Located within the northern part of the Ozarks in central Missouri, the Lake of Ozarks is a reservoir established by shutting up the Osage River in 1931.
It comprises three smaller rivers, namely the Niangua River, Grandglaize Creek, and Gravois Creek, which are all involved in this impoundment.
The Lake of the Ozarks has an almost 90-year history but has developed into one of the top vacation centers in Missouri.
It features over 1,100 miles of shoreline that outlines it, while its water is often a significant tourist attraction for every visitor. As a result, it is one of the best base camps for activity in Missouri.
There are so many best and fun things to do in Lake of Ozark, including boating, visiting the Lake of Ozarks State Park, learning some Golf Courses, witnessing the Bagnell Dam, and exploring the Bridal Cave, the Ha Ha Tonka State Park, and so on.
Trust me, you will never get bored when you’re in the Lake of the Ozarks as there are plenty exiting things to engage with!
20 Fun Things to Do In Lake of the Ozarks
1. Lake of the Ozarks State Park
The Lake of the Ozarks State Park is the most spacious park in Missouri and lies around the southeast Grand Glaize arm of Lake of the Ozarks.
It features lakeside campsites through which you can quickly gain access to the lush Ozark Mountain landscapes.
When you sleep over, the best way you can access every nook and corner of the park’s 17,000 acres and miles of shoreline. Yes, it is that large. You will find two State Park Marinas at each end of the Ozarks, offering almost all required to give you a fun-filled day.
The two park marinas feature boat rentals, fishing supplies, and several inside information on fishing. In addition, there are sandy beaches, which are among the top beaches in Missouri.
The State Park also offers hiking activities featuring a 13-mile Trail of Four Winds, which will serve you enough exercise and a perfect view of the Lake.
There are also other notable shorter hikes around the southeast region of the park, which offer more family-friendly activities.
You will also find a unique 10-mile Aquatic Trail, providing interpretive tips to boaters. You have several lodging choices to make, like cabins and yurts.
Address: 403 MO 134, Kaiser, Missouri
2. Golf Courses
If you are in or outside Missouri city, you can always visit the Lake of the Ozarks to participate in one of its most exciting and educative endeavors, ‘Golf Courses.’
There is a wide range of courses to select from, including lakeside courses with expansive views.
You will not only experience swinging a club at the Lake of the Ozarks golf but also witness an attractive Ozark landscape.
Irrespective of your skill levels, you will undoubtedly find amazing things to adore at the numerous golf courses you will be offered at the Lake.
The most exciting thing about the Lake of the Ozarks is that it is open to everyone irrespective of their skill level.
In addition, it features several courses that offer excellent picture golf rounds, for example, the 27 holes at Osage National Golf Resort, located in Osage Beach, an Arnold Palmer Signature Course.
Also, the zoysia fairways at Bear Creek Valley Golf Club, which you can find around, are open to public tee times.
Meanwhile, one of the best public golf courses South of Osage Beach and on the Other Side of the Lake in Camdenton.
It features a lakeside setting complete with rolling fairways, long putts, and a picturesque layout with all holes. It also houses a spa and resort.
Address: 58 Club Place, Camdenton, MO 65020, Missouri
3. Boat on Lake of the Ozarks
You can’t visit the Lake of the Ozarks without exploring its water. You are welcome to join others in fun-filled navigation of the Lake on a boat.
You can fish from the shore or enjoy the ocean views from a cozy environment. No matter what you choose to do, the water is never quite far from your perspective.
You can find outfitters such as Dirty Duck Boat Rental, which deals on boat rentals to make your boating fun and easy.
You will undoubtedly find different boats on stand-up paddleboards or completely furnished houseboats on the Lake of the Ozarks.
Several activities you can enjoy in the Lake include water-skiing, tubing, and throwing the anchor to have fun in the beautiful environment.
With boating, you can also experience fishing different fish species, amongst other species like anglers cast for crappie, bluegill, catfish, walleye, and bass.
Address: 107 Village Marina Rd. Lake Ozark, MO 65026, Missouri
4. Bagnell Dam
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see the Bagnell Dam, which is the brains behind the Lakes of the Ozarks.
The dam was built and completed in 1931, occupies over 2,500 feet, and covers the Osage River. The fantastic construction generates hydroelectric power and a sizeable watery landscape, otherwise known as the Lake of the Ozarks.
You and some other visitors are free to visit the Bagnell Dam to explore and pay to adore the brains behind its great works. The Bagnell Dam Overlook over the Upper Power Plant Road offers a fantastic structure overlook.
On the other end of the dam lies the Bagnell Strip, which provides classic summer fun. The Bagnell Dam Strip in the Dam also features family-friendly restaurants, fantastic shops, and the Hot Summer Nights motor festival.
