10 Best Family Beaches in Missouri — Kid-Friendly Beach Vacations!
Despite being landlocked, Missouri in the Midwest has an abundance of breathtaking beaches that can compete with any beachfront coastline.
The well-kept Missouri coasts offer crystal-clear water, lovely scenery, and, depending on which beach you visit, soft, fine sand.
Missouri beaches offer a variety of enjoyable activities, including kayaking, paddle boarding, scuba diving, sailing, beach volleyball, and sunbathing.
Prepare your luggage and mark your calendar because you are about to discover the most fantastic family beaches in Missouri that will ensure a ton of bonding time with your loved ones and pleasant memories.
- Grand Glaize Beach — Osage Beach
Grand Glaize Beach is one of the numerous Lake Ozark’s shorelines.
It has a smooth sandy shoreline and clear water.
Why We Recommend This Beach
When vacationing with young children, consider considering Grand Glaize Beach.
Grand Glaize Beach, one of the best toddler-friendly beaches in the state, boasts shallow, quiet waters without any waves that are ideal for your small ones to splash around.
The sandy shore is perfect for building imposing castles, forts, and sculptures, so bring your kids’ beach toys.
Before going for a swim, you can set a beach blanket and tan while your kids are having fun.
The Lodge of Four Seasons Golf Resort, one of Missouri’s top family hotels, is adjacent to Grand Glaize Beach.
Expert Tip
Grand Glaize Beach has a marina nearby where you may rent boats of various sizes if you wish to relax while cruising across the water.
There are also shops at the marina where you can buy ice cream, fishing tackle, and many other things.
- Moonshine Beach — Branson
Moonshine Beach is a well-liked swimming location with a broad, family-friendly shoreline and beautiful water.
Why We Recommend This Beach
One of Missouri’s best beaches for youngsters is its vast shoreline.
They can play in the fine sand along its expansive shoreline, which has a modest slope.
Your children can swim in the tranquil waters at Moonshine Beach without worrying about being swept away by giant waves or rip currents.
Your kids can play at the neighboring playground at Moonshine Beach while taking a break from swimming because it contains slides and a jungle gym.
Moonshine Beach is one of the top locations for scuba diving because of its crystal-clear, unpolluted water.
Playing a friendly beach volleyball match is another enjoyable thing you can do while on vacation here.
Expert Tip
There are beach pavilions and shelters that you may rent for special events like family gatherings, anniversaries, birthday celebrations, reunions, and the like.
These offer a more private location to have fun and can often accommodate up to 75 people.
- Fugitive Beach — Rolla
The most popular beach in Missouri is Fugitive Beach.
It is among Missouri’s most fantastic family beach getaways since it has a sandy shoreline and many family-friendly amenities.
Why We Recommend This Beach
In Missouri, there are many family-friendly things to do at Fugitive Beach, located on a quarry.
There is a shallow area directly by the coast for the younger children.
Floaties and beach toys are both available for rental.
Fugitive Beach has many teenage activities, including enormous water slides, cliff jumping, volleyball courts on the sand, kayak rentals, diving platforms, and more.
Due to the requirement that life jacket rentals be worn and the presence of attentive lifeguards, Fugitive Beach is the safest beach in Missouri.
The limestone and copper in the rock formation help eradicate microbes naturally, and authorities test the water every two weeks.
Expert Tip
There are snack shacks, a beach bar, and a grill where you can get delicious, easy-to-eat meals without having to cook or bring food for your family.
Additionally, there are kid-friendly menu items available, like nachos, popcorn chicken, hotdogs, ice cream, and others.
- Stockton Lake Public Beach — Dadeville
The amenities at Stockton Lake Public Beach, a local favorite, enhance the convenience and comfort of vacationing.
Why We Recommend This Beach
One of Missouri’s best family-friendly beaches is along this lovely coastline.
Spend the day lazing on the beach, tanning, helping the kids build sandcastles, and having a quiet lunch while enjoying the magnificent scenery.
Stockton Lake Public Beach is ideal for engaging in exhilarating water sports like sailing, kayaking, scuba diving, canoeing, water skiing, pontooning, fishing, and more with your group.
Expert Tip
The marina near Stockton Lake Public Beach also provides boat rentals for people who don’t know how to sail but want to learn.
- Long Branch State Park Beach — Macon
You may have the best family beach vacations in Missouri at Long Branch State Park Beach.
