Ozark is a small community located in southwestern Missouri. Since it was first settled in 1818, its population has grown slowly to 21,000 residents. This town, which is the seat of Christian County, initially drew settlers because of the abundant wildlife for hunting, including bears and elk. Ozark's early economy was also rooted in zinc and lead mining, but these activities started to wane in the early 1900s. Today, the primary economic activity is centered around telecommunications.
There are several opportunities for fun in the local area. For example, the Springfield-Ozark Mountain Ducks play regularly at Price Cutter Park. The Stained Glass Theater and a movie theater on Route 14 provide entertainment. Finley River Park is a popular spot for group sports, swimming, picnicking, hiking, and biking. The Smallin Civil War Cave is open for tours just north of the city limits. Beyond the tours, it also has numerous Civil War artifacts and themed events throughout the year. At Finley Farms, you can tour an old mill, explore the working farm, and enjoy a farm-to-table meal. If you are a history buff, Historic Courthouse Square is home to the famed Belltower Chapel, which was constructed in 1912.
If you venture just outside of Ozark, you will find the Lake Springfield Park and Boathouse, which offers opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and fishing. Only a few miles away from the lake, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame has many fascinating exhibits. When the weather is nice, the Gardens at Woodfield is a lovely place to enjoy the great outdoors. It boasts numerous well-maintained gardens with walking trails and benches to relax and take in the flora.
Campgrounds Near Ozark, Missouri
At the family-owned Lambert's Café RV Park, you can enjoy all of the comforts of home and be only steps away from great meals at Lambert's Café. This is a smaller park with 34 pull-through sites. Both wireless internet access and full hookups are available. This is a year-round RV park that has several rental options. These include $32.51 nightly, $189.62 weekly, and $600 monthly.
At Paradise in the Woods RV Park, you can enjoy a rustic, quiet atmosphere with a great selection of amenities. The grounds feature gravel roads and level RV pads. The 42 RV sites are properly spaced and have full hook-up service. Essentials like restrooms with showers, wireless internet access, and a propane filling station are available. In addition, you can take advantage of outdoor games, a fishing spot, a swimming pool, and a horseshoe pit when you visit. The rates are $30 per night, $150 per week, and $250 per month.
In nearby Springfield, you will find Cooks RV Motor Park. Spread across the well-manicured grounds, the 25 large RV sites are available with wireless internet access and come with full hookups. Some of these sites are shaded by mature trees, and both back-in and pull-through sites are offered for your convenience. With gravel roads and pads, the park has a rustic charm. Some of the amenities available at Cooks RV Motor Park include a bathhouse, a laundry room, and a dog wash station. The sites at this park are available for $40 nightly.
State Parks Near Ozark, Missouri
Withrow Springs State Park sits just south of the Missouri-Arkansas state line. Its 786 acres are on the banks of War Eagle Creek. This creek is popular for float trips, and many of these trips originate within the park. Visitors to Withrow Springs State Park also take advantage of the 5-mile hiking trail system. You will also find campsites, picnic tables, a group pavilion, a gift shop, softball fields, and tennis courts at this state park.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park is a fascinating destination that offers varied landscapes and historical remnants. It covers roughly 3,700 acres near Lake of the Ozarks. The remains of a mansion built with European castle architecture are a top draw for many visitors. After touring the mansion's grounds, you can explore caves, a large spring, sinkholes, bluffs, and the 70-acre Ha Ha Tonka Karst Natural Area. Many of these areas are accessible via the 15-mile trail system. Picnicking, boating, fishing, and swimming are also available.
Lake Fort Smith State Park sits on 260 acres in northwestern Arkansas. The lake is in the Boston Mountains, so you can enjoy a rolling, green landscape with mature trees and water views. Lake Fort Smith offers numerous amenities. These include a patio with an outdoor fireplace, a meeting room, campsites with cabins, picnic tables, a gift shop, and a pavilion. In addition, when you visit the park, you can appreciate a gift shop, a large visitor center with numerous exhibits, a swimming pool, rental boats at the marina, a playground, and a boat ramp.
National Sites Near Ozark, Missouri
The Buffalo National River is a highlight of the region's landscape. This 135-mile river starts in the scenic Boston Mountains. From this highland setting, you can explore sinkholes, springs, bluffs, caves, and waterfalls. Farther down the river, the landscape levels out. This area is recognized for having the only elk herd in the state. There are also more than 300 species of water plants and animals in and near the river. Canoeing, floating, hiking, fishing, and camping are outdoor activity options at the Buffalo National River.
George Washington Carver National Monument celebrates the life and accomplishments of this historical figure. When the monument was built in 1943, it made history as the first of its kind, honoring an African American. Carver has an NAACP Spring Arn Medal. He is also known for authoring 105 recipes featuring peanuts and serving as a professor at Tuskegee Institute. In addition, he identified a way to minimize soil depletion by alternating crops. At the monument, you can take a stroll on a nature trail to explore the 240-acre grounds, which include hills, prairies, and woods. You can also tour Carver's boyhood home and check out the interactive exhibits and film at the museum.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways is an 80,000-acre space in southeastern Missouri that protects several waterways and surrounding habitats. Notably, the area is home to wild horses and elk. On the Current River and Jacks Fork River, you can enjoy tubing, rafting, and boating. The grounds are also used for horseback riding, photography, camping, birdwatching, hunting, hiking, and fishing.
National Forests Near Ozark, Missouri
Mark Twain National Forest is one of several pristine woodlands in the area. This forest in southern Missouri covers three million acres and is home to a portion of the St. Francis River. On this river, kayaking and fishing are popular. Greer Spring, the largest of its kind in the area, is also in the forest. You can explore the forest comfortably from your car on the Top Trail National Scenic Byway, which provides 30-mile vistas in some areas. For a more intimate look at the landscape, you can bike or hike on the Ozark Trail system.
Located on 1.7 million acres in eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas, the Ouachita National Forest features steep hills with a beautiful range of oak species and other trees. Because this forest has never been logged, you can appreciate the grandeur of old-growth trees during your visit. If you take the Talimena Scenic Drive into the Rich Mountains, you can gain a deeper appreciation for the forest's natural beauty. The forest is popular for mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, backpacking, and hiking.
The Ozark and St. Francis National Forests are under joint administration, but they are distinct areas with unique landscapes and wildlife. The woods span over Crowley's Ridge and the grand Ozark Mountains. Numerous species of pine and oak can be found here. Amidst the forests, there are a 395-mile trail system, 23 campgrounds, 370 miles of waterways, and nine lovely swimming spots. These old-growth forests also are home to the Buffalo National River, the Scenic 7 Byway, Blanchard Springs Caverns, the Mulberry River, and the Mount Magazine Byway.
