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BEST RATED SPRINGFIELD, MO PLACES TO SEE

3 Best Places To See in Springfield, MO

Expert-recommended Top 3 Places To Visit in Springfield, Missouri. All of our places to see actually face a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which includes customer reviews, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost and general excellence. You deserve only the best!

Wonders Of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium - Springfield, MO Places To See - Destination Image
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6+ YEARS IN TBR
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WONDERS OF WILDLIFE NATIONAL MUSEUM & AQUARIUM

(5.0 Score)
500 West Sunshine Street,
Springfield, MO 65807 Directions

Since 2018

Specialty:

✓Aquarium ✓Field Trips ✓Ed Venture Camps ✓Birthday Ed Ventures ✓Family Overnights ✓Volunteer Program ✓Exhibiting Partners ✓Tours and Experiences ✓Schools Tour ✓Youth Tours ✓Wildlife Galleries ✓Animal Encounters ✓Penguin Encounter

"Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium shares immersive wildlife experiences with tourists through a genuine, informative, and enjoyable celebration of wildlife conservation. The aquarium is also called the Johnny Morris Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium. The aquarium is a 350,000-square-foot experience that celebrates people who hunt, fish, and act as stewards of the land and water. The aquarium aims to create one of the most admired and respected conservation and education organizations. Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium consists of a 1.5-million-gallon aquarium showcasing 35,000 live fish, mammals, reptiles, and birds. Through fishing, hunting, and outdoor recreation, they can ensure that they protect wildlife for future generations.

2026 Highlights: Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium offers free parking for visitors."

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Price:

MEMBERSHIP LEVELS:
Child Annual Membership: $60
Adult Annual Membership: $90
4-Pack Membership: $325
Dual Property Child Membership: $105
Dual Property Adult Membership: $155

Discount:

10% Off Food & Beverage Purchases (Excludes Alcoholic Beverages) for Members

10% Off Gift Shop Merchandise for Members

10% Off Scooter Rentals for Members

Offered Guest Admission for Members

10% Off Educational Programs for Members

10% Off Tours & Encounters for Members

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Contact:

(800) 456-4812 (888) 222-6060

Mon-Sun: 9am - 7pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

Dickerson Park Zoo - Springfield, MO Places To See - Destination Image
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11+ YEARS IN TBR
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DICKERSON PARK ZOO

(4.9 Score)
1401 West Norton Road,
Springfield, MO 65803 Directions

Since 1923

Specialty:

✓Zoological Parks ✓Membership ✓Outdoor Activities ✓Zoo Events ✓Aquariums ✓Outreach Group ✓Environmental Conservation ✓Group Tours ✓Mammals ✓Animal Encounters ✓Birthday Parties ✓Education Program ✓On-site Mini Classes ✓Conservation Programs ✓Wildlife Zooniversity ✓Zoo To You Outreach ✓Distance Learning ✓Zoo Camps

"Dickerson Park Zoo is home to 500 animals that represent 160 different species. The zoo is an accredited member institution of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Friends of the Zoo of Springfield, Missouri, Inc., is a nonprofit organization with aim of helping make Dickerson Park Zoo a first-class facility. The zoo connects people with animals to develop curiosity, encourage discovery, and inspire conservation action. Dickerson Park Zoo connects people with animals to create adventures that encourage discovery and inspire conservation action. Free parking is available at Dickerson Park Zoo. The café and gift shop are also open. Dickerson Park Zoo offers free admission for children aged two and younger and friends of the zoo.

2026 Highlights: Dickerson Park Zoo members receive guest passes through the PassPlay app, valid for daily admission (excluding special events)."

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Price:

Admission Fees
Adultteen (Age 13 And Older): $19
Children (Age 3 To 12): $14
Senior (Age 60 And Older): $16

Discount:

10% Off at The Safari Trading Company and The Bush Country Café for Members

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Contact:

(417) 833-1570 (417) 864-1800

Mon-Sun: 9am - 5pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

Springfield Botanical Gardens - Springfield, MO Places To See - Destination Image
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11+ YEARS IN TBR
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SPRINGFIELD BOTANICAL GARDENS

(4.8 Score)
2400 South Scenic Avenue,
Springfield, MO 65807 Directions

Specialty:

✓Botanical and Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden ✓Events ✓Venue Rentals ✓Education ✓Butterfly House ✓Gray/Campbell Farmstead ✓Tour The Gardens Online ✓Friends Of The Garden ✓Themed Gardens ✓Arboretum ✓Garden Tours ✓Garden Map ✓Botanical Center ✓Gift Shop

“Springfield Botanical Gardens is a 114-acre site with several gardens and a butterfly house that offers plant demonstrations and education. The Botanical Center is home to the MU Extension, Friends of the Garden, Springfield Sister Cities Association, Greene County Master Gardeners, and the Springfield-Greene County Park Board's botanical staff. The Master Gardeners Demonstration Gardens and Hotline include an ornamental shrub and perennial border, themed herb beds, Missouri native plants, turf plots, and a kitchen garden. The garden aims to provide the very best in parks and recreation facilities, programs, events, and services to its community. The garden will make a positive impact on the overall quality of life, health, environmental, social, and economic aspects for its resident families and visitors alike. Springfield Botanical Gardens hosts special events, classes, and exhibits.”

