# Ozark loop: Branson, Eureka Springs and Crystal Bridges

> 4-day road trip of about 232 km (144 mi) with 9 stops, from Springfield to Bentonville. About 2 h 35 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b19-branson-bentonville/

**At a glance:** 4-day road trip of about 232 km (144 mi) with 9 stops, from Springfield to Bentonville. About 2 h 35 min of driving in total. Civil War battlefields, trout springs, the glass Thorncrown Chapel and a major art museum between Springfield, Branson and Bentonville.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 232 km (144 mi) |
| Driving | 2 h 35 min |
| Suggested days | 4 |
| Stops | 9 |
| Route | Springfield → Bentonville |
| States | MO, AR |
| Updated | May 8, 2026 |

## Route description

From Springfield, drive south-west on US-60 and MO-ZZ to Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, about 20 minutes away, and loop the tour road. Then take US-65 south to Branson, about an hour, a resort town of music theaters on Lake Taneycomo, close to Table Rock Lake. The Branson strip, MO-76, is congested in summer and during the Christmas season; use the colored bypass routes around it.

Leave Branson west on MO-76 and MO-86 across Table Rock Lake to Roaring River State Park, south of Cassville on MO-112. The roads here wind through wooded hills and are steep in places, fine for RVs if you take it slowly. The park has a trout hatchery and campgrounds along the stream; buy a daily trout tag if you want to fish.

Continue south across the state line on winding back roads to Eureka Springs, a Victorian spa town built on steep hillsides. Park your RV at the edge of town and ride the trolley, as the streets are narrow and winding. Thorncrown Chapel lies just west of town on US-62. Beaver Lake and the Beaver Dam area to the west are good for camping and water sports.

US-62 then heads west to Pea Ridge National Military Park near Garfield, about 45 minutes from Eureka Springs. From there take US-62 and I-49 south to Bentonville, the home of Walmart and of Crystal Bridges, which is free to enter. Trails from the museum lead to downtown Bentonville’s square. Spring and autumn colors are the highlight in these hills; winter can bring ice.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Springfield** (MO)
2. **Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield** (Republic, MO): The first major Civil War battle west of the Mississippi was fought here in 1861. An 8 km tour road with stops loops the battlefield, and it is popular with cyclists early in the day.
3. **Branson** (MO)
4. **Roaring River State Park** (Cassville, MO): A deep blue spring pours from a cave-like cliff pool into a stocked trout stream in a steep Ozark hollow. Trout fishing requires a daily tag; the park road has steep grades for RVs.
5. **Eureka Springs** (AR)
6. **Thorncrown Chapel** (Eureka Springs, AR): A glass and timber chapel in the woods designed by E. Fay Jones in 1980, often ranked among the best American buildings of its time. Open to visitors most days from March to December; donation.
7. **Pea Ridge National Military Park** (Garfield, AR): A 1862 Civil War battle that kept Missouri in the Union, toured on an 11 km one-way road with overlooks and the restored Elkhorn Tavern. The road is fine for RVs.
8. **Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art** (Bentonville, AR): A museum of American art from colonial portraits to today, built over a spring-fed creek in a wooded ravine by Moshe Safdie. Entry to the permanent collection is free, and the grounds include a Frank Lloyd Wright house.
9. **Bentonville** (AR)

## FAQs

**How long is Ozark loop: Branson, Eureka Springs and Crystal Bridges?**
4-day road trip of about 232 km (144 mi) with 9 stops, from Springfield to Bentonville. About 2 h 35 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Ozark loop: Branson, Eureka Springs and Crystal Bridges?**
We suggest 4 days: about 2 h 35 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Ozark loop: Branson, Eureka Springs and Crystal Bridges start and end?**
It starts in Springfield and ends in Bentonville.

**Which states does Ozark loop: Branson, Eureka Springs and Crystal Bridges pass through?**
Missouri and Arkansas.