RV Rental Springfield, MO

Springfield, Missouri RV Rentals

Springfield, Missouri is a lively and friendly city that boasts big city amenities mixed with small-town charm. It has a long-standing and sometimes troubled history as a main artery on the Native American Trail of Tears, as well as being a key battleground in the Civil War. However, its history isn’t all sobering; Springfield is also recognized as the official birthplace of the famed and beloved Route 66.

Springfield’s proud American heritage, its focus on celebrating everyday life, and its youthful and vibrant university population make the city and surrounding region an ideal place for your next RV road trip. If you need to rent an RV or camper, Springfield has plenty of RV rental opportunities ranging from minimalist to swanky. The region also has plenty of excellent RV campgrounds with top-notch amenities like swimming pools, clean and modern shower facilities, pumpouts, free WiFi, and more. 

Check out all the fun, educational, and entertaining attractions that Springfield has to offer, and we’re sure you’ll have a memorable and wonderful vacation there.

Popular RV Destinations in Springfield

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World

Not only is Bass Pro Shop a retail mecca that offers every product for outdoor sports and recreation imaginable, but Springfield’s Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World is an attraction unlike any other. 

Outdoor World is a top activity for people of all ages in all kinds of weather, any time of the year. It’s a behemoth of a building that offers over 500,000 square feet of outdoor-themed attractions and immersive shopping. This “Granddaddy of All Outdoor Stores” attracts over 4 million visitors each year to see the indoor swamp complete with alligators and turtles, its waterfalls, seven intricate and amazing aquariums, as well as the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum, the John A. And Genny Morris Conservation Education Center, and Hemingway’s Blue Water Cafe. 

Fantastic Caverns

See spectacular crystalline rock formations at Fantastic Caverns, the continent’s only “drive-through” cave. Sit back and enjoy the ride as knowledgeable and entertaining guides take you through the caverns in a Jeep-drawn tram, explaining all about the cave formation process, the groups of various people who have explored the caves, and the life that happens inside this huge landmark. Learn all about how the cave has been used since its initial discovery in 1862 by a local farmer’s dog.

Fantastic Caverns is proud to be a family-owned destination that is the ideal tourist attraction for people with limited mobility, wheelchairs, young children, and even pets. Surprisingly, Fantastic Caverns is one of over 7,300 documented caves that are inconspicuously sprinkled throughout the state of Missouri, literally the region’s hidden gems. As an added bonus, the year-round 60-degree temperature of the caves makes it a welcome destination in either the freezing winter month or the scorching summer days.

Pythian Castle

Built in 1913 by the Knights of Pythias as an orphanage and retirement home, the Pythian Castle is the region’s only legitimate castle structure. It boasts an eclectic history as a home for POWs during WWII, a rehab facility for US troops, and a regal event and banquet space with its opulent and huge ballroom. The castle was opened to the public in 2009 as a cultural events and arts facility.

Tamara Finocchiaro, who purchased the castle 13 years ago, wanted the public to be able to experience the allure and vastness of a real-life castle. Guided tours provide visitors of all ages with the fascinating details and history of the place. They also offer fun, interactive, and creepy ghost tours and murder mystery dinners for braver participants, as well as themed holiday parties, a fancy New Year’s Eve party, and more. 

Be sure to plan your visit to Pythian Castle early, as reservations are definitely required, and there are minimums to the size of group tours.

Discovery Center of Springfield

If you’ve got kiddos, you’ll all have a fun and educational time at the Discovery Center of Springfield. Opened in 1998, this unique and funky interactive museum is constantly updating, changing, and rolling with trends in technology, health, arts, culture, travel, science, communications, and more to bring fresh and relevant exhibits, special events, and programs that entice people back time and again.

This interactive hands-on facility promotes imagination, creativity, and fun with hundreds of exhibits that delve into physics, chemistry, environmental consciousness and conservation, health, energy, and much more. Bodyworks, Discovery Town, Energy Exchange, and HighWire Bike are just a few of the most popular draws for people of all ages.

Wild Animal Safari

Located just minutes outside of Springfield is Wild Animal Safari, a drive-thru tour that allows you to see and feed dozens of animals. This 5-mile drive-thru wildlife habitat is situated on 350 acres of land that is home to 450 animals from 65 different species. You can choose to drive your own vehicle through the park or take the complimentary guided bus tour that allows you to sit back, relax, feed, and learn all about the diverse animal population at this vast park.

Voted the nation’s best drive-thru animal park in both 2019 and 2020, this extensive attraction allows you the opportunity to see and interact with a huge variety of exotic and domestic animals. After the drive-thru fun is done, be sure to get out of the car and explore the self-guided walkabout zoo to see animals that cannot roam freely in the park and get a bite to eat at the onsite cafe.

Events and Entertainment in Springfield

Cajun Cookoff

Kick off Springtime in Southern Missouri with the delicious and fun Queen City Sertoma’s Cajun Cookoff and Carnivale, which is held at the end of March or early April at the Springfield Expo Center. For a reasonable fee, attendees can get their fill of Cajun-inspired foods paired with funky cocktails and fresh brews. Vote for your favorite Cajun dish while you listen to top-notch live music and entertainment.

