It’s time to gas up the car and head out on a little road trip full of waterfall adventures. We’ve designed the ultimate weekend waterfall road trip in Missouri, and we know you’re going to love it. This quick trip visits several absolutely gorgeous waterfalls, plus some amazing little pit stops along the way. To see the full route and directions for this Missouri waterfalls road trip, check out the map.
Our road trip to see the best waterfalls in Missouri is designed to be broken up into two days, allowing for quality visits at each destination.
Google Maps Please note: two of the original attractions on the road trip have closed since this article was first published. As such, we adjusted the trip accordingly, adding a visit to the wonderful Sybill’s Saint James!
Hickory Canyon - Ste. Genevieve
Dave Clark/flickr Hickory Canyon Natural Area is home to 541 native vascular plant species and 152 bryophyte, not to mention a gorgeous waterfall.
Maramec Spring Park - St. James
Ernie B./TripAdvisor Meramec Spring is the fifth largest spring in Missouri and is a premier fishing spot for trout. The man-made waterfall rushes from the spring in this hidden gem of a park.
Before leaving this beautiful area, break for lunch at Sybill’s Saint James.
Sybill’s Saint James/Facebook Sybill’s provides elegant fine dining in a beautiful country-style manor, complete with a gift shop. It’s a picture-perfect place to stop!
Grand Falls - Joplin
Lance J/flickr Grand Falls is the largest continuously flowing waterfall in Missouri and is located on Shoal Creek, just south of Joplin.
Dogwood Canyon - Lampe
Dogwood Canyon/Facebook Explore the 10,000-acre paradise that is the Dogwood Nature Center. Hike the trails, explore a tree house, ride with bison or just take a stroll past one of their gorgeous waterfalls.
After leaving Dogwood Canyon, spend the night in a cozy cabin at Tall Pines near Branson.
Tall Pines Branson/Facebook The Tall Pines Resort in Branson has a number of cabins from which to choose, depending on how big your party is. To book a cabin, visit the Tall Pines Resort in Branson website.
Hodgson Water Mill Waterfall - Dora
Julius Whittington/flickr Another gorgeous waterfall connected to a spring. Both the waterfall and the water mill are a photographer’s dream when it comes to capturing the most gorgeous nature shot.
Mina Sauk Falls - Ironton
Randy Watson/flickr End the trip by visiting Mina Sauk Falls, which is the tallest waterfall in the great state of Missouri. While hiking at Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, you’ll also come across the state’s highest point of elevation.
Waterfalls are just one of the many fantastic features of Missouri to explore, and it’d be a shame to only just see one! Have you been to any of these winsome waterfalls before? Do you think our Weekend Waterfall Road Trip in Missouri hits the state’s best falls? Feel free to share with us which was your favorite, and other Missouri waterfalls you’d add to the list!
Google Maps
Please note: two of the original attractions on the road trip have closed since this article was first published. As such, we adjusted the trip accordingly, adding a visit to the wonderful Sybill’s Saint James!
Dave Clark/flickr
Hickory Canyon Natural Area is home to 541 native vascular plant species and 152 bryophyte, not to mention a gorgeous waterfall.
Ernie B./TripAdvisor
Meramec Spring is the fifth largest spring in Missouri and is a premier fishing spot for trout. The man-made waterfall rushes from the spring in this hidden gem of a park.
Sybill’s Saint James/Facebook
Sybill’s provides elegant fine dining in a beautiful country-style manor, complete with a gift shop. It’s a picture-perfect place to stop!
Lance J/flickr
Grand Falls is the largest continuously flowing waterfall in Missouri and is located on Shoal Creek, just south of Joplin.
Dogwood Canyon/Facebook
Explore the 10,000-acre paradise that is the Dogwood Nature Center. Hike the trails, explore a tree house, ride with bison or just take a stroll past one of their gorgeous waterfalls.
Tall Pines Branson/Facebook
The Tall Pines Resort in Branson has a number of cabins from which to choose, depending on how big your party is. To book a cabin, visit the Tall Pines Resort in Branson website.
Julius Whittington/flickr
Another gorgeous waterfall connected to a spring. Both the waterfall and the water mill are a photographer’s dream when it comes to capturing the most gorgeous nature shot.