As long as the Bagnell Dam is concerned, you will never regret your trip to the Lake of Ozarks.
Address: 1500 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Lake Ozark, MO 65049, Missouri
5. Bridal Cave
Are you searching for a fun thing to do in Missouri? Have you thought about coming to the Lake of the Ozarks to explore its famous cave, otherwise known as the Bridal Cave?
You can find this cave close to the city of Camdenton, and it is ideal for young explorers and seasoned journeymen.
You can tour through the cave with your lantern to explore its wonders. The Bridal Cave possesses a long history, which goes beyond centuries even before the Lake of the Ozarks was built.
This cave, meanwhile, played a significant role in the culture and folklore of the Osage Native American people, thereby giving the cave its recent name and tales.
You can get more tips about the cave’s history by visiting any of its hour-long guided tours provided all through the day.
Unfortunately, the only way to explore the cave is through guided tours, as they are offered yearly. In addition, its temperatures often remain around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, courtesy of the underground nature of the cave.
Again, when you go through the guided route, you will find that it features giant columns, sensitive soda straws, and mysterious lakes, thereby making the Bridal Cave rate among the top attractions at Lake of the Ozarks every year.
Try visiting the Bridal cave, and you’ll never lack excuses as to why you must visit the Lake of the Ozarks.
Address: 526 Bridal Cave Road, Camdenton, Missouri
6. Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Ha Ha Tonka State Park is located just south of the Bagnell Dam, close to Camdenton, and towards the shore of the Niangua arm of the Lake of the Ozarks.
It is one of the most outstanding parks in the entire Missouri city and features amazing scenery of Ozark and a fantastic view into a wrecked history.
Ha Ha Tonka consists of over 3,000 acres of Karst and woodland attractions. It offers exciting land routines like hiking, backpacking, and exploring geological features, namely sinkholes, caves, and a natural bridge.
You are also free to explore other of its water activities like boating, fishing, and swimming.
Along the northwest entrance of Ha Ha Tonka State Park, the wrecked remnants of the early 20th-century castle present a fantastic feature of this famous park. Its ghostly castle fence date as far back as the start of the 1900s.
In addition, the skyscraper building, which later became a hotel, was burned during the 1940s, and its wrecks have become the center of attraction for most tourists to Ha Ha Tonka State Park.
Address: 1491 State Road D, Camdenton, Missouri
7. The Historic Willmore Lodge
In your spare time, you can try to visit the Lake of the Ozarks to witness one of its most famous tourist sites, otherwise known as The Historic Willmore Lodge.
You can find this beautiful place on the National Register of Historic Places, and it houses the Lake of the Ozarks Visitors Center.
If it is your first time visiting the Lake of the Ozarks, then the Willmore Lodge is an ideal option, primarily as it houses a museum that displays the history of the Bagnell Dam close by.
The Willmore Lodge is an incredible-looking wooden-log building covered by water and built by Union Electric in 1930 (the same time as the dam).
You can visit the lodge and join other visitors to enjoy the wonders of the architecture and enrich your visit to the Lake of the Ozarks with historical features about the center.
The lodge also features a visitor center, which will offer many more exciting things to explore in the area.
However, with any stoppage, the Willmore Lodge offers you a panoramic view of the Lake, the same as when you climb the stairs that will lead to the observation deck.
You can always access the lodge and visitor center, as they are open to visitors year in and out.
Address: 1 Willmore Ln, Lake Ozark, Missouri
8. The Swinging Bridges of Brumley
The Swinging Bridges of Brumley is situated inside the southeast boundary of the Lake of the Ozarks State Park, just close to the little Brumley locality. It is a double steel-suspension bridge that has become ever popularly renowned and remains one of the best tourist sites.
Meanwhile, the two bridges stood 414 foot Grand Auglaize and the 134 foot Miller Creek Bridge constructed by Joseph A.
Dice during the 1930s. He (Dice) was a famous engineer and builder of the swinging bridge from Missouri and is well known in history for designing bridges in eyeballing patterns.
It doesn’t matter what method he adopts; you can still drive over the Auglaize Bridge’s loose planks.
Meanwhile, the whole area that encapsulates the bridge features a dense woodland ripe for an activity like swimming in the shallow parts of the Auglaize Creek or utilizing the local camping sites you see on its banks.
Address: Glaze Township, MO 65017, USA
9. Big Surf Waterpark
You won’t find anything that can compare with the heat of the Missouri summer quite like daytime at Big Surf Waterpark. You can find the Big Surf Waterpark just south of Osage Beach and Lake of the Ozarks State Park center.
You can witness its raging rapids, lazy rivers, and various water attractions. Irrespective of your age and swimming abilities, you are free to grace the Big Surf Waterpark.
