Four spots worth knowing about — from a wood-fired taproom tucked in the hills to a coffee shop you have to earn on foot.
01 One 2 Five Brewing
Rogersville, MO | Wed–Thu 3–8pm · Fri 3–9pm · Sat–Sun 11am–9/7pm
A few miles outside of town on Hwy 125, One 2 Five is exactly the kind of place you stumble across once and immediately start telling people about. It’s a small-batch taproom run by the owners of Springfield Brewing Company, with a wood-fired pizza oven, a big patio with firepits and rocking chairs, and a fully fenced outdoor area that makes it genuinely kid- and dog-friendly. The dough is made fresh daily with a splash of their own beer in the mix, and it shows. Worth noting: they also pour spirits from their sister company, Ty Iechyd Da Distillery, if beer’s not your thing.
Good to know: The patio fills up on Saturday evenings, so arriving closer to open tends to be the move. It’s about 10 minutes from the east side of Springfield.
02 Cassidy Station
Nixa, MO | Mon–Fri 10am–6pm · Sat 10am–4pm · Closed Sun
Cassidy Station is harder to categorize than most places — it’s part mercantile, part flower shop, part butcher, part event venue, and part working farm. The property sits on land the Estes family has farmed since 1872, and in 2022 they restored the original farmstead buildings and opened it to the public. The mercantile carries gifts and goods that don’t feel like typical boutique filler, the flower arrangements are genuinely impressive and tend to last, and the butcher shop stocks quality meat you won’t find at most grocery stores. They also host seasonal events and farm-to-table pop-ups that are worth following on social if you’re local.
Good to know: If you see a farm-to-table pop-up event announced, don’t wait — they sell out. The venue is also available for private events if you’re planning something.
03 Dogwood Canyon Nature Park
Lampe, MO (Table Rock Lake area) | Daily 8am–5pm | Reservations recommended
Dogwood Canyon is a 10,000-acre nature park in the Ozarks just south of Table Rock Lake, and the bike ride through the canyon floor is the most popular summer activity. You follow a spring-fed stream past waterfalls and limestone bluffs for several miles at an easy pace — accessible enough for most fitness levels, scenic enough to justify the drive. If you want more, the tram tour takes you into the hills where bison and elk roam across the conservation land. It’s a working nature preserve, not a theme park, and that’s a big part of what makes it worth the trip.
Good to know: Bike rentals are available on-site. There’s a restaurant on the property — the bison burger is the order. Plan on about an hour from Springfield and book ahead, especially on weekends.
04 Airship Coffee at Coler
Bentonville, AR (Coler MTB Preserve) | Daily 7am–5:30pm | Hike or bike in
This one is a little bit of a drive— it’s worth it. Airship Coffee at Coler sits inside the Coler Mountain Bike Preserve in Bentonville. You hike or ride in about 15 minutes through the trees, and the coffee shop appears like something you were supposed to find. It’s outdoor seating, shade, good espresso, and the quiet that comes from not being reachable by car. Bentonville has become one of the better trail towns in the country over the past decade, and Airship at Coler is one of the stronger arguments for making the trip down.
Good to know: Park at the Coler trailhead and hike in — it’s about 1:15 from Springfield. Plan to spend a couple hours. The trail network at Coler is worth exploring before or after coffee. Visit their website for a map that provides parking and trail directions.
The Ozarks region covers a lot of ground— the 417 area alone reaches from quiet hill towns down to the Arkansas border, and there’s no shortage of places that don’t show up on the usual lists. These four are on our radar this summer. If you’ve got somewhere worth knowing about, we always want to hear it!
