Suggested self-drive tours in the area

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Maps and directions
The staff at the front desk will gladly provide maps and directions. The tour examples below are self-drive and self-guided. There is so much to do in the area for all ages and interests. See our area attractions page for more suggestions. Ask at the front desk about the many special events, circus, festivals, Cardinals Baseball and other sports that take place throughout the year.

Self-drive "66" tour

Families with children

Suggested Bus/Group Tour

Day One:

Leave the motel, and go down St. Louis Street towards the Square. Make note of the Kentwood Arms and the Shrine Mosque, two distinctive structures in this city that date to the beginning of Rt. 66. Pass by the Gillioiz Theater, and if it appears open, stop for a peek inside this beautifully restored building. Spend the afternoon exploring the antique stores art galleries and boutiques in the downtown area. Back track to Steak-N-Shake for lunch.After lunch, drive on out College Street. Stop and see the mosaic art done by Springfield school kids on West College, and the Melinda Court further out on West College. Swing around onto Chestnut Expressway, and take that to the West By-Pass. Go north on the West By-Pass, noting this venerable Route 66 landmark, Danny's Service Station at Division and the ByPass. At Kearney Street, turn right, traveling back in towards Springfield. Take a side trip to Fantastic Caverns where you can experience sculptures created by nature in their "drive-through" tour. when you come to Kansas Expressway Dickerson Park Zoo is worth a visit. The zoo is known for its elephant breeding program. Follow Kearney all the way back up to Glenstone; have dinner at Buckingham's at Glenstone & Kearney, then continue back down Glenstone to the motel.

Day Two:

Visit the Springfield-Greene County History Museum, the O'Reilly Hospital Museum at Evangel College. Lunch downtown, and visit the Air and Military Museum of the Ozarks in the afternoon.

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Day One:

Experience Animal Paradise fun park at Strafford or Dickerson Park Zoo here in Springfield in the morning. Return to Springfield for lunch at Buckingham's, then go see the Air and Military Museum of the Ozarks. Go to the inspiring Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in the afternoon, then make a stop at Richardson's Candy House on the way to Incredible Pizza for dinner.

Day Two:

See the Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Bass Pro Shops in the morning. Lunch in Bass Pro at either Hemingways or McDonalds. Spend the afternoon at the Discovery Center, and have dinner at Steak-N-Shake on National Avenue - a traditional Route 66 Diner experience. After you've eaten try ice skating at Jordan Park Ice Rink, it's close by.

Day Three:

Visit the Springfield-Greene County Historical Museum or if you don't mind a short drive then there's Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. There you will discover the history of one of the most notorious battles of the civil war and be able to watch live canon fire demonstrations performed by reinactors in Civil War uniform. We suggest Lambert's Café just north of the town of Ozark for dinner where the food is always good and the waiters throw rolls at you - really fun.

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Day One - Morning:

Visit the Air and Military Museum of the Ozarks (2 hours) and the O‚Reilly Hospital Museum at Evangel College (2 hours). Lunch at Buckinghams at Kearney & Glenstone.

Day One - Afternoon:

Start the tour on the Square where the Wild Bill Hickok shootout occurred, and see the Woodruff Building, built by John T. Woodruff, "father of Rt. 66". Explore antique stores, art galleries and boutiques. Springfield Pottery Studio, Springfield Hot Glass Studio, Keyes Gallery, Hawthorn Gallery are all worth a visit. For the historically minded look for the marker where the Ozark Country Jubilee theater was, a block south of Rt. 66/ St. Louis Street and Jefferson, and for other markers on the square. From there, dinner at Springfield Brewing Company.

Day Two - Morning:

Tour of the Gillioz Theater, (about 2 hours), or a tour of the Landers Theater (2 hours) time, or spend some time at the Springfield-Greene County History Museum. Lunch at Big Whiskey‚s, next door to the Gillioz.

Day Two - Afternoon :

Take a trip to Fantastic Caverns (2 - 3 hours). A trip to Springfield would not be complete without a visit to Bass Pro Shop (1-4 hours) and a tour round the Wonders of Wildlife Museum. A side trip to Richardson's Candy House on S. Campbell to see chocolates being made makes for a memorable moment. Dinner at Millie's Turn of the Century Café and back to the hotel.

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Contact Info

203 S. Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65802 • 417.866.1963 or 800.304.0021 - Fax 417.864.7676 • 
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