How to Save Money in Springfield

Springfield prides itself on combining compelling historical sites, nostalgia-filled entertainment and gorgeous, green scenery. Best of all, much of it is free for everyone to enjoy.

• Springfield takes its role as the birthplace of historic Route 66 seriously. Get your kicks on the Mother Road at Springfield Visitor’s Center, which is home to mementos of the highway’s mid-century heyday and a replica of a ‘50s-era gas station and diner. Visit in August, and you’ll encounter the city’s Route 66 festival, featuring classic car parades, concerts and drive-in movies.
• Springfield was also the birthplace of another American icon: Bass Pro Shop. The massive headquarters is more than just a store—it’s an experience that draws more than 4 million visitors per year. Bass Pro Shop’s mega-wildlife attraction stars a 1.5-million-gallon aquarium and 35,000 live fish, reptiles, mammals and birds. It also houses the National Archery Hall of Fame, a 50,000-square-foot conservation education center and a café inspired by angler and author Ernest Hemingway.