So you’ve arrived at Lake of the Ozarks… and it’s raining. Never fear!
A curveball from Mother Nature shouldn’t ruin your long-awaited Lake of the Ozarks vacation. And it doesn’t have to: there’s plenty of fun off the water! Here are some activities around the Lake that’ll make great memories while keeping you out of the bad weather.
Remember: keep an eye on the radar, because it’s a rare rainy weekend that the skies never break enough for boaters to snag at least a few hours on the water.
Rainy Weekend Fun
Jollymon Indoor Water Park
Location: Margaritaville – Osage Beach
Make a splash at the Lake’s indoor water park! Featuring 600 feet of water slides, a lazy river for tubing, and a three-story wilderness tree-house with bridges and water blasters, Jollymon will keep the whole family happy for hours.
The park offers a fully stocked snack bar and is conveniently located near other Margaritaville bars and restaurants, including LandShark Bar and Grill.
Cave, Photo courtesy of Lake of the Ozark CVB
The Caves
Location:
-Bridal Cave: Camdenton
-Stark Caverns: Eldon
-Jacob’s Cave: Versailles
-Ozark Caverns: Lake of the Ozarks State Park
The cool thing about caves: it doesn’t rain inside! Missouri is known as the Cave State, and Lake of the Ozarks has more than its fair share. You can spend an entire rainy weekend visiting the four caves in the area.
Lake Escape – Escape room center in Lake Ozark
Lake Escape
Location: Lake Ozark
At The Lake’s premier escape room experience, you’ll get to choose from several uniquely themed rooms including “Lakeview Heist” and “Dr. Lakenstein’s Laboratory”. These rooms are brilliantly designed; some are tougher than others, but they’re all a blast.
This activity is perfect if you’re traveling with a group of friends or family. The more people you have, the quicker you may be able to crack the code and escape!
Adobe Stock Image
Shopping
Location: Everywhere
The Lake was once a shopper’s mecca: in the heyday of the outlet mall, it was a major reason to visit! Now the shopping scene is spread across the region.
Since it’s raining, lean into the tropical vibes and head to Florida Direct Palms. You can select the perfect palm tree to accompany your Lake house landscape, or cruise among unique apparel, souvenir, and lake lifestyle items in the store. Just up the road you’ll find Evergreen, a unique floor-to-ceiling home decor store with countless custom-curated items and a brilliant staff to help you freshen up your space. On the Lake’s west side, American Elm offers a similar experience with one-of-a-kind decor for the home. Head to one of the area’s many excellent wakesurf shops to get your gear for when the rain lets up (turn back 10 pages to find our guide to those). And don’t forget the Lake Ozark Strip! With t-shirt and apparel shops, an oldschool arcade, classic candy store, and some of the Lake’s best restaurants, you can spend a whole day shopping and playing on the Strip.
Miner Mikes Go Carts, Photo by Lake Shots Photography
Miner Mike’s
Location: Osage Beach
Hours of fun await at Miner Mike’s Indoor Family Fun Center.
Feed your need for speed at Buster’s Garage, an indoor electric go-kart track that’s a blast for kids and adults (they’re fast!) Nearby, there are plenty of grown-up-friendly games like shuffleboard, skeeball, simulators, and arcades. Take a break from the fun to enjoy some food and beverages in Buster’s Saloon. On the main level upstairs, the kids will love making their way through the Maze play area and riding the train. Plus the arcade is filled with ticket-winning games and plenty of Skee Ball.
LOZ Golf Lounge
Location: Osage Beach
Rain ruining your tee time? At LOZ Golf Lounge, you’ll find 90 virtual courses from all over the world.
Utilizing Trackman simulator technology, enjoy hours of entertainment on the course, with a variety of refreshments available too. Prefer shotguns over pitching wedges? Be sure to ask about their shooting simulator as well.
Jetz Trampoline Park
Location: Osage Beach
Break a sweat and have a blast at the Lake’s best and only trampoline park. Perfect for families with children looking to burn off some energy, Jetz is great for a few hours of entertainment and snacks as you jump your way across the Freestyle Tarmac, Top Gun Ninja Course, Little Jet Jump Zone, and more.
Laser Tag – Adobe Stock Photo
Lazer Force Laser Tag
Location: Osage Beach
Here, you’ll step inside a larger-than-life laser tag game that features blacklights, fog, strobe effects, and heart-pumping music. Using top-of-the-line equipment, you’ll find there’s no lag time and complete accuracy from start to finish.
Perfect for any age, this rainy-day activity won’t disappoint!
Willmore Lodge, Photo courtesy Lake of the Ozarks CVB
Willmore Lodge Museum
Location: Lake Ozark
Built in 1930, this incredible rustic lodge houses an interactive museum. There you can learn more of the rich history of the Lake’s iconic Bagnell Dam, including the planning and precise engineering that went into its construction in 1929. The Lodge also offers a beautiful view of Bagnell Dam and the Lake!
It’s free to visit, and a unique experience for the whole family.