Randy Watson/flickr
End the trip by visiting Mina Sauk Falls, which is the tallest waterfall in the great state of Missouri. While hiking at Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, you’ll also come across the state’s highest point of elevation.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Hickory Canyons Natural Area, New Offenburg, MO 63670, USAAddress: Maramec Spring Dr, Meramec Township, MO 65559, USAAddress: Sybill’s Saint James, 1100 N Jefferson St, St James, MO 65559, USAAddress: Grand Falls, 5685 Riverside Dr, Joplin, MO 64804, USAAddress: 2038 State Hwy 86, Lampe, MO 65681, USAAddress: 1237 State Hwy UU, Blue Eye, MO 65611, USAAddress: Hodgson Water Mill, Dora, MO 65637, USAAddress: Mina Sauk Falls, Arcadia Township, MO 63650, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Weekend Waterfall Road Trip In Missouri May 16, 2021 Sarah Does Missouri have any wonders? The wonders of Missouri include:
The Gateway Arch Onondaga Cave State Park Clifty Creek Natural Bridge Johnsons Shut-Ins State Park Mina Sauk Falls Elephant Rocks State Park Mingo National Wildlife Refuge
There are seven official natural wonders in Missouri, but if you ask us, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. As evidenced in our weekend road trip to the best waterfalls in Missouri, our state is full of wondrous treasures. But if you’re going to go by strict definitions, Missouri has seven natural wonders, and we have a road trip where you can visit them all! You’ll see natural bridges, man-made wonders, intriguing geological formations, and so much more. Happy travels! What are some unique road trips in Missouri? If our weekend road trip to see the best waterfalls in Missouri got you inspired, you’ll love these unique road trip adventures, as well! We have a road trip to Missouri’s glorious water mills that will take you to some of the most charming parts of the state. If you don’t mind getting a little spooked, then this haunted road trip through Missouri is the road trip for you. An old mansion, winery, and prison are just a few of the haunted places you’ll discover on this thrilling trip! In the same (creepy) vein, this road trip travels to some truly spooky abandoned places in Missouri. An abandoned amusement park, haunted hotel, and downright creepy brewery are just a few of the desolate places you’ll come across. And for a delightful journey to the heart of Missouri, be sure to check out our small towns road trip, which visits some truly winsome little towns. Does Missouri have many waterfalls? With the mighty Missouri River running through The Show-Me State, there are some truly remarkable waterfalls here! Missouri has several hidden waterfalls, many of which are places not even locals know about! The thing about Missouri waterfalls is that they’re all quality falls – the kind of Platonic Ideal of waterfalls with multi-level cascades, rushing waters, and varied topography. You can explore some of the very best waterfalls in Missouri on this epic waterfall road trip.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Weekend Waterfall Road Trip In Missouri
May 16, 2021
Sarah
Does Missouri have any wonders? The wonders of Missouri include:
The Gateway Arch Onondaga Cave State Park Clifty Creek Natural Bridge Johnsons Shut-Ins State Park Mina Sauk Falls Elephant Rocks State Park Mingo National Wildlife Refuge
There are seven official natural wonders in Missouri, but if you ask us, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. As evidenced in our weekend road trip to the best waterfalls in Missouri, our state is full of wondrous treasures. But if you’re going to go by strict definitions, Missouri has seven natural wonders, and we have a road trip where you can visit them all! You’ll see natural bridges, man-made wonders, intriguing geological formations, and so much more. Happy travels! What are some unique road trips in Missouri? If our weekend road trip to see the best waterfalls in Missouri got you inspired, you’ll love these unique road trip adventures, as well! We have a road trip to Missouri’s glorious water mills that will take you to some of the most charming parts of the state. If you don’t mind getting a little spooked, then this haunted road trip through Missouri is the road trip for you. An old mansion, winery, and prison are just a few of the haunted places you’ll discover on this thrilling trip! In the same (creepy) vein, this road trip travels to some truly spooky abandoned places in Missouri. An abandoned amusement park, haunted hotel, and downright creepy brewery are just a few of the desolate places you’ll come across. And for a delightful journey to the heart of Missouri, be sure to check out our small towns road trip, which visits some truly winsome little towns. Does Missouri have many waterfalls? With the mighty Missouri River running through The Show-Me State, there are some truly remarkable waterfalls here! Missouri has several hidden waterfalls, many of which are places not even locals know about! The thing about Missouri waterfalls is that they’re all quality falls – the kind of Platonic Ideal of waterfalls with multi-level cascades, rushing waters, and varied topography. You can explore some of the very best waterfalls in Missouri on this epic waterfall road trip.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
The wonders of Missouri include:
- The Gateway Arch
- Onondaga Cave State Park
- Clifty Creek Natural Bridge
- Johnsons Shut-Ins State Park
- Mina Sauk Falls
- Elephant Rocks State Park
- Mingo National Wildlife Refuge
There are seven official natural wonders in Missouri, but if you ask us, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. As evidenced in our weekend road trip to the best waterfalls in Missouri, our state is full of wondrous treasures. But if you’re going to go by strict definitions, Missouri has seven natural wonders, and we have a road trip where you can visit them all! You’ll see natural bridges, man-made wonders, intriguing geological formations, and so much more. Happy travels!
What are some unique road trips in Missouri?
If our weekend road trip to see the best waterfalls in Missouri got you inspired, you’ll love these unique road trip adventures, as well! We have a road trip to Missouri’s glorious water mills that will take you to some of the most charming parts of the state. If you don’t mind getting a little spooked, then this haunted road trip through Missouri is the road trip for you. An old mansion, winery, and prison are just a few of the haunted places you’ll discover on this thrilling trip! In the same (creepy) vein, this road trip travels to some truly spooky abandoned places in Missouri. An abandoned amusement park, haunted hotel, and downright creepy brewery are just a few of the desolate places you’ll come across. And for a delightful journey to the heart of Missouri, be sure to check out our small towns road trip, which visits some truly winsome little towns.
Does Missouri have many waterfalls?
With the mighty Missouri River running through The Show-Me State, there are some truly remarkable waterfalls here! Missouri has several hidden waterfalls, many of which are places not even locals know about! The thing about Missouri waterfalls is that they’re all quality falls – the kind of Platonic Ideal of waterfalls with multi-level cascades, rushing waters, and varied topography. You can explore some of the very best waterfalls in Missouri on this epic waterfall road trip.
