, Centipede, Tron, Pole Position, Vindicators, P.O.W.s, Golden Axe, and even Pong. Single admission price at the door grants unlimited play for as long as the arcade is open.
Do Alamo Drafthouse
Has most of the latest movie releases, as well as a large selection of food and drinks.
Do Craft Axe Throwing (Axe, Hatchet or Tomahawk Throwing)
A destination for axe-throwing, tomahawk, and hatchet enthusiasts. Craft beverages are available. Groups and parties welcome. Experts will guide you through axe-throwing, ensuring a safe and entertaining experience for all skill levels.
Parks
Buy
There are many shopping centers located throughout the city with everything from Best Buy to Shoe Carnival to Marshall's.
Shop Redeemed Music and Books (RMB)
Great used book store if you are looking to buy, sell, or trade Christian-themed material. Largest selection of used homeschool products in the area. For those not looking for Christian-themed books or music, they also offer one of the best collections of classic literature and philosophy of the second-hand shops in town. Books are priced half of retail (exception for collectibles or antiques), and they offer 50% of their price for trade or 25% for cash. They also have a 40% off sale in February and August.
Eat
Missouri does not have statewide legislation banning cigarette smoking in restaurants. However, the Springfield City Council has banned smoking in all restaurants inside city limits. A popular local dish is "cashew chicken", a pseudo-Chinese dish found at all Chinese restaurants in Springfield. The dish is fried chicken pieces served on fried rice and covered with an oyster sauce. The dish is then garnished with green onions and cashews. Chinese restaurants are quite plentiful in Springfield because of the popularity of the dish. (However, most southwest Missouri Chinese restaurants' cuisine has been adapted to the Ozarkian palate, featuring sweeter, thicker sauces than West Coast Chinese restaurants. Natives of the West Coast, or of China itself, may be in for a rude awakening.) If you want local food, there are several restaurants.
Eat Mexican Villa
Some believe it is the best Mexican food in town, although others think it's the worst. The burrito enchilada style (the house specialty), tortillas, and hot sauce are all highly recommended. They have a very popular sweet salsa that is oddly good. Tastes a lot like a thinned out Chinese duck sauce.
Eat Tea Bar & Bites Cafe
One of the most unique restaurants, serving fresh food with a Mediterranean twist. Great outdoor patio, too.
Eat Gailey's Breakfast Cafe
Good specials and great fruit-yogurt-granola bowl.
Eat Casper's
Burgers, chili & other comfort eats served in this snug diner with offbeat, artsy decor.
Eat Amigo's
Authentic Mexican food - family owned and operated.
Eat Buckingham Smokehouse Bar BQ
The loaded smoked sweet potato may change your life multiple locations.
Eat Lambert's Café
A large comfort food restaurant in nearby Ozark where their locally famous rolls are thrown at your face instead of given to you. Somewhat pricy but an essential for first-time visitors.
Eat Hong Kong Inn
Springfield is famous for its cashew chicken, which is best at this small local chain.
Eat W.F. Cody
Greasy spoon gastropub type of place.
Eat Gilardi's
Good wine list, great eggplant pasta.
Eat Harruno
Sushi and other Japanese food.
Eat Ocean Zen
Seafood and they also have good steaks.
Eat Avanzare
Higher-end Italian food.
Eat Nakato
The best hibachi in town.
Eat Incredible Pizza Company
Full service buffet, movies, and games.
Eat The Tower Club
Available to rent for meetings, weddings, reunions and any other special event needs you may have. It boasts spectacular panoramic views of Springfield.
Eat Crosstown Barbecue
Longtime, unassuming restaurant providing generous plates of BBQ & comfort eats in a casual setting.
Eat Cielito Lindo
The closest thing to "real" Mexican food in Springfield.
Drink
If you are looking for a good cup of coffee, the Mudhouse would make a great choice. It has a great selection of both hot and frozen drinks and has monthly art exhibits. It is downtown on South Street, one block south of the square. You will find that a lot of college kids hang out there (many of them with laptops due to the free Wi-Fi access), but it has a quiet atmosphere nonetheless. A good place to get a cup of coffee, read a book, or find an interesting person to talk to.
There is also a few chain smoothie stores around town.
The downtown area still has some funky dive bars despite the ongoing gentrification of the area. Expect cheap beers and girls of dubious repute.
Drink The Springfield Brewing Co (BrewCo (for short))
A pretty good local microbrewery located downtown. In addition to various ales and lagers they have decent pub food. Hosts bands oftentimes at night.
Drink Mudhouse
Downtown coffee shop
Drink Kingdom Coffee
Downtown coffee shop.
Drink The Coffee Ethic
Downtown coffee shop.
Drink Dancing Mule
Coffee shop a few blocks north of Battlefield Mall on Glenstone. Features a wide variety of hot and cold drinks as well as smoothies and pasties. They have a drive-thru for those in a hurry. They also sell coffee by the pound. Only negative is that the shop is small so seating is limited.
Drink Pappy's Place
Pappy's Place is a barbecue bar and grill that oozes local flavor. It's been in business since 1971. Look for the Welsh rugby jerseys on the walls along with other historic memorabilia, but it is a dark shotgun bar. Good food and low prices.
Drink The Potter's House
The Potter's House serves a variety of coffee drinks, smoothies, and teas. They also feature homemade cookies and brownies. In December 2011, it was voted Ultimate Coffeehouse in Springfield by MSU students. Comfortable place to meet friends, drink coffee, and play games.
Sleep
Most of the city's more affordable motels and hotels are located near the intersection of Glenstone and Kearney, not far from the I-44 exit. There is also many chain hotels and motels throughout the city.
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