Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium sits at 500 W. Sunshine Street. The 350,000-square-foot attraction offers 1.5 miles of immersive trails. Visitors can explore wildlife galleries and a 1.5-million-gallon aquarium with 35,000 live animals. USA TODAY readers have voted it America’s Best Aquarium. Because a full visit takes three to four hours, plan ahead. Hours vary by season, and last entry is 15 minutes before closing. Parking is free.
Dickerson Park Zoo is home to more than 500 animals from five continents. Guests can feed giraffes from the giraffe deck, visit the Outback Corral petting zoo, and ride the Titus Express miniature train. In addition, the Jumping Jewels water feature offers a cool break in warm weather. The zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from March through October and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from November through February. It closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Parking in the zoo’s lot is free.
The Springfield Botanical Gardens sit inside the 113-acre Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park at 2400 S. Scenic Avenue. Dozens of themed gardens feature hostas, daylilies, irises, peonies, roses, and native plants. The 7.5-acre Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden, created in 1985, adds a koi lake, a moon bridge, and a tea house. Meanwhile, the Roston Native Butterfly House opens from April through October. The gardens are open from sunrise to sunset, and most areas are free. However, the Japanese garden charges a small admission fee. Check the Park Board’s page for current hours.
The History Museum on the Square sits on historic Route 66 at 154 Park Central Square. Its galleries cover Springfield’s native crossroads, the Civil War, Wild Bill Hickok and the American West, and the Birthplace of Route 66. Visitors can ride the Trolley Time Machine and try a recreation of the first Wild West shootout. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. It is closed Monday and Tuesday. Adult admission is $16, and free parking is available at the corner of Olive Street and Boonville Avenue.
Springfield is the Birthplace of Route 66. On April 30, 1926, a telegram sent from the Colonial Hotel proposed the highway’s name. For the 2026 centennial, Springfield dedicated Birthplace Plaza, with new historical markers, at Jefferson Avenue and Park Central East. In addition, the Springfield 66 Centennial Sculpture Series offers a self-guided route to Route 66 sculptures across the city. The free Birthplace of Route 66 Festival returns each August, and the 2026 festival ran August 7 and 8. The privately owned Route 66 Car Museum, at College Street and Kansas Expressway, shows off a collection of classic cars.
The Gillioz Theatre at 325 Park Central East opened in 1926, the same year Route 66 received its name. The National Register of Historic Places listed the theatre in 1991. Today, this restored venue hosts concerts, comedy, film screenings, and family shows. For example, its 2026 fall calendar includes a Rocky Horror Picture Show screening. Check the theatre’s events page for tickets and dates.
The Discovery Center of Springfield at 438 E. St. Louis Street is a hands-on science center with 60,000 square feet of exhibits on six floors. Fifteen galleries cover everything from dinosaurs to the human body and the moon. Kids can also try the High Wire Bike and the Minecraft exhibit. The center is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It closes on Mondays and major holidays. Daily admission works as an all-day pass, and Halloween at the Museum runs October 24, 2026.
Fantastic Caverns at 4872 N. Farm Road 125 offers America’s only ride-through cave tour. Guests ride a tram through the passages while guides explain the formations and the cave’s history, including its days as a Prohibition-era speakeasy. Hours vary by season, and recent hours ran from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with the last tour leaving at 6 p.m. The cave closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Therefore, check the cave’s website for current hours and tour tickets.
Route 66 Stadium, formerly Hammons Field, sits at 955 E. Trafficway in downtown Springfield. The ballpark took its new name in 2026 to honor the Route 66 centennial. It is home to the Springfield Cardinals, the Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. The team plays its home schedule from spring through September, and the ballpark holds about 10,000 fans. Check the team’s website for the 2027 schedule and tickets.
These things to do in Springfield Missouri blend wildlife, history, and Route 66 nostalgia. Start at Wonders of Wildlife and the zoo, then head downtown to the History Museum and Birthplace Plaza. After that, catch a show at the Gillioz or ride through Fantastic Caverns. Because hours and seasons change, check each website before you go.