Big Surf also features two of the most fantastic water rides: the three-story-high Zambezi Falls water halfpipe and the 30-foot wide Space Bowl, which patrons fall into.
As long as you are in the Big Surf Waterpark, you must partake in the 375,000-gallon wave pool session and test its aquatic obstacle, one of its courses.
In addition, the waterpark has concessions at the Surfside Grill, such as corn dogs, pizza, and hamburgers, amongst others.
Address: 954 State Hwy Y, Linn Creek, Missouri
10. Stark Caverns Oz
The Stark Caverns is another attraction center you shouldn’t miss in Lake of the Ozarks. It was established and has been in existence for more than 50 years now.
You can join other visitors to grace the place, as you will undoubtedly find lots of attractions that would interest you in the Stark Caverns.
It features terrific attractions ranging from tours of the caverns and cave formations, illuminated with electric lighting to save natural darkness, and zip lines with the Mill Creek Canyon course. Different pathways will lead you to the caverns.
This pathway moves up to overlook points where you can witness over 60 miles on a broad day at Stark Mountain or explore from the top of one of its two mountainside towers.
In addition, Stark Caverns also features rappelling (additional charge) from either an 80-foot cliff into Lake Leatherwood or down a 165-foot waterfall in Gorge of the Starks.
Address: 125 Cave Drive, Eldon, MO 65026, United States
11. Spa 54 at Old Kinderhook
Join other visitors to witness this great attraction called Spa 54 at Old Kinderhook, housed by Willmore Lodge in the Lake of the Ozarks.
The Spa 54 is a beautiful venue for you to while away your time, relax, and unwind. It offers guests many different services, especially massages, facials, and pedicures.
Talking about its pedicure services, it offers traditional manicures using quality scrub and paraffin treatment coupled with an exfoliating sea salt soak that helps eliminate dry skin cells that can result in nail problems.
The polish application completes this fantastic experience. You can enjoy all of this as you soak up views overlooking Lake James.
You can also enjoy being pampered right on-site if you’re coming to Old Kinderhook Resort Inn & Suites in the summer season. For Spa Massage, you can relax and enjoy a stress-relieving massage.
In addition, therapists are always available and skilled in Swedish, deep tissue, sports, or shiatsu methods to relax your muscles and give you a natural feeling of well-being (additional charge).
Spa 54 offers various body massaging treatments beginning with a body massage using a sugar scrub from a mixture of sugar, yogurt, and essential oils.
This mixture will help eliminate dead skin cells to show a soft, new layer. Then, an oil massage offers a more scrubbing routine that gives your skin a silky smooth feeling that you would savor.
Address: 56 Club Pl, Camdenton, MO 65020, USA
12. Air Tours
Have you ever experienced the fun of watching something attractive from up in the air? That of the Lake of the Ozarks is another new experience altogether.
Each year visitors frequent Air Tours in the Ozarks to watch the landscape of Lake of the Ozarks from up in the air.
It is undoubtedly a sight to behold and will give you a mouthwatering experience. It doesn’t stop enjoying the panoramic view of a sun-kissed landscape below, as you can also explore the historic Bagnell Dam Strip.
The Air Tours gives you a fantastic standpoint and perfect sight to view Ozark’s beautiful Lake, charming homes, and other attractions that glorify the Lake of the Ozarks.
Considering from the very top makes you witness a different level of experience. For an even better experience, you can apply for your air tour during the sunset. Don’t miss out on anything.
Address: 2101 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Lake Ozark, MO 65049, United States
13. The Wine Trail
While you are in the Lake of the Ozarks, you can find time to explore the wine trail, which also offers a beautiful adventure and experience.
Irrespective of the season, it is not a bad idea if you help yourself with a glass of fine wine coupled with gourmet food and scenic sight.
In other words, it doesn’t matter the season or weather, you can always enjoy this experience, and the Wine Trail in the Lake of the Ozarks is the perfect spot that will offer you the real experience you seek.
The unique feeling might even tempt you into spending your entire weekend at some of the wineries in the Ozarks.
Address: Casa de Loco Winery 442 Riverbird Ln, Camdenton, MO 65020, United States
14. Go-Karting
The Go-Karting activity is another fantastic experience you can get from the Lake of the Ozarks. Your age doesn’t matter with the Ozarks center, as you can enjoy the numerous attractions on offer, including the Go-Karting.
The Lake of the Ozarks’ environment is always there to bring you consciousness about your mission to the venue (vacation and relaxation).
You can come with your family and friends to compete in the Go-Karting competition, which allows you to show off your go-kart skills.
However, if you are not very skilled in driving, you can try the bumper cars, as it offers a safer route. Either way, you will have the fun of your life in the competition.
