Silver Dollar City is the flagship theme park of Branson, Missouri, one of the most popular and budget-friendly vacation spots in the whole country. Filled with rides, shows, dining, shopping, and more, it’s also one of the longest running attractions in the Ozarks. The park as it exists today opened in 1960 and, in the decades since, has grown into one of the highest-rated theme parks in the United States.
Perfect for families, there’s no shortage of rides for little ones to enjoy, but thrill-seekers will also be happy with the many roller coasters throughout the park. Some of Silver Dollar City’s coasters are known worldwide by enthusiasts who come from far and wide to ride them. Those who prefer a slower pace will find it easy to spend the day shopping.
With so much to see and do, you might find it overwhelming to plan your day at Silver Dollar City, especially if you’ve never been before. Here’s what you need to know about the park to make the most of your time inside the park.
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Morning at Silver Dollar City
Breakfast at Molly’s Mill Restaurant
One concern about table-service dining at theme parks is that it takes valuable time away from your day. Why spend time sitting in a restaurant when you could ride as many rides as possible? That’s why Molly’s Mill Restaurant is such a treat. Before you begin your day in Silver Dollar City, you can eat here for breakfast (open March through October).
It opens before the park, meaning you can enjoy the Ozark Mountain Breakfast Buffet as early as 8:30 in the morning. That allows you and your family to enjoy a full meal without taking a single minute away from rides, shows, and exploring the theme park.
Explore and shop around the Craft Villages
As you enter Silver Dollar City, you’re greeted by a lineup of shops concentrated in one of several neighborhoods: Main Street, Midtown, and Homestead Ridge. Here, you can shop for unique hand-crafted keepsakes along with tried-and-true theme park souvenirs to commemorate your visit. Whether you want a Silver Dollar City t-shirt or a memento from the General Store, this is where you’ll likely do the bulk of your shopping.
Silver Dollar City is filled with craftsmen and artisans, some of whom have shared their talents in the park for decades. Demonstrations happen throughout the day, so be sure to check them out. Many of the souvenirs you’ll find in the park are made on-site using raw materials, making shopping and perusing the stores one of the main attractions of Silver Dollar City.
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It’s worth pointing out that many craftsmen and boutique-style shops close a couple of hours before the park does. While some theme parks are more optimal for shopping later in the evening, you may want to plan your shopping in Silver Dollar City earlier in the day to avoid missing out on any of those one-of-a-kind goodies.
Afternoon at Silver Dollar City
Explore Marvel Cave
Silver Dollar City was built atop Marvel Cave, which opened in 1894 as one of the earliest attractions of the Ozarks. It’s still open for guests today, and a one-hour walking tour is included with your park admission.
If you don’t get around to exploring the cave in the morning, it can be a great activity for mid-afternoon (perhaps after fueling up with some lunch; there are a lot of stairs and ramps).
The moderate temperature of the cave also makes for a nice break from the peak sun and heat if you’re visiting Silver Dollar City during the summer. When your tour ends, you’ll ascend a half-mile back up to the park via cable train.
Lunch at Rivertown Smokehouse
There are plenty of good food options at Silver Dollar City, but if you’re looking for a prime spot to feed the entire family, check out Rivertown Smokehouse. It’s filled with all kinds of tasty barbecue options, including brisket, ribs, macaroni and cheese, and more. Order a platter to try some of everything, and you’ll be energized for the rest of the afternoon.
For a lunch that’s more on-the-go, Silver Dollar City is home to several counter-service locations known for their skillets. Head to Lumbercamp Falls Skillet, Buckshot’s Skillet Cookery, or Hatfield’s Tater Patch to see what’s cooking.
Enjoy a live performance
Entertainment is abundant at Silver Dollar City. It’s hard to turn a corner and not hear live music or see a line of guests waiting to enter one of the park’s many performance spaces. The city of Branson is filled with variety acts of all shapes and sizes, so it’s no surprise that Silver Dollar City would follow suit.
You’ll want to carve out some time to watch the Frontier Follies found in the Silver Dollar Saloon. The act has been a part of Silver Dollar City for 50 years, making it the park’s longest-running show. Catching a show in the afternoon is also a great way to give yourself a break from all of those steps you’re clocking.
Evening at Silver Dollar City
Hit up popular rides at night
You’ll be thoroughly satisfied with Silver Dollar City if you’re all about roller coasters. As I mentioned, coaster enthusiasts travel from around the globe to experience some of the attractions offered here, including Outlaw Run, Time Traveler, and PowderKeg, to name a few. While you’ll likely tackle these and many more throughout the day, there’s an added thrill in experiencing the rides at night.
