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Missouri, United States

Branson

Live Entertainment Capital of the World; Live Music Show Capital of the World; Ozarks ent…

Overall
5.4
Connector Score
6.6
Per day
$73 from $40
Season
Peak: Summer and Nov-Dec Christmas
  • Drive
  • Bus
  • Airport
Directions

Best connected to Little Rock 3 h 21 min by car

Overview

In the Ozarks of southwest Missouri, Branson has only about 13,000 residents but millions of visitors. It bills itself as the Live Entertainment Capital of the World, and the neon strip along Highway 76 is packed with theaters, from country and gospel to comedy and Dolly Parton's Stampede.

Beyond the shows, people come for Silver Dollar City, the Titanic Museum, and the water at Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo, where trout fishing is popular. Branson Landing has a waterfront with a fountain show. Fall and Christmas seasons are especially busy, so plan ahead. Daily life is affordable, with housing and rent below what much of the country pays, and the pace off the strip is easygoing. The tradeoffs are heavy traffic on Highway 76 in peak season, winding roads at night, and severe weather: tornadoes hit in 2012, and ice storms and flash floods happen too.

Trip planning at a glance

Peak season
Summer and Nov-Dec Christmas
Nearest airport
Branson Airport (BKG), 8 miles south of downtown with limited commercial service

Highlights

  • Silver Dollar City theme park
  • live music shows on the Branson Strip (Highway 76)
  • Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo
  • Titanic Museum Attraction
  • Dolly Parton's Stampede
  • Branson Landing waterfront and fountains
  • Branson Scenic Railway
  • Top of the Rock and Big Cedar Lodge

Best connected to

Little Rock

Arkansas, United States ·

6.3
Distance
176 mi · 284 km
Drive
3 h 21 min est.
Bus
likely (not verified) · 4 h 24 min

adds national & state parks and food scene

Compare View connection

Kansas City (MO)

Missouri, United States ·

6.5
Distance
232 mi · 373 km
Drive
4 h 23 min est.
Bus
likely (not verified) · 5 h 39 min

adds food scene and pro sports

Compare View connection

Columbia (MO)

Missouri, United States ·

6.5
Distance
208 mi · 335 km
Drive
3 h 57 min est.
Bus
likely (not verified) · 5 h 7 min

adds national & state parks and food scene

Compare View connection

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Scores

Out of 10. Open any score to see how it’s worked out. “Data-based” scores come from published figures; “Hey! En Route estimate” scores are worked out from what we know about the city; “Hey! En Route rating” scores were set by our editors.

5.4/10Fair
  • Connector Score6.6

    6 worthwhile cities within three hours; reachable by road, intercity bus, air, and local transit; lodging and sights for an overnight stop. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Safety5.0

    About 600 violent crimes per 100,000 people a year; the US average is about 370. Data-based

  • Affordability7.2

    Cost of living index about 93, where the national average is 100. Data-based

  • Transportation8.0

    Reachable by: road, intercity bus, air, and local transit. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Car-free friendliness5.0

    Intercity train or bus, plus local transit and walkability. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Walkability4.3

    Estimated from city size and transit; no walkable downtown noted. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Things to do4.6

    Known for 6 kinds of attraction, with 7 annual events listed. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Food & dining3.1

    Estimated from city size and dining listings. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Places to stay4.6

    Lodging at budget, mid-range and luxury prices. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Nature & outdoors5.5

    Known for mountains & hiking, lakes & rivers. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Scenic value5.5

    From its landscape: coast, mountains, lakes and parks. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Family friendliness6.0

    Zoos, aquariums, theme parks and museums, weighted by safety. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Solo-traveler friendliness4.4

    Safety, getting around without a car, hostels, and things to do. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Nightlife3.1

    Estimated from city size and live music. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Remote-work friendliness5.0

    City size, affordability, cafés and connections. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Road-trip convenience6.2

    6 worthwhile cities within three hours’ drive, plus parking, EV charging and RV options. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Train-trip convenience1.0

    No intercity train service noted. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Bus-trip convenience7.1

