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If you are in the Midwest or want to spend your summer vacation in the Midwest, few places will hold a candle to the Ozarks. Whether you decide to restrict yourself to the northern parts of the Ozarks and commit to enjoying the fun-filled adventures around central Missourri — or drive further down to the southern Ozarks region in the area around Northwest Arkansas and Southwest Missourri, you will be completely blown away. In the northern parts of the Ozarks, there is the Lake of the Ozarks, for instance, which offers numberless adventure options for some fun on the water. On the flip side, in the southern parts of the Ozarks, the gasp-inducing mountain ranges will leave a lasting impression in your mind. Granted, we agree that money can transform a vacation experience from good to great, Still, discover 9 affordable summer vacation spots in the Ozarks you can enjoy on the cheap.

A Lazee Daze In The Ozarks, Arkansas

While there are several hotels in the Ozarks, some of which will set you back up to $1,000 per night, there are cheaper options as well, that will still give you a one-of-a-kind experience. A Lazee Daze in the Ozarks is a cabin rental property in Eureka Springs, an Arkansas town whose natural settings may make you think you are in Switzerland. While there are times you will want to enjoy the comfort and class of a five-star hotel, there are times you just want a cozy cabin and a more immersive natural experience, woods and all. Such is what  A Lazee Daze in the Ozarks promises and delivers. For rates that start at $169, a guest at this property will love a stay in cabins with spacious kitchens — and will not help but gasp at the heart-melting views around, especially when looking out from the porch's Jacuzzi.

Bagnell Dam Strip, Missouri

Who said summer is all about swimming, hiking, or strolling around a sandy beach? No, summer offers several exciting experiences that will suit every type of adventurer. If you derive pleasure from shopping — the same way another person derives pleasure from watching a summer sunset, Bagnell Dam Strip should be on your bucket list. Bagnell Dam Strip is in Missourri’s Lake of the Ozarks and has been attracting shoppers for more than 75 years. While several shopping outlets exist at the Bagnell Dam Strip, Dogpatch Store is among the best. The store boasts an impressive collection of just about everything, whether that be a unique souvenir, t-shirts, toys, even hermit crabs. While the prices are as affordable as you can get anywhere else in the area, if you chance on a deal, you will save loads of cash. But of course, you can also just walk on the strip and see the unique items on display.

Botanical Garden Of The Ozarks, Arkansas

If you thought only human beings look forward to summer, you are dead wrong. Plants, for instance, herald the arrival of summer with a dramatic display of color and texture, such as you will rarely see at other times of the year. The party often includes butterflies and hummingbirds, whose lively presence adds a dash of exuberance and music that will tickle any adventurer's heart. An excellent place to witness this in action is the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. For starters, this one-of-a-kind gem is the only botanical garden in Northwest Arkansas. Summer adventures will enjoy exploring the property’s heart-ravishing 12 themed gardens — as well as a butterfly house —the only one of its kind in Arkansas. And don’t even worry about admission fees. You will part with only $10.

Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Missouri

The mystical and mysterious come together at the free-to-enter Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Missouri's finest example of karst geology. A visit to this park will expose you to a geologic wonderland that you will find hard to turn your back on. One of Missourri’s most underrated gems spans more than 3,700 acres and is located on the Niangua arm of the Lake of the Ozarks, less than a five-minute drive from Camdenton, Missouri. There are many things that will pique your interest in this park. These include Missourri’s 12th-largest spring, a massive natural bridge, and the park’s sinkholes and caves. But that said, the park’s queen of the show is the ruins of a European-style stone castle that once served as a summer home. 

Stark Caverns, Missouri

Even if you have been to hundreds of caverns, Stark Cavern always hits differently. The cavern is lit up with a kaleidoscope of color, and will be quite a glowy, ethereal experience. When the lights are turned off, the palpable darkness that sets in is intense and will be fun to a first-time explorer. This Missouri gem is near the Lake of the Ozarks and hence close to several other budget-friendly attractions. At a cost of only $26, you will enjoy one-hour guided tours as you explore gasp-inducing geological formations, including helictites, helegmites, stromatolites, stalactites, and stalagmites. In addition, there is an on-site gift shop where you can pick a unique souvenir as a token of your visit.

Blanchard Springs Caverns, Arkansas

Fill your car’s gas tank, wear a lightweight jacket, eaze yourself into low-heeled, nonslip shoes, then hit the road for Blanchard Springs Caverns, located a mere 15 miles northwest of Mountain View, Arkansas on Arkansas Highway 14. Blanchard is an active cave. This means it is ever-changing. Therefore, the glow and appearance of the park’s glistening formations, including its stalactites and stalagmites, keep on changing every time the clock ticks. Geologists believe this natural wonder was formed by an ongoing mountain spring that plunges into Mirror Lake, a glass-like trout pond just below the cave. Here is the exciting part. You will not need to break the bank to stand in awe of this Ozark jewel. With only $15 for admission, you will be good to go.

Bridal Cave, Missouri

There is some pleasure in wandering through the pin-drop quietness of caves and gasping at their honey-combed geologic formations. This, many will confess, will make for a memorable summer vacation. But how about actually getting married in a cave? If you are about to exchange vows and walk down the aisle as it were, you may want to consider using a road less traveled— Missouri’s Bridal Cave. Still, even if the $995 required to access the stalactite-adorned Bridal Chapel is more than you can afford, at an affordable $26, you will enjoy a one-hour guided tour into a subterranean wonderland, savor the cave’s surreal atmosphere, and inhale some amazing views of the Lake of the Ozark. This popular summer attraction is two miles North of Camdenton, Missouri.

Ozark Distillery And Brewery, Missouri

One of Ozark Distillery and Brewery’s claims to fame is that is the oldest "Legal" distillery in Missourri’s Camden County. This famous star attraction is in Osage Beach, a beautiful resort town that sits right on the Lake of the Ozarks. A visit to this place will see a visitor sit down to a glass of vanilla moonshine, a bottle of BBQ sauce, or some other finely handcrafted wine that come with no added sugar. You can also savor the flavorful taste of some fresh-made pizza —as well as a full plate of popcorn. Then again, Ozark Distillery boasts fantastic decor and is the kind of place a vacationer will want to hang out at. If you plan to do a wine tour at this Missouri secret, you will set aside a paltry $20 and you will be set.

Bentonville, Arkansas

Bentonville is º£½ÇÉçÇø famous for being the birthplace of Walmart, the º£½ÇÉçÇø’s number one retail chain. But the town is also cute and a popular summer adventure hot spot in the Ozark region of Northwest Arkansas. It boasts several free or almost free attractions a first-time visitor will love to explore. While the venue of Walmart Museum is currently closed for renovations until 2024, the free-to-enter Walmart Museum Heritage Lab, a facility you will find only two blocks south of the original venue, tells the remarkable story of Sam Walton in a fascinating style. And if you enjoy history, you can experience what living in Bentoville felt like in the late 1800s at the Peel Museum & Botanical Garden, another Bentoville attraction that is completely free of charge. For even more sylvan splendor, Compton Gardens and Arboretum can do the trick.

The Takeaway

Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast who wants to experience the wanderlust of the Ozarks region, a historian who wants to learn some fascinating factoids about this part of America, or just a cave lower who wants to gasp at some of nature’s finest eye candies, the Ozarks region checks every spot. The exciting part is that anyone can explore this region even without saving for a year. Cabin rentals such as A Lazee Daze in the Ozarks, towns that are chockful of free adventure options such as Bentonville, and free-to-enter green spaces such as the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks, are some budget-friendly options a summer adventurer can consider