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Some of the coasters, like Outlaw Run and Time Traveler, are tucked away in the forested areas surrounding Silver Dollar City, which boast spectacular views during the day, but it also shrouds the rides in darkness after the sun sets.
Attend a seasonal festival
Silver Dollar City hosts several limited-time festivals throughout the year. Starting in the spring, you can enjoy the Spring Fest in April, followed by Bluegrass & BBQ in May. Summer is filled with Season Pass Appreciation days, the annual Summer Celebration, and Summer Nights, which take place in July and August.
Fall is a great time to visit the Ozarks, and Silver Dollar City is part of that seasonal appeal. This is when tens of thousands of pumpkins appear throughout the park for Harvest Festival, which runs from mid-September through late October. The year closes with An Old Time Christmas, featuring more than 6.5 million lights, from early November through late December.
Some festivals offer seasonal food and drink items around the park’s eateries (keep your eyes peeled on the menus) that you can order throughout the day. Some food booths are only available in the evening, so consider making that your dinner plan.
Other aspects of the festival are best enjoyed at night. For example, Harvest Festival includes a dance party that kicks off each day at 5:00 p.m., and the glowing pumpkins and Foggy Hollow walking trail are best enjoyed in the dark. Similarly, An Old Time Christmas is illuminated after the sun sets.
The seasonal festival offerings are around all day, but to immerse yourself in what’s being offered, you may want to schedule your day around checking out the bulk of the festival offerings at night.
Important tips for a day at Silver Dollar City
No matter how you plan your day at Silver Dollar City, there are a few things to remember that will help you both maximize your time and enjoy the attractions and offerings you can’t find anywhere else.
1) If you ride nothing else, ride Fire in the Hole. There may not be a ride as synonymously tied to Silver Dollar City as Fire in the Hole, so prioritize this ride if you want that quintessential Branson experience! The original version of this slow-moving roller coaster first opened in 1972 and has entertained generations of park visitors ever since.
The version of the ride concluded its historic run at the end of the 2023 season, and right on its heels was the opening of a brand-new version. The upgraded and “plused” Fire in the Hole includes all of the fan-favorite scenes and drops of the original. This is the perfect family ride that everyone can enjoy.
2) Consider adding a TrailBlazer pass. These skip-the-line passes allow you to bypass the standby queue with a separate designated entrance to participating rides (the vast majority of headliner attractions). There are two kinds of passes: The regular TrailBlazer pass, which includes eight uses in one day; and the Super TrailBlazer pass, which includes unlimited uses in one day.
If you’re more of a guest who wants to see live entertainment, consider adding the Show Lover’s Pass. While all of the shows in Silver Dollar City are included with admission, guaranteed seating is available for an additional fee (no need to stand in any lines). Show Lover’s Passes are available for The Perondi’s Stunt Dogs and Frontier Follies.
3) Be prepared to walk. Like most theme parks, a day at Silver Dollar City will put your legs and feet to work (I clocked in 25,000 steps on my most recent visit). Because the park is built alongside caves and hills, its layout is actually sloped, with the park’s entrance at the highest point and the bulk of the rides found downhill. Keep that in mind when deciding how to organize your day.
4) There’s lots for kids to see and do for all ages. Silver Dollar City is home to some intense roller coasters, but there are still plenty of family-friendly rides. Most rides specifically designed for young children can be found in the Grand Exposition, Half Dollar Holler, and Fireman’s Landing neighborhoods. Make sure to take a trip on the Frisco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train and have candies ready; you never know when robbers may show up!
5) Pick up a loaf of Cinnamon Bread. Disney World has its Dole Whip, and Silver Dollar City has its Cinnamon Bread. Stop at Clara Belle’s to pick up a loaf to share with your family (if you’re inclined to share… I totally understand if you decide to keep it all to yourself).
The original flavor is available daily along with seasonal flavors like Apple Cinnamon Bread, Peach Cinnamon Bread, and Time Traveler Cinnamon Bread. Just as tasty and also worth making room in your stomach for is Silver Dollar City’s Cinnamon Bread Pudding.
6) If you visit during a festival, consider adding a Tasting Passport. Silver Dollar City is a theme park foodie paradise, and that’s especially true when a food festival is going on. Tasting Passports are available for purchase during select seasonal festivals and include five tasting passes to enjoy the exclusive food items only available during the festival.
You come out slightly ahead money-wise than if you were to buy these menu items individually, making it a lot easier (and cost effective) to simply present your pass when you’re ready to eat.