    Intercity buses, with 6 nearby cities reachable by bus. Hey! En Route estimate

City info

Country
United States
State / province
Missouri
Population
12,921
Metro area
57,001
Area
56 km²
Density
232 / km²
Elevation
294 m
Founded
1882 settled; 1912 incorporated
Languages
English; some Spanish
Currency
USD
Local time
7:38 pm UTC-05:00
Power
Type A/B, 120V 60Hz
Drives on the
Right
Visitor info
explorebranson.com
Known as
Live Entertainment Capital of the World; Live Music Show Capital of the World; Ozarks entertainment hub
Airports
Branson Airport (BKG) about 8 miles south of downtown with limited commercial service; Springfield-Branson National (SGF) about 50 miles; Northwest Arkansas National (XNA) about 75 miles; Tulsa (TUL) about 170 miles
Tipping
Restaurants 18-20%; show ushers and theater staff not usually tipped; shuttle and taxi drivers 15%; hotel housekeeping $2-5 per night; tour and trolley guides $3-5; lake boat and fishing guides 15-20%

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About this data

City population is Census July 2025 estimate 12,921 (2020: 12,638); metro figure is Taney County July 2025 estimate 57,001 (Branson micropolitan area including Stone County was about 56,744 in earlier data); area, elevation and 2012 tornado from Wikipedia; coordinates approximate; hotel rates, cost of living index, crime and some event months are estimates or unverified

Last verified September 25, 2026 · Source: Research spreadsheet · Editorial ·

Neighborhoods

7 areas to know, and who each one suits.

Downtown Branson

Historic

    The Strip or Highway 76

    Neon

      Branson Landing

      Waterfront

        Hollister

        Small-town

          Table Rock Lake shoreline

          Outdoorsy

            Highway 165

            Resorts

              Lake Taneycomo

              Trout

                Where to base yourself

                • Branson Landing and downtown for walkability
                • Highway 76 Strip for shows
                • Table Rock Lake resorts for water and quiet
                • tiers: budget motels on Highway 76 and Highway 248, mid-range chains and condos, luxury Big Cedar Lodge and lake resorts

                Suburbs and neighboring towns

                Hollister (5 mi; car); Branson West (10 mi; car); Kimberling City (18 mi; car); Forsyth (20 mi; car); Merriam Woods (10 mi; car); Rockaway Beach (18 mi; car)

                What a visit costs

                Per person per day, with a room shared by two. Change anything below to fit your trip.

                Budget

                $40/day

                Lodging about $80 a night

                Mid-range

                $73/day

                Lodging about $145 a night

                Luxury

                $168/day

                Lodging about $335 a night

                Budget calculator

                Vehicle
                mpg

                These are estimates from typical prices, not quotes. Real costs vary with season, events, booking time and your own habits; taxes and fees are approximate.

                Cost of living

                For longer stays and relocation.

                Cost of living index
                93 (national average = 100)
                Typical 1-bedroom rent
                $900 a month
                Median home price
                $251,000
                Research notes

                About average to slightly below the US (index roughly 90-95, not verified); median gross rent about $961, typical 1BR $800-1,000

                Real estate

                Buying or renting long-term: prices, trends and the rules.

                Median home

                $251,000

                Mortgage calculator

                Median home value $251,000 in city and $218,800 in Taney County (Census 2020-2024); median gross rent $961 in city, $926 in county; market growing steadily with vacation-home demand

                Research notes on prices and seasons

                Budget about $60-100 per night, mid about $110-180, luxury $220-450+ (Big Cedar Lodge higher); peak season summer and Nov-Dec Christmas; shows cost $40-80 per adult; roughly $100-180 per person per day for shows, meals and attractions excluding lodging

                Where to stay

                Which part of town suits which kind of trip.

                • Branson Landing and downtown for walkability
                • Highway 76 Strip for shows
                • Table Rock Lake resorts for water and quiet
                • tiers: budget motels on Highway 76 and Highway 248, mid-range chains and condos, luxury Big Cedar Lodge and lake resorts

                Places to stay

                Nearby

                4 places outside Branson, within an easy drive.