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Price:

Admission ( Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden):
Adults: $6
Children 3 To 12 Years $4
Groups Of 10 Or More(Per Person) $5

Contact:

(417) 891-1515

Mon-Sat: 8am - 8pm
Sun: 11am - 6pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

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WONDERS OF WILDLIFE NATIONAL MUSEUM & AQUARIUM REVIEWS

We had a great day at the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum. The wildlife exhibits were nice and had great conservation information. I thought some of the exhibits were a little too dark but I still enjoyed them. I absolutely loved the aquarium. All aspects of it were great. I was mesmerized by the different jellyfish aquariums. The albino alligator was pretty cool too! There were places to snack throughout. We stopped halfway through and had a couple pulled pork tacos and coleslaw, both were very quite good! Gotta love creamy coleslaw, especially with pulled pork. The last part of the museum contained impressive wildlife videos and photography from around the world. We spent a few hours there but could have easily spent more.

There are few places as special, vast, or detailed as this that I have experienced in my lifetime thus far. Everything is meticulously presented with dozens of hand painted landscapes within world class dioramas containing precision-perfect taxidermy. The historical depth and storytelling is fascinating, the collection is beyond impressive, and the overarching theme and responsibility we all have to preserve and conserve wildlife, national parks, and really any land around us. Be ready to spend several hours here and just when you think it's about to end, you are about halfway through. Definitely felt like I got my money's worth.

Amazing adventure. The tour was really amazing. So many fishes and animals to see, plus historical pictures of famous folks. They structured it so you don't go round to the same wildlife you saw before. Very methodically set. Great great outing.

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DICKERSON PARK ZOO REVIEWS

Wonderful little zoo! My husband and I went for our anniversary and it was fun! I love that the zoo offers it's own tour of the whole zoo via signs. You don't really need a map, follow the zoo tour signs all over and it takes you through the whole zoo! Love that concept! My husband and I love zoos and had never been to one with its own tour! Makes it easy. The only downfall to that is while we were there, there were parts of the zoo under construction so the tour signs were misleading only because we couldn't follow it to certain areas and had to back track to see all the animals. TIP: There are maps in the gift shop, so maybe drop in there and grab one if there is still construction. The day we went was a perfect 65°F day and the animals were out and enjoying the weather with us! Our favorite part was the giraffe area. You can purchase greens to feed them and they know it so they all line up and stick there heads through the wooden structure and we got to feed about 3 different adult giraffes. It was VERY COOL!! I would highly recommend! Gift shop has a lot of good stuff too! Always fun to find souvenirs and things to remember our trip! Thank you Dickerson Park for being a great place to visit.

Very nice, just the right size zoo. The weather was great when we went so we saw just about every animal there. They were all beautiful and seemed well kept. The zoo was clean and the staff was all very polite. We loved seeing the peacocks all over the park in addition to getting to meet a donkey who was being taken on a walk around the zoo grounds. Very cool place fir a few hours with the fam.

Friendly, helpful staff. Well laid out walking paths with maps and lots of signage. Great variety of animals. Everything looks clean and well maintained. Plenty of picnic tables throughout the park to stop and rest and have a snack or lunch. Kids all had a great time.

SPRINGFIELD BOTANICAL GARDENS REVIEWS

Highly recommend visiting. I was very impressed by everything these gardens had to offer. The winter garden was my favorite part of the gardens. I love hydrangeas and this has a ton of different oak leaf and pinnacle variety! I loved that it had a more natural feel and wasn’t highly refined and picture perfect. We loved getting to see the butterfly house as well. I’m also a big fan of David Austin Roses so loved seeing those tucked away throughout the gardens (maybe a few more :) ). Thank you for the beautiful gardens and highly recommended! Go visit all of the different areas of the gardens.

This place is beautiful and huge so much I didn't get to see all of it. They have events, celebrations and public Tours for anyone who wants to do it. They will teach you about Missouri Natives Plants a master's of it is available Spring to Fall. There's a Japanese Garden Park there as well I haven't seen myself yet since I was late in the year to discover it, and in the winter they have to shut up the area in the cold weather.

The garden is free, except for the Japanese friendship garden. It's beautiful and has many walkways. There is also a beautiful lake.

TBR® Inspection Score Report

WONDERS OF WILDLIFE NATIONAL MUSEUM & AQUARIUM Total Inspection Points: 119/120
Business Hours: 9
Acknowledgments: 10
Business Images: 10
Complete Info: 10
Contact Info: 10
Exact Services: 10
Experience: 10
Legitimate Ratings: 10
Location Proximity: 10
Social Media: 10
Video: 10
Website Source: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

DICKERSON PARK ZOO Total Inspection Points: 117/120
Business Hours: 9
Contact Info: 9
Legitimate Ratings: 9
Acknowledgments: 10
Business Images: 10
Complete Info: 10
Exact Services: 10
Experience: 10
Location Proximity: 10
Social Media: 10
Video: 10
Website Source: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

SPRINGFIELD BOTANICAL GARDENS Total Inspection Points: 116/120
Complete Info: 9
Contact Info: 9
Legitimate Ratings: 9
Social Media: 9
Acknowledgments: 10
Business Hours: 10
Business Images: 10
Exact Services: 10
Experience: 10
Location Proximity: 10
Pricing: 10
Video: 10