This short loop,
between 50 and 60 miles depending your choice of options, is great for
visitors to Branson. It is only a couple hours and great for a pre-dinner
jaunt after which, of course, you'll be attending the theatre.
Head south out of
Branson to US-65. About 7 miles south of the junction of Business 65 (which
runs through Branson and Hollister) and US-65, turn right on Hwy-86. You'll
cross part of Table Rock Lake and have a great view of the fall colors along
the shores. Continue to the junction of Hwy-13 (just north of Blue Eye) and
turn right. Follow 13, through Lampe, cross the Lake, through Kimberling City
to Branson West. Turn right and, now, you will have many options. If you bear
to the right at every intersection, you will eventually get back to US-65. If
you make a left now and then, you will also get back to US-65 but further
north. Caution: if you encounter Hwy-76 again (which runs from Branson West to
the end of the US-65 freeway) do NOT turn left. That would take you back to
Branson West.
The trees in this area
are always beautiful in the autumn even despite summer droughts. We recommend
you start this trip about 3p. The sun (thanks to all the pollution in the
earth's atmosphere) casts a orange glow on the earth which makes the leaves
even more beautiful. Maybe there is something useful in all that pollution
:-).
While you're in the
Branson area it's a good opportunity to enjoy a show in one of their many
excellent theatres if that isn't already part of your agenda. For more about Branson, see: Branson:
what, where!
Most accommodations are 'booked
up' during the leaf season. If you haven't made your hotel/motel reservations yet we
have included access to an on-line reservation system for your convenience.
Hotel
reservations are available, usually at a discount,
in the following nearby communities:
- Branson
- intersection
of US-65 and US-160 (Ozarks region)
- Branson
West - Hwy-13
just
west of Branson (Ozarks region)
- Doniphan
- US-160, 19 miles west of US-67 (Ozarks region)
- Hayti
- at
I-55 exit 19 (Missouri 'Boot Heel' area)
- Kimberling
City - Hwy-13
at Table Rock Lake (Ozarks region)
- Mountain
Grove
- US-60,
11 miles west of US-63
- Poplar
Bluff - intersection of
US-60 and US-67 (east Ozarks region)
- Springfield
- I-44 exits 72 through 82
(northern entry to Ozarks region)
- West
Plains
- intersection of US-63 and
US-160 (Ozarks region)
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