The Missouri Ozarks offer more than just a history lesson— bubbling springs, lush forests, high cliffs, caves, and rivers traverse the St. Francois Mountains.

Want to plan a weekend trip? The Ozarks are a great getaway from either St. Louis or Kansas City. The only real difference is the starting point. One would begin at Lake of the Ozarks (closer to Kansas City) while the other would begin at the Onondaga Cave State Park. You could theoretically do the itinerary in one day, but it would 16 hours round trip. I would recommend either camping out under the stars or finding a hotel/motel room in one of the small towns nearby.