Route 66 Side Trip to Branson, Missouri
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Many travelers want to know ... does Route 66 go through Branson, Missouri?
The answer is "No", but it passes through Springfield, Missouri, only about 45 miles to the north of Branson.
"The Mother Road" was established on November 11, 1926, and ultimately stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles.
Route 66 across Missouri stretched 317 miles and connected a variety of large cities and small towns, traversing rolling hills and valleys. Heading westbound the route traveled through these cites and towns in Missouri: St. Louis, Cuba, Rolla, Lebanon, Springfield, Carthage and Joplin.
While some Route 66 travelers enjoy the experience of staying only on the Mother Road itself, others take the opportunity to make a fun side trip to visit Branson, less than an hour drive south, via U.S. Highway 65.
Scenic U.S Highway 65, a north-south highway, is the main route to Branson with over 70% of motorists coming from the north through Springfield.
Spend a day, or more, and enjoy the excitement of Branson before returning to Route 66!
| Map showing the directions from Historic Route 66 in Springfield to Branson, Missouri |
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About Branson
The City of Branson is located in southwest Missouri, 45 miles south of Springfield in the heart of the Ozark Hills. Branson has a year-round population of over 10,000 residents, with millions of visitors annually.
Branson offers visitors a number of attractions, ranging from scenic natural beauty to the variety of live entertainment options and family oriented entertainment offerings. Also popular is an international award-winning theme park (Silver Dollar City), dozens museums, a Historic Downtown district, a Town Center-style shopping complex named Branson Landing, a full range of dining options, and a host of hotels, motels, resorts, RV parks, and campgrounds.
 The fall colors are spectacular in Branson! |
Branson is home to over 40 music theaters with over 50,000 seats. The variety of music includes country, pop, gospel, bluegrass, western, rock ‘n roll, classical jazz, and Broadway. There’s also comedy, magic, and variety to provide visitors a wide array of entertainment choices.
The Branson / Lakes Area is home to three scenic lakes offering fishing, boating, parasailing, jet skiing, and swimming. While the lakes all offer great fishing for novice and professional anglers, each has its specialty. Table Rock Lake offers world-class bass fishing. Lake Taneycomo, with its cold waters, offers superb trout fishing. Bull Shoals Lake is also an anglers’ paradise, especially for tournament bass fishing.
More Things to See, Do and Experience
- Titanic Museum
- Live Shows such as Nashville Roadhouse Live Concert, Down Home Country Show and the Little Opry Theater
- Boat Tours & Cruises
- Veterans Memorial Museum
- Aquarium at the Boardwalk
- Historic Downtown Branson
- Branson Tourism Center
- Silver Dollar City
- Branson Landing
- Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery
- The Butterfly Palace
- Branson's Promised Land Zoo
- Showboat Branson Belle and Jet Boats
- Branson Landing Fountain Show
- Table Rock Dam and State Park
- Hollywood Wax Museum
- Dewey Short Visitors Center
Shopping in Branson
Visitors consistently rank shopping among the most popular activities of the area. Branson Landing is a $420 million, 95 acre development along Lake Taneycomo blending more than 100 retail shops with dining, luxury lodging, river walk, town square, marinas, and nightlife into a dynamic waterfront setting.
Branson is home to two outlet shopping malls as well as the Grand Village and other unique shopping areas. Visitors can find contemporary clothing, Ozarks crafts, gift items, housewares, designer shoes, luggage, and a myriad of other treasures throughout the year.
Historic Downtown Branson is also a shopper and diner’s delight. Dick’s Old Fashioned 5 and 10, several boutiques, and dozens of specialty stores combined with quaint eateries make the downtown area truly special.
Scenes in Branson
Branson Landing  |
Bass Pro Shops White River Outpost  |
The Titanic  |
Branson Aquarium |
Golfing in Branson |
Veterans Memorial Museum  |
Scenes Around Area Lakes
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Lodging Options in Branson
As one of the most popular destinations in the Central United States, Branson has developed an expansive infrastructure of lodging options, from upscale resorts to lakefront cabins to B&Bs.
More than 20,000 rooms are available in Branson motels, hotels, resorts, bed and breakfast inns, and condominiums. Visitors have an endless variety of restaurants and food establishments from which to choose. There are over 125 restaurants with over 30,000 seats.
With a variety of lodging options, including luxury resorts, high-end hotels, B&Bs, budget-friendly condos, campgrounds and cozy cabins, rest assured you'll find the perfect place to stay in Branson.
Branson has hundreds of hotels, resorts, motels, timeshares, private residences, and bed-and-breakfasts.
Branson, Missouri Travel Guide
Branson, Missouri Hotel Directory, Traveler Reviews and Reservations |
Big Cedar Lodge: A Popular Long-standing Branson Area Tradition
Big Cedar Lodge is a remote haven of natural beauty spread out over 4,600 acres where rustic luxury is tucked into the rugged landscape of the Missouri Ozark Mountains, overlooking sparkling Table Rock Lake.
Inspired by a commitment to conservation, Johnny Morris, noted conservationist and founder of Bass Pro Shops, created Big Cedar Lodge as a destination for families and friends to connect in the great outdoors. The Lodge features a wide array of inviting accommodations, spectacular restaurants, two full-service marinas, five golf courses, a 50,000-square-foot activity center, breathtaking spa, unparalleled fishing and countless outdoor adventures.
Today, Big Cedar Lodge, overlooking the 43,000-acre Table Rock Lake, remains a popular destination and is rated as the “#1 Resort in the Midwest” according to Travel + Leisure.
Read more at the website of Big Cedar Lodge
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Map of Branson, Missouri
More Information and Resources about Branson
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MORE MISSOURI ROUTE 66
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