In case the weather doesn’t cooperate on your Branson, Missouri, vacation, it’s always good to have a backup plan of indoor activities. Whether it’s raining or snowing, the fun continues indoors in Branson. Here’s a big ol’ list of fun things to do indoors in Branson – rain or shine.
Disclosure: I was hosted by Explore Branson, and some of our activities were complimentary, while some we paid for. This post may contain affiliate links, and I may earn a referral payment from a purchase made after clicking the link at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support! All thoughts, opinions and typos are my own.
For more Branson vacation ideas — not just indoors — check out my post about some of the quirkier things in Branson, as well as some of my favorite Branson restaurants.
Indoor entertainment centers & mini golf
WonderWorks, it’s kinda like a children’s museum and science center rolled into an all-day indoor amusement park experience (with the rollercoaster being virtual). One of the highlights is the XD Theater Motion, which is like a virtual out-of-control mineshaft cart ride, and laser tag.
Tip: Save 5% on a combo ticket to WonderWorks and the Titanic Museum Attraction through Tiqets.com!
For extreme adventure-loving people, Fritz’s Adventure is the place. The indoor multi-story ropes course has 45 obstacles, including ziplines, and suspension bridges, and two free falls.
Ripley’s Super Fun Zone has unlimited play for the admission price, which includes laser tag, Smash Dash, and Ripley’s Laserace. There is an outdoor maze, too, if weather permits.
Similarly, Fun Spot at Grand Country has both indoor and outdoor options, and the indoor stuff is plentiful. Highlights include black light putt putt, indoor go carts, and a two-story laser tag arena.
For an older crowd, head to Andy B’s Bowl Social at Branson Landing. It’s a bar-meets-entertainment center, with bowling, karaoke, virtuality and escape rooms. Families are welcomed, but I’d bet the evenings are more fun for the 21 and older crowd.
Like, totally awesome. 1984 Branson Arcade is a trip to the past. Play video games, pinball, and other retro games – most can be played for one price.
For all kinds of arcade games – not just the retro 80s stuff – head to Arcade City. While there, try the 7D Dark Ride Adventure. It’s also a shooting virtual game, but it’s a bit more intense.
1. WonderWorks Branson, 2835 Highway 76 Country Blvd.
2. Fritz’s Adventure, 1425 W. Highway 76 Country Blvd.
3. Ripley’s Super Fun Zone, 2320 W. Highway 76 Country Blvd.
4. Fun Spot at Grand Country, 1945 W. Highway 76 Country Blvd.
5. Andy B’s Bowl Social, 405 Branson Landing Blvd.
6. Big Air Trampoline Park, 3300 N. Gretna Road
7. 1984 Branson Arcade, 4240 Gretna Road
8. Arcade City, 715 Branson Landing Blvd.
For animal lovers (modern & prehistoric)
Branson’s Wild World isn’t a zoo; instead, it’s a way to learn about animals through encounters like helping feed them. Some exhibits are outdoors, though.
Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure is like an indoor tropical getaway with free-flying butterflies all around. Beyond the butterflies, check out the Banyan Tree Maze, Mirror Maze, and reptiles in the Critter Center.
You’ll know you’ve found the Aquarium at the Boardwalk easily – there’s a giant octopus covering the building. Inside, explore sealife by walking through a water tunnel, visiting touch tanks, and marveling at all the aquariums. There’s also a fun, climbable kelp forest for kids.
Families can step back in time to the age of dinosaurs. Dinosaur Museum has 40 life-size dinosaurs to learn about through exhibits.
9. Branson’s Wild World, 2020 W. Highway 76 Country Blvd.
10. Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure, 4106 W. Highway 76 Country Blvd.
11. Aquarium at the Boardwalk, 2700 W. Highway 76 Country Blvd., Unit A
12. Dinosaur Museum, 3619 W. Highway 76 Country Blvd.
Indoor waterpark
No matter how cold it gets, there’s always the indoor waterpark, right? Splash Country Waterpark’s indoor options include a lazy river, three-story treehouse with water features, and waterslides. And coming soon? There’s an indoor wave pool under construction. Day passes are available, but if you reserve a room at Grand Country Resort, it’s included!
13. Splash Country Waterpark at Grand Country Resort, 1945 W. Highway 76 Country Blvd.
Axe throwing
Axe throwing is starting to grow across the U.S., so naturally, there are venues in Branson for you to try it out. (Don’t worry, they teach you how to do it first) TommyHawks Axe Throwing has indoor axe throwing as well as pool and cornhole.
