Spend One Day in Springfield Missouri

Two weeks ago, I took a solo trip to Springfield Missouri. A bunch of my friends said – just drive the extra 2 hours and visit St. Louis, Missouri instead. Perhaps you’re thinking the same thing, but I didn’t give it any consideration and I’ll tell you why! Everyone knows what makes St. Louis a great city, but how many people know what makes Springfield Missouri so special? Did you know Springfield Missouri is the birthplace of Route 66??? I surely didn’t!

If you haven’t figured it out already, I LOVE to explore lessen-known cities and show my readers why they should visit that city too! So, that’s exactly why I headed 2-hours Northeast from my new home in Fayetteville, Arkansas for a quick weekend trip to Springfield. If you’re just passing through on Route 66 or looking to take a day trip getaway, here’s a guide on how to spend one day in Springfield Missouri.

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What is Springfield Missouri Known For?

Before I jump into what to see and do in Springfield Missouri, let’s chat about what the town is known for.

Birthplace of Route 66

In case you skipped over the opening paragraph, Springfield MO is first-and-foremost known for being the birthplace of Route 66. On April 30th, 1926 in Springfield Missouri, officials decided that there would be a paved road constructed from Los Angeles, CA to Chicago, IL. Twelve years later in 1938, that first transcontinental highway was completed.

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Bass Pro Shop

Did you know that Springfield is home to Bass Pro Shop? You can visit the original Bass Pro Shop as well as learn about a ton of different animal species at Wonders of Wildlife (more on that to come later).

Great Cobra Scare

Springfield MO is also known for the Great Cobra Scare. Perhaps you’ve never heard of it, but it made national headline news back in 1953. Between August and October 11 Indian cobras, venomous snakes not native to North America, were killed near downtown Springfield after threatening several people.

It wasn’t until 1988 when the source of the snakes was discovered. A kid had released the snakes from a crate on the pet shop’s front porch because he was angry with the shop owner over fish that died the day he purchased them. 

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Sexiest Man Alive

And how about this for your next trivia game? Which People magazine’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ was born in Springfield MO? Brad Pitt!

One Day in Springfield Missouri

One day really isn’t enough to explore everything that Springfield Missouri as to offer, but you can definitely explore a lot of the highlights. Use this affordable travel bucket list as a guide to everything you must do during a quick trip to Springfield MO.

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Ride through the Fantastic Caverns

Start your day by riding through the Fantastic Caverns. They open at 8am so you can get an early start, and this was definitely a highlight of my trip to Springfield MO. You’ll learn about the differences between stalactites and stalagmites, and about the creatures that are still found dwelling in the cave today. It’s definitely fun and educational!

I’ve visited several cave systems around the country and this was the first time I’ve gone on a ride through the caves instead of walking. It definitely makes caves more accessible to all instead of worrying about walking over 1 mile on uneven terrain.

Admission is $28 for adults. The caverns are open 362 days a year and trams leave every 20-30 minutes. You should expect for there to be a bit of a wait if you’re visiting over the weekend and the tour itself takes about 1-hour.

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Feed a Giraffe at the Dickerson Park Zoo

It’s not everyday you get to pet a giraffe…unless you have a season pass to the Dickerson Park Zoo, I guess. I’ve been to other zoos where they charge extra for an up-close-and-personal experience like this, but at Dickerson Park Zoo, it’s included in the cost of admission. If you’d like to feed them, it costs $4 per bunch. This experience is open from 10am – 4pm daily from March – October.

While this indeed checked off a bucket list life goal, exploring the whole zoo was a great time. You’ll see animals from Australia, South America, Asia and Africa.

Admission is $15 for adults. Hours are 9am – 4pm Nov – Feb and 9am – 5pm March – Oct.

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Lunch at Black Sheep Burgers

If you like greasy burgers and huge baskets of fries, Black Sheep Burgers is your spot! Besides winning for best burgers in Missouri, they’re known for their unique alcoholic and non-alcoholic shakes. The most iconic burger is Cowboy Carl standing about 5in tall with brisket, crispy onion rings, and candied bacon all packed in the middle.

As for drinks, I recommend trying the sugar daddy. This alcoholic shake is mixed with smoked bourbon, candied bacon, butterscotch schnapps, and frozen vanilla custard and topped with pecans.

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Take a Photo with a Route 66 Sign

As mentioned before, Springfield is the birthplace of Route 66, so you’ve got to take a photo with a sign while in town. There are a few Route 66 signs and art pieces through Springfield. An official Route 66 birthplace sign can be found on the corner of Park Central East and South Jefferson Ave, just a block away from the downtown square.

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Visit the Springfield History Museum

While in downtown, take a visit to Springfield’s History Museum. Start on the top floor and work your way down the three floors of history. Here are a couple of highlights not to miss.

The top floor is dedicated to Route 66 history. Around the floor, you can follow the timeline of the ideation and development for the iconic transcontinental highway that stretches from Chicago to Los Angeles. You’ll also find history about Springfield’s Wild West pastime on the floor, including “Wild Bill” Hickok’s stint in town. They even have a shooting game where you can test your target practice.

On the mezzanine floor, take a virtual ride in the Time Travel Trolley. This fun “disco train” will travel you back in time through the centuries of Springfield history, sharing some rather unique stories like the Great Cobra Scare.

