Highest-rated free things to do in Missouri, according to Tripadvisor
Highest-rated free things to do in Missouri, according to Tripadvisor
It is incredibly expensive to be an American. While workers in the United States have seen an 80% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2024 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1970 and 2022, the national consumer price index increased by over 500%, while wages only grew by 80%.
That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. The number of cost-burdened households in the U.S. reached an 11-year record in 2022, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. In June 2024, Redfin reported that the median U.S. home sale price hit an all-time high of $394,000.
It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Missouri.
Think about the most common items on a vacation getaway itinerary: sightseeing, touring landmarks, or completing a nature walk. Or, maybe you're just aiming to relax and want some peace and quiet. Whether you're a history buff or aching to dip your toes in some cool water, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.
To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Missouri using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of June 12, 2024.
Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!
#30. City Market
- Rating: 4.5/5 (427 reviews)
- Address: 5th & Walnut Kansas City, Missouri
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#29. City Garden
- Rating: 4.5/5 (760 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#28. Ozark Distillery and Brewery
- Rating: 5/5 (279 reviews)
- Address: 1684 Highway KK Osage Beach, Missouri
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#27. Elephant Rocks State Park
- Rating: 5/5 (367 reviews)
- Address: 7406 Mo-21 Belleview, Missouri
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#26. Alley Spring Grist Mill Historic Site
- Rating: 5/5 (284 reviews)
- Address: Hwy 106 Eminence, Missouri
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#25. Missouri History Museum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (764 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#24. Springfield Botanical Gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park
- Rating: 5/5 (572 reviews)
- Address: 2400 South Scenic Ave. Springfield, Missouri
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#23. Table Rock Dam
- Rating: 4.5/5 (781 reviews)
- Address: Branson, Missouri
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#22. Kaleidoscope
- Rating: 4.5/5 (444 reviews)
- Address: 2500 Grand Blvd. Crown Center Kansas City, Missouri
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#21. Ulysses S. Grant National Historical Site
- Rating: 4.5/5 (564 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#20. Table Rock State Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (490 reviews)
- Address: 5272 State Highway 165 Branson, Missouri
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#19. Lone Elk Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (527 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#18. Boulevard Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (665 reviews)
- Address: 2501 Southwest Blvd. Kansas City, Missouri
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#17. Arcade City Branson
- Rating: 5/5 (563 reviews)
- Address: 715 Branson Landing Boulevard Branson, Missouri
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#16. Branson Landing Fountain Show
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,387 reviews)
- Address: 100 Branson Landing Branson, Missouri
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#15. Saint Louis Science Center
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,527 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#14. Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,017 reviews)
- Address: 483 Hatchery Road Branson, Missouri
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#13. St. Charles Historic District
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,402 reviews)
- Address: S Main St. Saint Charles, Missouri
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#12. Country Club Plaza
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,899 reviews)
- Address: 4706 Broadway Blvd. Kansas City, Missouri
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#11. Table Rock Lake
- Rating: 5/5 (2,324 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#10. Branson Landing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,689 reviews)
- Address: 100 Branson Landing Blvd. Branson, Missouri
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#9. Union Station
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,571 reviews)
- Address: 30 West Pershing Road Kansas City, Missouri
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#8. Saint Louis Art Museum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,469 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#7. Ha Ha Tonka State Park
- Rating: 5/5 (860 reviews)
- Address: 1491 State Road D Camdenton, Missouri
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#6. College of the Ozarks
- Rating: 5/5 (3,174 reviews)
- Address: 1 Opportunity Ave. Point Lookout, Missouri
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#5. Forest Park
- Rating: 5/5 (2,497 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#4. Grant's Farm
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,383 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#3. Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis
- Rating: 5/5 (3,123 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#2. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
- Rating: 5/5 (3,343 reviews)
- Address: 4525 Oak St. Kansas City, Missouri
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#1. St. Louis Zoo
- Rating: 4.5/5 (8,707 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Zuri White-Gibson, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.
