Bennett Spring Guide
Things to Do Near Bennett Spring
Trails, trout, the Niangua River and easy day trips, from your hosts 4 minutes from the park.
Updated November 2026.
Bennett Spring State Park is one of Missouri's earliest state parks, about 12 miles west of Lebanon on Highway 64. More than 100 million gallons of clear, cool water flow from the spring every day, down the spring branch to the Niangua River. Whether you come to fish, hike, float or slow down for a weekend, here's what to do in and around the park.
In Bennett Spring State Park
Fish for rainbow trout
The spring branch is stocked with rainbow trout every day of the catch-and-keep season, March 1 to October 31. In winter, the park opens Friday to Monday for catch-and-release fly fishing. Our Bennett Spring trout fishing guide covers fishing hours, daily trout tags, the three fishing zones and the rules.
Hike to the Natural Tunnel
The park has five hiking trails. Short loops like the 0.3-mile Oak-Hickory Trail and the 0.7-mile Bridge Trail are good for a quick walk. The 7.4-mile Natural Tunnel Trail is the big one, a loop out to the natural tunnel it's named for. Leashed dogs are welcome on every trail; see our dog-friendly Bennett Spring guide.
Eat at the dining lodge
The park's dining lodge dates to about 1930 and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, from soups and sandwiches to full meals. Catch your limit and the kitchen will cook the trout you've cleaned. There are breakfast buffets on Saturday and Sunday mornings and a dinner buffet on Friday nights. The lodge is open from 7 a.m. to one hour after the whistle during trout season.
Visit the nature center
The nature center is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., from February 25 through October 31. It's a good stop with kids, and the park also offers interpretive programs.
Picnic, play and explore
The park has picnic sites, picnic shelters and playgrounds, and the park store sells last-minute items and daily trout tags. Look for the stone arch bridge built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
Float the Niangua River
The spring branch runs into the Niangua River, a popular Ozark float stream. The park has a free concrete boat launch near Campground 1, where the branch meets the river. The park doesn't rent canoes or rafts, so bring your own or book with an outfitter. Alcohol isn't allowed in canoes and rafts within the park.
Our partner Steele River Kayaks and Boards, about 15 minutes from Misty Oak Getaways, runs kayak, raft and paddleboard float trips on the Niangua. They can pick you up and bring you back, and dogs are welcome on every boat. Read our guide to floating the Niangua River for rules, timing and what to pack.
Route 66 in Lebanon
Lebanon sits on historic Route 66, about 15 minutes from our getaways.
Route 66 Museum
A free, self-guided museum inside the Lebanon-Laclede County Library at 915 S. Jefferson Ave., with a gift shop of Route 66 souvenirs. Open Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Boswell Route 66 Park
A free park at 1206 Kent Drive with three large Route 66 murals and the last remaining Camp Joy cabin, from the first tourist camp between St. Louis and Springfield. It hosts the Route 66 Festival every Father's Day weekend, and leashed pets are welcome.
For festivals, live music and what's on during your dates, see our Bennett Spring and Lebanon events page.
Day trip: Ha Ha Tonka State Park
For a bigger outing, head north to Ha Ha Tonka State Park, about five miles south of Camdenton on the Niangua arm of the Lake of the Ozarks. Its best-known sight is a ruined stone castle that Kansas City businessman Robert Snyder began building in 1905. His family finished it in the 1920s, it later became a hotel, and a fire destroyed it in 1942. You can view the ruins from an overlook.
The park is also full of Ozark geology, with natural bridges, sinkholes, caves and bluffs over the lake, and about 15 miles of trails.
Back at Misty Oak
Some of the best moments happen without leaving. Our Lodge and Cabin sit on wooded acres 4 minutes from the park, with fire pits, string lights, horseshoe pits and porches made for morning coffee. Watch for woodpeckers in the trees, and after dark, settle in by the fire.
Want photos of your family while you're here? Meet the local photographers on our partners page.
Bennett Spring by season
| Season | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Spring | Trout season opens March 1, and opening day is a big event at the park. The nature center reopens February 25. |
| Summer | Floating and paddling on the Niangua, long evenings on the spring branch, and the Route 66 Festival in Lebanon on Father's Day weekend. |
| Fall | Catch-and-keep season runs through October 31, and cooler days are made for the trails. |
| Winter | Catch-and-release fly fishing Friday to Monday, quiet trails, and the park store open on weekends through January. |
Where to stay
Stay 4 minutes from Bennett Spring
Misty Oak Getaways has two dog-friendly getaways on wooded acres, 4 minutes from the park. Spend the day on the water or the trails, then come back to the fire pit at night.
- The Lodge sleeps 8.
- The Cabin sleeps 6.
- Book both for family trips and groups of up to 14.
Book any 2027 stay by December 31 and save 20% with code EARLYBIRD20.
Things to do near Bennett Spring: FAQ
What is there to do at Bennett Spring State Park?
Fish for stocked rainbow trout on the spring branch, hike five trails including the 7.4-mile Natural Tunnel Trail, visit the nature center, eat at the 1930s dining lodge, picnic, and float the Niangua River from the park's free boat launch.
Is the Bennett Spring dining lodge open year-round?
Missouri State Parks lists the dining lodge as open daily from 7 a.m. to one hour after the whistle during trout season, which runs March 1 to October 31. Call 417-532-4547 to check hours outside the season.
Can you float the Niangua River near Bennett Spring?
Yes. The spring branch flows into the Niangua River, and the park has a free concrete boat launch near Campground 1. The park doesn't rent boats, so bring your own or book with an outfitter such as Steele River Kayaks and Boards, which can pick you up and bring you back.
What is there to do at Bennett Spring in winter?
Winter catch-and-release fly fishing runs Friday to Monday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., from the second Friday in November to the second Monday in February. The trails and park grounds stay open, and the park store is open Friday to Sunday from November through January. The nature center is closed from November 1 to February 24.
Is Ha Ha Tonka State Park a good day trip from Bennett Spring?
Yes. Ha Ha Tonka is about five miles south of Camdenton on the Niangua arm of the Lake of the Ozarks. It has early-1900s castle ruins, natural bridges, sinkholes, caves and about 15 miles of trails.
Where can I stay near Bennett Spring State Park?
Misty Oak Getaways has two dog-friendly stays 4 minutes from the park: the Lodge, which sleeps 8, and the Cabin, which sleeps 6. Book both for groups of up to 14.
Sources: Bennett Spring State Park, park facility hours, dining lodge, Bennett Spring floating, Route 66 Museum, Boswell Route 66 Park, Ha Ha Tonka State Park.