Branson Getaway and Hotel Guide

Since the turn of the 20th century, Branson, Missouri, has attracted visitors with its abundance of outdoor recreational activities and surprising array of live entertainment options.

Following the 1907 publication of Harold Bell Wright’s novel, The Shepherd of the Hills, readers flocked to the Ozarks to learn more about the characters in the novel, which is now the 4th most widely read book in publishing history. The year 1954 brought Red Foley, the legendary country singer, and with his entertainment industry cache, went on to host the “Ozark Jubilee," one of the first, successful network television shows.

The area was changed forever when in 1959 the Table Rock Dam was built, finally bringing power to the area and enabling building and growth that has never stopped.

Clearly, the seven million visitors per annum know something. In addition to Branson’s untamed beauty and abundance of recreational activity, its own Convention & Visitors Bureau calls the Branson Lakes Area the "Live Entertainment Capital of the World." Branson offers an enormous entertainment schedule, with 40 theaters and 80 daily shows, providing primarily large production shows and comedy. The diversity of the entertainment draws both individuals and groups, attracting such legends as Andy Williams, Bobby Vinton, Mel Tillis, the Platters, Tony Orlando and the Osmond Brothers. Besides live entertainment, year-round festivals, a thriving arts and crafts community, and museums ensure every visitor will get a taste of the Branson Lakes Area culture.

Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, the area is surrounded by three spectacular lakes that offer water enthusiasts a wide range of recreational opportunities, from world-class fishing to parasailing and every water sport in between. From fishing, hiking, biking, and canoeing, golf, horseback riding and more, Branson provides an endless array of recreational options for the kids you may have and the kid in all of us. The combination of water and land sports, shopping and family theme parks, offers something for everyone.

The weather in Branson is typical of the Midwest, with mild temperatures in spring and fall, moderate winter snowfalls and long summer days with an average temperature of 78 degrees.

The Springfield/Branson Regional Airport services all of Southwest Missouri, with six airlines and 70 daily arrivals and departures, and is located just 43 miles from Branson. Branson is less than a day’s drive from half of the country’s population, conveniently located in Southwest Missouri, 11 miles north of the Arkansas border and 39 miles south of I-44 and Springfield, Missouri. Easily accessed off US Highway 65, Branson is about 250 miles from St. Louis and 220 miles from Kansas City.

The Branson Lakes Area offers approximately 23,000 hotel, motel, bed & breakfast, resort and condominium units, plus 5,000 camping spaces. Whether you wish to stay downtown, or on "The Strip," nestle yourself in a remote log cabin lakeside, or try your hand at real primitive camping (regular campsites are provided), Branson will provide ideal accommodations, whatever your wish or desire, whether traveling solo or with the whole family. The infamous lakes are Table Rock Lake, Lake Taneycomo and Bull Shoals Lake.

Branson has a very small downtown. "The Strip," also known as West Highway 76 and 76 Country Boulevard, starts downtown, traveling five miles from east to west until the end of the main commercial offerings. Many hotels, restaurants, theaters and shopping malls can be found along this artery. The road then continues another eight miles to Highway 13 in Branson West. Silver Dollar City and The Shepherd of the Hills can be found along this stretch of Highway 76.

Primarily a leisure destination, accommodation selection truly depends on the type of vacation the traveler wants to experience.

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