                Top sights

                • Silver Dollar City theme park
                • live music shows on the Branson Strip (Highway 76)
                • Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo
                • Titanic Museum Attraction
                • Dolly Parton's Stampede
                • Branson Landing waterfront and fountains
                • Branson Scenic Railway
                • Top of the Rock and Big Cedar Lodge

                Known for: Mountains & hikingLakes & riversMuseums & galleriesHistoric sitesTheme & amusement parksLive music

                Things to do

                3 listings in Branson, ranked by traveller reviews. Featured listings are marked.

                Nearby

                4 places outside Branson, within an easy drive.

                See what’s on: events and festivals

                Known for: Live music

                Food & nightlife

                Nearby

                11 places outside Branson, within an easy drive.

                Events

                Dated events will appear here as they’re added.

                Every year

                • Silver Dollar City Festival of Wonder / Spring festivals (April)
                • Silver Dollar City National Harvest Festival (September-October)
                • Silver Dollar City An Old Time Christmas (November-December)
                • Ozarks Christmas lights and Branson Christmas season (November-December)
                • Branson Shootout futsal (January)
                • Hot Winter Fun Big Show (February)
                • Memorial Day and Fourth of July Branson Landing fireworks (May and July)

                Official events calendar ↗

                Safety information is a guide from public data and our research, not a guarantee. Conditions change; check local news and official advice before you go.

                5.0

                Fair · Data-based

                About 600 violent crimes per 100,000 people a year; the US average is about 370.

                Safety overview

                Violent crime rate not verified, roughly at or above the national average for tourist zones per commonly cited data (unverified); common visitor risks: traffic, property theft from vehicles, lake and boating accidents, heat and humidity, ticks and chiggers; hospitals: Cox Medical Center Branson and Mercy Hospital Branson area clinics; tornadoes and severe thunderstorms (Feb 2012 EF2 tornado struck Branson), flash flooding, winter ice storms

                Local notes

                Specific places where extra care is worthwhile, especially at night. Most visits are trouble-free.

                No areas of note to avoid; caution is mostly traffic congestion on Highway 76 and Highway 248 during peak season, winding roads at night, and lake water hazards

                Safety & health

                Emergency numbers

                Health

                • Hospital (ER)Cox Medical Center Branson
                • ClinicMercy Hospital Branson area clinics
                Official visitor information
                explorebranson.com

                Last verified September 25, 2026 · Source: Research spreadsheet · Editorial ·

                Local directory

                3 listings in Branson, ranked by traveller reviews. Featured listings are marked.

                Nearby

                27 places outside Branson, within an easy drive.

                Nearby cities and connections

                Find the next city worth adding to your trip from Branson: how far, how long, and how to get there.

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                Distance
                105 mi · 169 km
                Drive
                2 h
                Bus
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                Distance
                170 mi · 274 km
                Drive
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                Bus
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                Drive
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                Bus
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                Drive
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                Bus
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                Drive
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                Bus
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                Drive
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                Bus
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                Drive
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                Bus
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                Distance
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                Drive
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                Bus
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                Drive
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                Bus
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                Times marked “est.” are estimates: drives use typical road distances at highway speeds, and train or bus times assume both cities have service. Always check a route planner and timetables before you travel.

                Route ideas

                Suggested by Hey! En Route from the best-connected next stops. Save one to your routes and make it your own.

                2-day trip

                Branson (1 night)

                3-day trip

                Branson (1 night) → Little Rock (1 night)

                About 171 mi, 3 h 49 min of travel

                5-day trip

                Branson (2 nights) → Little Rock (1 night) → Memphis (1 night)

                About 308 mi, 6 h 15 min of travel

                7-day trip

                Branson (2 nights) → Little Rock (1 night) → Memphis (1 night) → Tupelo (1 night)

                About 412 mi, 8 h 17 min of travel

                10-day trip

                Branson (2 nights) → Little Rock (2 nights) → Memphis (1 night) → Tupelo (1 night) → Birmingham (1 night)

                About 545 mi, 10 h 46 min of travel

                Suggested city pairs

                Building your own routes is part of Hey! En Route Plus. See what’s included

                Community signals

                Not enough responses yet to show a trend.

                Branson City Circle

                For people considering Branson, visiting soon, living there for a while, or comparing it with somewhere else.

                Sign up to join

                No discussions yet. Be the first to share something useful.

                Share experience, not guesses presented as fact, and keep contact details out of posts. Community guidelines

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