Thrilling roller coasters, 1880’s themed crafts, shows and concerts, festivals, family-friendly activities galore and delicious meals and treats await travelers of all ages at Silver Dollar City theme park in Branson, Missouri.
I’ve been to a lot of theme parks but I was blown away by the wide range of activities and adventures offered up at this award-winning park. Read on to find my Top 10 Tips for Visiting Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri.
Top 10 Tips for Visiting Silver Dollar City
1. Download the Silver Dollar City App which has an interactive map, daily schedules, special event offerings, showtimes and wait times for the more popular rides. If you’re the plan ahead type, you can map out the things you want to do and personalize your schedule. First-time visitors can find specific recommendations in four categories (Families With Young Children, Ozarks History Buffs, Casual Explorers and Thrill-Seekers).
2. Arrive early to make the most of your day. Parking is FREE and there are shuttles to transport you and your family directly to the entrance. The turnstiles open an hour before park opening so guests can grab a quick breakfast treat at Eva & Delilah’s Bakery or dine at Molly’s Mill and enjoy the Main Street activities.
Read on to find my Top 10 Tips for visiting Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. 
3. Bring the whole family! Silver Dollar City makes a great option for a multi-generational family visit with a range of family-friendly shows, rides everyone in the family can enjoy, and a slew of attractions (petting zoos, cooking classes, cave tours and more) for visitors of all ages. Be sure to check the website as there are festivals and special events throughout the year.
4. Make a plan and divide and conquer. If you’ve got children with different ride or activity preferences, you might want to separate into groups for some of the day. There are more than 40 rides and attractions, as well as 40 shows a day so there is a LOT to enjoy. For younger kids, The Grand Exposition area is a must-visit. Thrill seekers will LOVE Time Traveler, Thunderation, and WildFire. Family favorites include the Frisco Silver Dollar Steam Train, McHaffie’s Homestead and Marvel Cave.
5. Explore the timeless appeal of crafts and a dedication to preserving 1880s Ozarks culture. There are 100 craftsmen on park demonstrating glass blowing, blacksmithing, pottery, candy making, candle making, and many other disciplines. The shops are beautiful with one-of-a-kind gifts and souvenirs so be sure to check them out. Visiting the artisans and watching them in action was one of my favorite things during my visit.
6. Get ready to chow down! You’ll find the typical theme park fare like ice cream, funnel cakes and burgers but what sets Silver Dollar City apart is the quality of their food offerings. From sit down dining to quick meals and snacks, the culinary options are made fresh with healthy options available. I especially loved the bakery items, skillet meals, and Festival of Wonder specialty items like Bang Bang Shrimp Loaded Waffle Cones. I was also impressed with their allergy free food offerings.
7. Take advantage of the affordable lockers. When your kids outgrow their strollers, you suddenly find yourselves carrying around a lot of stuff. Lighten your load and keep your extra items safely stored for just $5 a day. Best of all, you can move your items from lockers around the park at no extra charge.
8. Relax with a cooking class at Silver Dollar City’s Culinary & Craft School. No kitchen experience necessary for these fun and engaging lessons taught in a state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen. Sit back and learn how to make a range of dishes and specialty menu items and then enjoy your goodies. This was such a nice way to spend an hour after running around on the rides and everything we made was delicious. Kids are welcome making this a great choice for grandparents, parents and children.
9. Visit Marvel Cave. Last but not least, my absolute favorite part of visiting Siver Dollar City was going down (and down…) on a tour of Marvel Cave with Ranger Bill. I’ve never done anything like this and it was so much fun for adults and kids alike. This famed wet limestone cave has formations that are still alive and growing. Kids are allowed but the hour tour is quite strenuous so I wouldn’t recommend it for kids under 5ish. Visitors climb down many stairs (some twisty and narrow) and passages to get 500 feet below the surface and then travel back up on a cable car. Along the way, the guide explains the cave’s history and answers questions. Tours are free and a 90-minute lantern tour is offered for $14. A don’t-miss experience!
10. My final tips for visiting Silver Dollar City…don’t forget to wear sunscreen and comfortable shoes and bring along phone chargers, sunglasses, hats and any other must-haves.
Want to learn more about Branson’s family-friendly attractions? Check out Family Fun Awaits in Branson, Missouri.
Pin this before you go…
Thank you to Explore Branson for hosting my trip and providing a super fun day at Silver Dollar City. As always, all opinions are my own.
[…] Silver Dollar City is pretty much the best theme park I never knew about. This award-winning 1880s themed amusement park has plenty of rides, old school attractions, festivals, yummy treats, shows galore plus a family-friendly cave tour that will make your day. I love that there are plenty of things to do for the whole family so nobody will feel left out. For more information, read my tips for visiting Silver Dollar City. […]