Admission is $16 for adults. The museum is only open from Wednesday – Sunday, so plan your trip accordingly.

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See the Batmobile and Ghostbusters cars at Route 66 Car Museum

Who would have thought you could find the Batmobile and Ghostbusters cars in Springfield Missouri? I definitely didn’t expect to see these at the Route 66 Car Museum, about 1-mile from downtown Springfield! These were a couple of the highlights for me, but expect to be awestruck by other classic cars like 1960’s Rolls Royces and late 19th century brass era vehicles. Instagrammable Springfield Missouri

Admission is $15 for adults. They are open 7 days a week from 9am – 5pm.

Fun Fact: I work for Warner Bros. as my full-time job and I’ve only seen a Batmobile once on the lot, so this was even a treat for me 😄

Visit Bass Pro Shop

If you didn’t catch this earlier, Bass Pro Shop started in Springfield so you can’t not visit the flagship store when in town! Chances are you’ve been to a Bass Pro Shop somewhere around the country before, but this is definitely worth visiting as it’s one of their largest stores with every possible outdoor item you’d need.

They also have a couple of special attraction within the building – Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium (more on this below) and the National Sporting Arms Museum.

Dinner at Civil Kitchen

This hip indoor-outdoor eatery right off the main square is a popular spot with locals. Civil Kitchen offer delicious American dishes and drinks with a cool interior vibe. A couple of the most popular dishes are the Maple Bourbon Glazed Petite Filet and Pork Belly Bahn Mi Tacos. Their sides are delicious as well (I would know, we ordered 6 of them 😆).

Treat Yo’self with a Pineapple Whip

A staple of Springfield is Pineapple Whip. They have flagship locations as well as a wandering food truck. It’s pretty much dairy-free pineapple ice cream. There are a few flavors and you can add toppings. It’s such a tasty post-dinner treat before you hit the bars.

Bars to check out in Downtown Springfield MO

If you’re looking for a fun night out on the town, downtown Springfield offers an eclectic mix of posh and wild/crazy bars for whatever mood you’re feeling. I took a local’s recommendation to explore a few and I guarantee these 3 won’t disappoint.

Right off the town square, you’ll find Golden Girl Rum Club. If the name doesn’t intrigue you already, the disco ball and bright string lights will definitely catch your attention. The lights aren’t the only thing vibrant happen there though. There’s an aura in the room as people sing along to popular 80’s tracks while sipping on one of their many delicious and beautifully-crafted tiki bar drinks.

A block from the town square, you’ll find Ernie Biggs Dueling Piano Bar. Now if you’ve never been to a dueling piano bar, you’re definitely missing out. There is always a great energy with the whole crowd joining in on the sing-a-longs.

End your night with a competitive edge as you challenge a friend to some arcade games at Sweet Boy’s Bar. You can expect the same quality drinks and ambience as Good Girl Rum Club, because it’s by the same owners! They have a ton of unique drink specials and mixology cocktails. Side note: they also own Scotch and Soda in downtown Bentonville, AR (where I live which I didn’t know) if you happen to visit that town as well.

Other Things to do in Springfield Missouri

Touch stingrays at the Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium

The top attraction in Springfield Missouri is the Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium. It’s located through the main entrance of Bass Pro Shop as this attraction is funded by the company. With over 1.5 miles of museum paths to follow, Wonders of Wildlife takes you on a journey through habitats that entertain and educate. Most of the worldly exhibits are filled with taxidermy animals until you get to the aquarium section where you’ll see an array of fish. The highlight of this attraction comes at the end when you have the opportunity to touch stingrays.

Perhaps you’re wondering why I didn’t include this attraction in my 1-day itinerary. Well, first of all, I think it’s overpriced at a $50 adult ticket price for what you get to see. I’m glad I saw it since it is the #1 attraction, but frankly I wouldn’t tell people to rush over there. It can also easily take 2-3 hours to explore which is quite a big chunk of a 1-day adventure.

Wander around Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield

Slightly Southwest of town, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield is worth a visit if you have more time than 1-day to spare. Wilson’s Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River.

Breakfast at Aviary Cafe

Not only an adorable atmosphere for breakfast, but their food is absolutely delicious. It’s a bit out of the way from the other attractions on the south side of town which is why I didn’t include it in the 1-day itinerary. But, if you’re looking for a great breakfast, Aviary Cafe is the spot. A couple of the most popular dishes are the steak and eggs crepe and avocado toast. They also offer bottomless mimosas for brunch!

Try the Springfield-style Cashew Chicken

Another thing Springfield is known for, surprisingly, is their special cashew chicken. Originally invented by David Leong in 1963 at Leong’s Asian Diner, you can now find it all over town.

RECAP: How to Spend One Day in Springfield Missouri

• Ride through the Fantastic Caverns
• Feed a giraffe at the Dickerson Park Zoo
• Lunch at Black Sheep Burgers
• Take a photo with a Route 66 Sign
• Visit the Springfield History Museum
• See the Batmobile and Ghostbusters cars at Route 66 Car Museum
• Visit Bass Pro Shop
• Dinner at Civil Kitchen
• Cool down with a Pineapple Whip

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