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Where To Stay
As Branson grew in popularity and became one of the top tourist destinations in the country, the small Ozark town was transformed from a lakeside community into a full-blown resort. Theaters and theme parks sprouted like feed corn in the nearby fields. The increasing number of visitors created a demand for hotel and motel accommodations. What ensued was an explosion of hotel construction in the late 1970s and early 80s, resulting in more than 23,000 hotel, motel and bed and breakfast rooms, which run from ostentatiously expensive to pragmatically affordable.
Lap of Luxury
Located on a hill just above the shoreline of Table Rock Lake, the 10-story Chateau on the Lake represents the finest and most expensive lodging in Branson. With towering architecture reminiscent of the alpine chateaus of France, the Chateau is visible for miles around. This facility boasts the only full-service convention center in the area.
If you think you will have time for a little golf while you're in town, there are several luxury resorts located right on the greens of one of Branson's dozen or so golf courses. The Pointe Royale Condominium Resort, where one to three-bedroom condo units line the fairways of a private championship golf course, is considered the premier golf resort in Branson.
For a little peace and additional tender-loving care, the Emory Creek Bed and Breakfast awaits you. Nestled in the wooded hills, this converted Victorian mansion can only be described as elegant. A four-course breakfast is served on a private patio where raccoons occasionally appear from the trees in search of a handout.
Staying on The Strip
The Branson strip is an seven-mile mixture of theaters, restaurants, attractions and dozens of hotels and motels geared at providing quality accommodations to travelers who have come for one thing: entertainment. During summer, traffic snarls along the main street, as tour buses, motor coaches, visitors and residents all vie for limited road space. In this part of town, the hotels are in earnest competition with each other; the real winners, though, are the visitors. Hotels and motel rooms along the Branson strip can be found at almost rock-bottom prices, and they are all clean and cozy with generous amenities. The added plus is that most hotels on The Strip are located within walking distance of numerous theaters, restaurants and shopping, alleviating the need to enter the traffic fray.
The 1st Inn Gold offers comfortable lodging in the midst of the city's show palaces. The priority here is affordable lodging. Single rooms go for less than a good meal for two, and full kitchenette units are available for families. Plus, if you are too busy taking in the sights and sounds of Branson and do not have the time or energy to get tickets to the next show, the staff here will get them for you. Meanwhile, the Hall of Fame Inn, a three-story motel right across the street from the Hollywood Wax Museum, combines affordable rates with luxury accommodations. Several of the suites actually have Jacuzzis in the rooms and large patio balconies.
All in One Place
If being within walking distance to shows restaurants and activities still is not enough, there are complexes in Branson that have it all in one building. The Grand Country Inn is an impressive combination of shops, a hotel, a theater, a restaurant and more. A water park on the premises is free to all guests—something you will learn to appreciate during those balmy Missouri summers. At the Grand Country Market, you can view the world's largest banjo (autographed by top names in country music), which is so big the neck sticks 40 feet out the side of the building. One of the oldest entertainment complexes in town is Baldknobbers Motor Inn. The inn here is not luxurious, but the rooms are spacious and comfortable, and the rates are competitive.
Lakeside
The Branson area is home to thousands of miles of shoreline along the edges of three diverse lakes, and there are an abundance of resorts and accommodations right on the water. The Villas At Lantern Bay on Table Rock Lake is just a 10-minute drive from Branson, but the quiet atmosphere of this luxury condo resort is worlds away from the fast-paced energy of The Strip. At Cooper Creek Resort, cabins in all price ranges stand less than a stone's throw from Lake Taneycomo. A private boat-and-fishing dock offers a doorway to the peace and tranquility that only a body of water as pristine as Lake Taneycomo can offer.
Cruisers
The proliferation of recreational vehicles brings more and more visitors to Branson aboard private motor coaches each year. Branson is prepared to accommodate these guests, as it has some 5,000-plus full-service spaces for motor homes of all shapes and sizes. After a long day on the road, the last thing anyone wants is to have to search all over the busy Branson streets for a place that will accommodate a 50-foot coach with double slideouts.
With 167 sites capable of handling the new monster rigs, America's Best Campground lives up to its name. Shade trees occupy each space, and amenities such as a pool, a game room and a hot tub provide soothing diversions while you wait for show time. West of Branson near Silver Dollar City is Acorn Acres RV Park, a picturesque RV park carved from the hardwood forests of the Ozarks. It offers private, paved sites surrounded by woods where you can picnic beneath the canopy of the trees.
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Where To Stay