Address: Lake of the Ozarks, MO, 65020, United States
15. Parasailing
If you are still a novice in Parasailing, you still have a long way to go. However, Lake of the Ozarks offers you the opportunity to be a skilled parasailer during your free time or on your visits to Missouri.
If you parasail at the Lake of the Ozarks, you will be taken to almost 300 feet high over the scenic Lake.
It will give you a fantastic view that you have never experienced in your entire life and move you to come back for more. Furthermore, Parasailing offers an entirely family-safe sport, as it has every safety precaution and guideline.
It (the parasails) can even go as high as 500 feet of towline, thereby making you feel like you are flying over the beautiful skies. You must not miss out on Parasailing at the Ozarks, at least for the view you will see from up there.
The viewpoint offers you a way of figuring out why it is also referred to as “The Magic Dragon Lake of the Ozarks.”
Address: 1100 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Lake Ozark, MO 65049, United States
16. Watersport Lessons
In any of your visits or vacation periods in the Lake of the Ozarks, you can join others to enroll yourselves in acquiring several good new skills.
You have the opportunity to pick from different water sports, including stand-up paddle-boarding, wake-boarding, fly-boarding, rowing, and so on.
You can also come along with your family and friends to select and enroll in many Watersport Lessons.
It is one of the safest family activities and perfect for kids and adults, irrespective of age bracket. You will find fun in watching your kids enjoy learning new skills.
Not just for your kids, you can also take part in watersports to help get rid of stress and polish your balancing skills.
In addition, the entire learning process will give you a feeling of refreshment and optimism about yourself and keep your strength renewed for ages as long as you frequent the center.
Address: Lake Ozarks, MO, United States
17. The Serene Side
If you are looking for a perfect place to spend your vacation or off days at work, we recommend you visit Lake of the Ozarks, as it is an ideal spot where you can relax and chill.
It also offers many attractions and sightseeing adventures that will make your vacation worthwhile.
The Serene Side of the Ozarks, in particular, is filled with many notable fun activities, entertainment, loud music, etc.
But, as its name implies, it is serene, calming, and relaxing. It is the perfect spot to go if you want to spend some time for yourself without worrying about life.
You can easily meditate on the Serene Side, as it offers a quiet environment. Then, after that, you can decide to end it with a relaxing spa.
It is the perfect spot to read your favorite books for hours without distractions. Serene Side provides something unique for calm minds.
Address: 402 Navajo Rd, Lake Ozark, MO, United States
18. The Lake Escape Game
Lake of the Ozarks will offer you lots of things to do, and one of the most exciting and enjoyable of them is the Escape Games. It is not limited to any age bracket, as you can partake in the Escape games irrespective of your age.
The most exciting part of the games is that it is best played in groups, while most of the games can only be played by forming groups.
It is not as difficult as you may imagine, as it only requires your group to figure their way out by solving puzzles and looking for clues in just one hour.
In addition, you can get an entirely different experience of this game in the Lake of the Ozarks due to the inherent festive atmosphere and the vacation vibe that comes during this period.
The Lake Escape is widely considered the first escape game amongst other Lake of the Ozarks games and is situated at the Bagnell Dam Strip. It is undoubtedly something you shouldn’t fail to witness if you are going to the Lakes of the Ozarks in groups.
Address: 1384 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Lake Ozark, MO 65049, United States
19. The Church at Osage Hills
The Church at Osage Hills is another place you shouldn’t fail to visit in the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. In an area where nature is at its best, you cannot afford to miss out on a church. It is a center where you can witness and experience God’s presence.
Not everyone derives joy and finds fun in entertainment and meditation centers; others prefer to visit the church where they can commune with God or reference Him.
So, if you are among those that want to create a unique connection to God, then the ideal place would be the Church at Osage Hills.
There are also several activities you can involve in while you are in the church. You have to enter the place reverently, with a different feel than the other entertainment centers, and allow your spirit to flow with the energy as it goes.
You will undoubtedly come out with a renewed enthusiasm and joy you have never felt before.
Address: 5237 Osage Beach Pkwy, Osage Beach, MO 65065, United States
20. Fishing
One of the best and ideal leisure activities globally is fishing, and you won’t find a better place to do that than in the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. In this place, fishing activities are forever a classic that never ends or gets old.
Here, if you are interested in learning how to fish, you only need to visit the Lake of the Ozarks, and you won’t only be taught fishing but also start to fish as soon as possible. You will also connect faster with the Lake.
The only repercussion is that you might forget to indulge in other enjoyable activities because fishing is exciting. There are gentle and kind instructors that will lecture you on how to fish effortlessly.
Address: Lake Ozarks, MO, United States