For added fun and excitement, you can watch or even participate in the Texas Hold’em Poker tournament, which is always a big attraction. This much-anticipated event benefits the Boys and Girls Club of Springfield or other local children’s charities, so you can feel better knowing you’re spilling chili on your favorite shirt for a great cause.  

Taste of SOMO

Held in June each year, the Taste of SOMO (Southern Missouri for us non-locals) is the biggest downtown celebration of Southwestern Missouri’s unique foodie culture. Traditionally held in the ideally located and aptly named Park Central Square, this event showcases dozens of local restaurants and food vendors that want to show off their best offerings. Sample all kinds of delicious food, beer, and beverages, and be sure to vote for your favorites.

This event is usually the culmination of Springfield’s restaurant week and is a huge party that features live music, learning stations, and more. In keeping with the city’s long standing desire to extend a helping hand to others, some of the Taste of SOMO proceeds go to benefit struggling people and families in the Ozarks region by supporting charities like the Ozarks Food Harvest.

Birthplace of Route 66 Festival and Car Show

Springfield loves to celebrate its proud position as the anchor of the famed Route 66 by hosting a huge annual festival and car show each August. This two-day festival kicks off with an extensive parade with almost 700 vehicle entrants and all kinds of quirky customers and talented entertainers that draws upwards of 20,000 spectators. Add in an extensive line-up of totally free music and you have one of the biggest regional festivals of the year. 

Let’s not forget about the main event: the annual car show, which shows off some of the rarest and most eclectic classic and contemporary cars in the country. As if that wasn’t enough, you can also watch the charity bike show that showcases hundreds of motorcycles, take part in the 6.6 K run/walk, and wander through countless exhibitors and vendors offering crafts, memorabilia, and all things Route 66-themed.

Cider Days

Usher in cooler temps and the comforting sights and scents of Fall with the annual Cider Days Festival each September. This well-rounded event meshes the traditions of harvest with talented artists and musicians that come together to celebrate the aspects that make Springfield and Southwestern Missouri special. You’ll be able to find a surprising amount of lovingly made arts and crafts from numerous regional creators, making the festival a great opportunity to find that unique souvenir or ideal gift for the holidays.

Three separate stages feature a wide range of performers, musicians, and singers from children’s groups to dancers, cloggers, martial arts demonstrations, opera performances, and so much more. You’ll be pleasantly full from all the delicious and aromatic food offerings which you can wash down with cider, of course. There’s also a ton of fall-themed activities and events for kids of all ages to participate in; it’s wholesome fun for the whole family.

Thriller on C Street

Every October Zombies take over the town as Springfield recreates that iconic of all Halloween spectacles, a coordinated and choreographed dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. As if that weren’t reason enough to entice you to attend, the event also features multiple performances with a matinee and an evening performance. Between the two shows, stick around for more Zombie-themed fun and activities.

Local coffee shops, boutique stores, and restaurants all get in on the action, offering specials and discounts. There’s plenty of games, a DJ, a traveling Zombie show, and a killer after-party if you’re not too scared. While this event is certainly geared to be kid-friendly, we’ll leave it up to you to judge for yourself whether it’s appropriate for your little loves or not.

FAQs

Q. What are RV rentals?

RV rentals work much like any other vehicle rentals. You pay a daily or weekly rate. You can expect these rates to fluctuate based on the time of year and the geographic location that you're renting. Naturally, rates tend to increase during peak season. You can get an RV for a certain period and enjoy all its benefits while traveling without the hassles and large cost of owning your own RV. It’s also a great way to try out some different RV models if you’re considering purchasing your own.

Q. How much are RV rentals?

RV rentals in Springfield can range between $75 and $150 per night for most small to moderately sized trailers and campervans. Larger RVs and travel trailers can cost from $100 to $250 per night, depending on the season and the RV’s year, make, and model. Some companies offer a discount if you rent for longer than a week.

Q. Do I need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Springfield?

While most states require you to be at least 25 years old to rent an RV, Missouri’s legal age to rent one is 21. This may not be the policy of your RV rental agency, however. Most companies require you to be at least 25 to rent.

Do I need insurance when I rent an RV?

Yes, you'll need insurance to rent an RV in Springfield. It's meant to cover the vehicle in case of an accident and is mandatory in most states. Most rental companies will have RV-specific insurance that you can purchase.

Q. Do I need to return my rental RV with a full tank?

This policy varies among rental agencies, but most RV rental facilities in Springfield will expect you to return the vehicle with a full tank of gas. At the very least, the fuel should be at the same level as when you picked up the vehicle. 

Q. Are RVs pet-friendly in Springfield?

Many RV and camper rentals in Springfield are pet-friendly, and there are even vehicles specially designed for accommodating animals. Still, it’s important to double-check the policy with your chosen rental agency before renting a particular vehicle.