If you’re at Branson Landing, you’ll find Landing Axes, another indoor axe throwing venue. They use World Axe Throwing League-approved axes. Note: Landing Axes is temporarily closed.
14. TommyHawks Axe Throwing, 3430 W. Highway 76 Country Blvd.
15. Landing Axes, 9 South Boardwalk
Museums for history lovers
It’s not just a museum, the Titanic Museum Attraction places you in the middle of history as a passenger aboard the ill-fated ship. You’ll interact with displays, take your picture with a real iceberg and feel what 28-degree water feels like.
Tip: Save 5% on a combo ticket to WonderWorks and the Titanic Museum Attraction through Tiqets.com!
Vintage car and farm equipment enthusiasts will like the two showrooms inside the Branson Auto & Farm Museum.
One of the more emotional museums to visit is the Veterans Memorial Museum, covering wars and conflicts of the 20th century. Be sure to see the 50-person statue, “Storming the Beach,” in front of the museum.
Learn about Branson and the area before it was a huge family entertainment mecca. Located in downtown Branson, the Branson Centennial Museum explores the city’s earliest residents.
The Shipwrecked Treasure Museum is for a very niche audience, but if that’s what your kid is into, they’re going to love it. My pirate-loving son appreciated the varied displays of recovered treasures, and especially the hands-on activities at the museum.
World’s Largest Toy Museum Complex has the word “toy” in the name, but it’s more of a trip down memory lane for grown-ups. Don’t get me wrong, there are some hands-on activities and games at the World’s Largest Toy Museum. But go there if you love the idea of seeing action figures and dolls from your childhood.
The toy museum is actually a whole museum complex, by the way, has other museums you can visit after the toy museum: The Paul Harvey Jr. 50’s Era Museum, National BB Gun Museum, the Wild West Museum, Dolly Mama’s Museum, Stearnsy Bear Museum, World of Checkers, and the H.B. Wright Shepherd of the Hills Museum.
16. Titanic Museum Attraction, 3235 W. Highway 76 Country Blvd.
17. Branson Auto & Farm Museum, 1335 W. Highway 76 Country Blvd.
18. Veterans Memorial Museum, 1250 W. Highway 76 Country Blvd.
19. Branson Centennial Museum, 120 S. Commercial St.
20. Shipwrecked Treasure Museum, 505 Branson Landing Blvd.
21. World’s Largest Toy Museum Complex, 3609 W. Highway 76 Country Blvd.
Pop culture, virtual reality, & illusions
Beyond The Lens is an interactive experience with a mix of games, photo opportunities and Flyride, a virtual experience. Every tourist-attracting city seems to have this next one: Ripley’s Believe It or Not! There are eight galleries of mind-boggling artifacts, illusions and interactives.
You’ll recognize a lot of the items on display at Celebrity Car Museum and Attraction. Inside, you can get up close to the DeLoreon and Mystery Machine, as well as peek at some Hollywood props and memorabilia.
Mingle and snap selfies with celebrities and historical figures…well, the wax versions of them. Branson has its own Hollywood Wax Museum. Other indoor attractions connected with the wax museum entertainment center include Hannah’s Maze of Mirrors and the 5D virtual shooting experience, Castle of Chaos.
22. Beyond The Lens, 3115 W. Highway 76 Country Blvd.
23. Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, 3326 W. Highway 76 Country Blvd.
24. Celebrity Car Museum and Attraction, 1600 W. Highway 76 Country Blvd.
25. Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center, 3030 W. Highway 76 Country Blvd., Unit A
Low-key game playing
Hard to imagine anything could be low-key in Branson, but yes, yes, there is such a thing. For starters, there’s Branson Boardgame Cafe. For one price per person, play any of the 1000+ games and puzzles while sipping lattes all day.
26. Branson Boardgame Cafe, 103 S. Business Highway 65
Wine and beer tasting in Branson
Yeah, who knew Branson had wineries? I knew Missouri had a lot of great ones, but for some reason, I never thought about Branson being a place for wine tasting. Now we all know. A few options include St. James Winery & Restaurant and Bear Creek Wine Co. and Small Batch Brewery, located near Branson.
27. James Winery & Restaurant, 405 MO-165
28. Bear Creek Wine Co. and Small Batch Brewery, 1320 Keithley Road, Walnut Shade, Mo.
Tips for saving money on Branson indoor attractions
There’s a lot to do in the relatively small area that is Branson, so there’s no doubt about it: Businesses are competing for your attention. There’s a good chance that there are discounts offered at some of the places mentioned in this post, perhaps even combo tickets. So, before you go, check some of these sites:
- Tiqets.com
- Viator.com
- Groupon.com