It has a sandy coastline with calm waters that rarely or never have waves.
Why We Recommend This Beach
Visit Long Branch State Park Beach during your family’s vacations in Missouri to strengthen your relationships and spend time with your loved ones.
You can float your kids about in the water by bringing along inflatable donuts or other floaties.
Boat ramps are available at Long Branch State Park Beach in case you desire to bring your watercraft, and a volleyball court is open for group games of volleyball.
Expert Tip
There are numerous beautiful hiking paths close by Long Branch State Park Beach, where your entire family can breathe fresh air.
The trails are covered in wildflowers and gorgeous birds like red-headed woodpeckers and indigo buntings.
- Mark Twain State Park Beach — Florida
Mark Twain State Park Beach, located on the Mark Twain Lake shoreline, has a sandy shoreline, beautiful blue water, and is manicured with oak and maple trees.
Why We Recommend This Beach
You can unwind with your loved ones during your trip at this peaceful, uncrowded beach.
There aren’t many people at Mark Twain State Park Beach, making it peaceful to sunbathe or read a book there.
Mark Twain State Park Beach is family-friendly since it has a roped-off swimming area with calm, shallow seas.
Additionally, no little stones or pebbles can cause your children’s feet to blister.
The Mark Twain State Park beach is excellent for relaxing pursuits like stand-up paddleboarding and fishing.
Expert Tip
Choose from one of the three campgrounds in Mark Twain State Park to spend your family vacation taking advantage of the great outdoors.
The Puma campground has family-sized camping accommodations and is the most kid-friendly.
- Monsanto Lake Beach — Park Hills
One of the beaches in St. Joe State Park is Monsanto Lake Beach.
It is bigger and offers additional amenities for families.
Why We Recommend This Beach
Monsanto Lake Beach is the ideal beach destination for you and your family if you wish to spend your family holiday at a beach surrounded by nature.
You can go scuba diving because the water is clean enough.
You may play beach volleyball at Monsanto Lake Beach for no charge, and there are picnic tables and grills so you can simply prepare and eat your meals there.
Expert Tip
Because there aren’t many places to eat close to Monsanto Lake Beach, be sure to carry meals, drinks, and extra snacks.
- Rocky Falls Beach — Winona
Rocky Falls Beach may not be your standard sandy beach, but beachgoers adore its rocky shorelines due to its stunning cascade and clean seas.
The rocks around the lake date back more than 1.5 billion years.
Why We Recommend This Beach
This lovely beach is one of the best locations to cool off on sweltering summer days.
Rocky Falls Beach is close to a lovely waterfall that offers a natural waterslide for the delight of your family, and the waters are clear and pure.
Rocky Falls Beach offers a convenient parking lot, picnic places to eat while listening to the waterfalls’ soft roar, and boulders that you can scale for breathtaking photos.
Expert Tip
I advise you to use aqua shoes when swimming to protect your feet because the rocks can become painful to step on for extended periods.
- Finger Lakes State Park Beach — Columbia
The beach at Finger Lakes State Park Beach, surrounded by an 1128-acre park, boasts a golden beachfront.
Why We Recommend This Beach
Enjoy a leisurely day at the beach while you work on your tan, spend precious time with your children building sandcastles or sculptures, playing catch, or instructing them how to swim in the shallow waters.
The picnic spots at Finger Lakes State Park Beach allow you to enjoy your deliciously cooked meals, and a roped-off section acts as a barrier to separate the shallow and deeper parts of the lake.
You can go kayaking, boating, canoeing, and fishing while on vacation here.
Expert Tip
A mountain bike trail and an ORV and ATV race circuit are available at Finger Lakes State Park Beach.
Visit us to enjoy a fantastic experience while watching the racing.
- Lake Boutin Beach — Jackson
Lake Boutin Beach is a small sandy beach located in Jackson Trail of Tears State Park, a public leisure area.
Why We Recommend This Beach
One of Missouri’s top family beaches is Lake Boutin Beach.
It offers a gentle sand beach where you can lounge about and sunbathe, a playground for kids, a swimming area with cool water, and a grassy area ideal for picnics and outdoor activities.
Canoeing, fishing, and tubing are enjoyable water activities that you may enjoy with your family while visiting this area.
You may capture the beautiful environment in photos that will help you remember your family holiday for years.
Expert Tip
Drop by the Visitors Center to learn about the tragic past of the Cherokee Native Americans.