Drive Through the Lake of the Ozarks on the Way to Springfield

Wake up and hit the road early to make this most of your day.

Fuel up for your on-the-road adventure with breakfast at Duncan's Diner, a cozy family-owned restaurant in the tiny town of Prairie Home. Open for breakfast and lunch, Duncan's Diner makes everything from scratch, including a variety of Southern-style biscuits. The burgers and fried chicken are also popular. Don't leave without trying a slice of strawberry or peanut butter pie.
Call +16608415023 with any questions. Duncan's Diner is closed on Mondays.

Starks Caverns is an expansive cave once occupied by ancient Indigenous tribes and, later, early Missouri settlers. Guided tours take place daily at 11 a.m. on a route that's fully paved and lit, lasting about an hour (or less during off-season days with less traffic). Visitors get to walk a bridge across a small body of water, see dramatic rock formations and encounter Native American artifacts while learning about the history behind the cave. Spend some time in the Visitors Center afterwards.
Book an 11 a.m. tour in advance online.

As you travel into the Lakeside community, you'll cross Bagnell Dam, the imposing 148-foot-tall structure that impounded the Osage River to fully form Lake of the Ozarks in 1931.
Drive across the top of the dam, then pull over to snap a few photos and browse the shops on the Bagnell Dam Strip (on the structure's south side). The area has a timeless vacation town feel and is a hotbed for boating, kayaking and other water activities. Most of the shops have been around for years, if not decades.

Time to charge your EV. Dierbergs Markets is a nice, clean grocery store with charging ports in the parking lot. Hook up your car and feel free to browse the store for snacks and supplies for your road trip.
Dierbergs has an upstairs restaurant with a terrace and lakeside views. Hang out while your car charges and enjoy a light lunch. Limited bar service is available, but you may be required to purchase your food at the deli and bring it upstairs.
Type: CCS 2 stations, 2 plugs Power: 62.5 kW

You'll drive through Ha Ha Tonka State Park on a winding road that leads to the ruins of an old "castle" – or, more specifically, a vacation home that later operated as a hotel.
The Ha Ha Tonka property was built in the early 1900s, modeled in the style of 16th-century European castles, and destroyed by fire in 1942. The remaining walls are a dramatic sight in the middle of dense forestry, walking trails and lakeside views. A renovated water tower from the same period sits on the opposite side of the parking lot.
Although Ha Ha Tonka is an official state park, there is no entry fee.

You've arrived in Springfield. Check in to the Holiday Inn Express, a clean, contemporary hotel in the north end of the downtown area. Give yourself an hour to get settled and wash up before heading out to dinner.

Experience the heart of downtown Springfield with dinner at Civil Kitchen, a trendy restaurant in stylish stone and wood decor that overlooks Park Central Square. The menu of inventive New American cuisine and comfort food includes pork belly Bahn Mi tacos, seafood beignets and a "gooey butter cake" ice cream sandwich for dessert. You can also order more familiar fare, including burgers, chicken and waffles or a prime rib sandwich. Civil Kitchen has a solid lineup of traditional cocktails, but takes pride in an extensive craft beer selection.
Reservations are an especially good idea on weekends. Call +14175018456 to book a table. Civil Kitchen is closed on Mondays.

Return to the hotel and get a good night's rest.