No coast? No problem! Where to find a beach less than three hours from Springfield

Let’s start with the obvious. No, we can’t surf and we won’t find many shells. But Ozarkers can still enjoy a day at the beach, lazily paddling on a floaty or propped in a beach chair waist-deep in cool lake waters.

You might be surprised by how many swimming spots are found on lakes in the Ozarks — most with sand (or at least gravely sand) beaches. Some require a small day fee; others are free. One is privately owned and leans more toward a water park. Whatever your beach style, we hope this roundup — with sites listed closest to farthest from Springfield — will help you find a place to wiggle your toes in the sand, make castles with your kids and memories with your family and friends.

Stockton State Park Beach

Stockton State Park’s beach is only an hour from Springfield, making it a handy day trip destination for cooling off and splashing around with a beautiful lake view. The open gravel beach on the north tip of the park has nearby picnic areas, but is otherwise a bit removed from some of the park’s other amenities. But they aren’t too far away and provide more things to do when you or your kids get tired of swimming.

The park (which also offers camping and overnight rentals) features a marina for renting boats and WaveRunners, grabbing a snack or burger and even signing up for sailing lessons. Plus, there are bathrooms and play areas. Work up a sweat — so the water will feel that much cooler — by trekking or biking first on one of the park’s trails. Or bring a rod and reel and teach the kids how to fish.

The 25,000-acre Stockton Lake goes well beyond the state park and there are many more spots to camp, fish, hike and even swim nearby.

Moonshine Beach at Table Rock Lake

This wide swim spot at Table Rock Lake is only an hour south of Springfield and offers a nice sandy beach experience for a day trip or an overnight trip at the lake. It’s a completely different experience and much larger than Stockton Lake’s beach. The swimming section for Moonshine Beach Recreation Area is roped off, and its facilities include covered picnic tables, a sizeable reservable shelter and a boat ramp.

A festive atmosphere that attracts locals and Branson or lake area tourists, you won’t have this beach to yourself. But it’s a wide space that accommodates many beach blankets. Tip: Go early! Parking is limited at this popular beach.

To expand the day’s adventure, before or after your beach time, you can visit the Dewey Short Visitor Center and access the 2.25-mile paved Table Rock Lakeshore Trail to the State Park Marina. And we all know there are plenty of options for additional entertainment at Table Rock Lake and nearby Branson.

Lake of the Ozarks State Park Beaches

You have your pick of two sandy swimming areas at Lake of the Ozarks State Park, less than two hours northeast of Springfield. The closest beach to Springfield is the beach just west of the Grand Glaize Bridge and the Grand Glaize State Park Marina. A smallish sandy beach tucked into a cove, this location makes a fun day out with the family.

Bring shade and sand toys; there is also a nearby playground. If you get hungry, walk over to the marina for a snack or meal. (Dare we say ice cream?) If you get tired of paddling around in your floaties at the beach, you can also rent a boat or personal watercraft.

About 25 minutes away from Grand Glaze Beach, Public Beach No. 1 is bordered by a stone wall and steps and covers a wider stretch of water with a rope-protected swimming area not far from the campground and another marina. No matter which you choose, you’ll find plenty of other nearby lake activities including hiking trails, boating and family-friendly attractions.

Day-Use Beach at Harry S. Truman State Park

A wide-open swimming area on the Harry S. Truman State Park peninsula, this day-use sandy beach has close parking, a bathroom, picnic tables and a pretty view of the lake. It doesn’t have much shade, so pack your umbrella or easy-up shelter to spend the day splashing around.

If you want to rent a boat for part of your day out, the Truman State Park Marina is nearby. Truman State Park campers also have use of a campground-only beach. If you go for a day trip, break up your drive with a stop at Osceola Cheese.

Beaver Dam Swimming Beach, Arkansas

A nice wide, protected swimming area near Beaver Dam on Beaver Lake makes a good day trip from Springfield or a weekend getaway nearby. Picnic tables, grassy areas and a gorgeous lake view are hallmarks of this sandy beach, plus there are other things to do, like visit the dam or drive a little farther north to Beaver Lake Dive Park and the scenic bluffs area.

Beaver Lake has several other swimming areas, including the nearby Dam Site Lake Island (on the other side of the dam), Starkey Park and Horseshoe Bend.

The Fugitive Beach, Rolla

If you like adventure, visit Fugitive Beach near Rolla — as much a water amusement park as a sandy beach swimming hole in an old quarry. You can splash around the shallow area or tap into your adventurous side.

Cliff jumping is certainly an Ozarks tradition and Fugitive Beach has plenty of spots ranging from 10 to 20 feet tall. Jumping isn’t your thing? There’s a 60-foot water slide, too. And for water play, swim out to the inflatable rope swing to sail into the water. Sand volleyball and other games, like cornhole, are available on the shore. 

Life jackets are required in deep areas and even in shallow areas for kids ages 10 and younger. Lifeguards are present at some of the activity areas, but not throughout the park. Check the website for rules, fees and more.

Sand Island (and more!) at Norfork Lake

Sand Island, aka Sandy Beach, aka Jordan Island, is like a sandy bit of paradise at Norfolk Lake, a two-state straddling recreation area in the Arkansas and Missouri Ozarks. The lake with unspoiled bluffs and forests near Mountain Home, Arkansas, is 65 miles long with 550 miles of undeveloped shoreline and plentiful recreation opportunities including snorkeling, fishing, swimming, water sports and more.

About two-and-a-half hours south of Springfield, you might want to make this beach outing a weekend trip. You’ll have plenty of overnight options, including camping and resorts around the lake or in nearby Mountain Home.

This island beach on the Arkansas side can only be reached by boat, whether you motor or paddle over. And it really is a sand beach like you’d find at the ocean! Take the family or plan a trip with friends to spend a day on the unspoiled spit of land where you’ll only find central trees (and other beach-goers), but no facilities. Bring picnic supplies and your own shade. The best launch spots to reach the island are Hand Cove and Jordan access points. (And if you need to rent a boat, Jordan Marina is closest to the island.)

If Sand Island looks a bit crowded, or you want to try a different spot, there are several nearby boat-accessible undeveloped alternatives including Barren Point and White Bluff beaches. To visit a beach without boating, try swimming areas in the Jordan Recreation Area. And Calamity Beach on the northern end of the lake is also minimally developed.

In between are fee-based developed park swim beaches at Quarry, Bidwell, Robinson Point, Panther Bay, Gamaliel and Cranfield parks. For a beachy weekend, you can’t go wrong at Norfork Lake.

Sony Hocklander

Sony Hocklander is a freelance journalist, video storyteller and photographer who produces creative content through her small solo business, Sony Hocklander Creative LLC. When she's not telling community stories, she loves wandering the Ozarks outdoors with a camera in hand. You can follow her on Twitter @SonyHocklander and on Instagram @shocklander or email her at: sonyhocklander@gmail.com More by Sony Hocklander

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