The Road Rules!

We’ve mapped out four one-day road trips you might not have ever considered—and even if you have, we found the most under-the-radar things to do once you get there and a few places to stop along the way.

If there’s one good thing about living smack dab in the middle of America, it’s the fact that you’re within driving distance of a lot of really cool places. In our never-ending quest to help you have fun, we’ve mapped out four one-day road trips you might not have ever considered—and even if you have, we found the most under-the-radar things to do once you get there and a few places to stop along the way. Now are you ready to go? Good…SHOTGUN!

Lawrence, Kansas

Lawrence is the quintessential college town. “But GO,” you say, “we already live in a college town.” Hardly. That’s not to say Lawrence is a better place to live than Springfield, just that there is absolutely nothing to do in Lawrence if you’re not a student. It’s in the middle of nowhere.

Good trip if you’re looking for: Concerts by musicians you would hear on a college radio station—if Springfield had a college radio station.

Distance: 195 miles

The Drive There: You may have seen the signs for the Osceola Cheese Company (3700 MO Highway 13, 417-646-8131) before, now it’s time to actually stop. After all, nothing eases road construction-induced stress like a block of smoked Gouda. The highway-side retail store doesn’t actually make its own cheese anymore (although it used to) but they do age and smoke cheeses on site, as well as sell more than 150 different cheeses ranging from the simple to the surreal. Owner Mike Bloom says a trendy new cheese is the smoked cranberry cheddar with real cranberries mixed in. At $8.39 a pound it’s about twice as much as a block of boring regular cheddar, but what’s a road trip if you can’t try new things?

The Destination: If you’ve got a fave indie/underground music group, they’ll probably play at The Bottleneck (737 New Hampshire, 785-842-5483). We’re talking Radiohead, Pedro the Lion, The Deftones, Government Mule, Wilco, Elliott Smith, Sublime and tons of others. The owner of the club also runs a production company, which is why The Bottleneck is known for booking talented bands you’ve never heard of, as well as up-and-comers on the scene.

The Drive Back: To get to Truman Lake, look for the Osceola Cheese Company again; the lake can be seen from the store and it makes for a great place to stretch your legs. Try to plan the drive back to pass back through Osceola at sundown. 20-year-old Kansas native Lona Kilgore says that sunsets over the water are some of the most beautiful in Missouri.

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS TO LAWRENCE.

Tulsa, Oklahoma

The best part about a trip to Tulsa is that, if you play your cards right, it’s free. That is, if you play your cards right at one of the casinos on your way back into Springfield you can make back all that money you blew on the trip. With that in mind, consider these fantastic ways to blow money.

Distance: 182 miles

The Destination: You won’t be making any stops on the way, but don’t forget to bring some change for the Will Rogers Turnpike ($3.50 each way). You’re heading to Riverwalk Crossing (300 Riverwalk Terrace, 918-296-7121), which is actually in the small Tulsa suburb of Jenks. Riverwalk Crossing is basically a retail/entertainment district along the banks of the Arkansas River. You can shop for tropical jewelry and gifts at Island Nation (918-296-9801) or swing from a flying trapeze at Trapeze University (918-381-8727). For dinner you could try the fondue at The Melting Pot (918-299-8000, meltingpot.com), but we recommend Tsunami Asian Bistro (918-298-5200). Executive Chef Jared Chamberlain describes the food at Tsunami as Asian fusion and sushi. There’s one big difference between Tsunami and Springfield’s Ocean Zen, however. At Tsunami, they show old Japanese horror and action films on the weekend. During the summer they project the movies on the side of the building outside, but now that it’s getting chillier the flicks move indoors, showing on a blank wall. You’ve never tasted sushi until you’ve taken a bite of your Baja roll just as Godzilla lets out his ear-shattering screech in a restaurant full of trendy suburbanites.

The Drive Back: Time to make back the money you spend on sake flights at Tsunami. Driving east on I-44 you’ll be able to see the Buffalo Run Casino (918-542-7140, buffalorun.com) from the highway (Exit 313). Owned by the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, Buffalo Run has around 1,400 gaming machines, 20 blackjack tables and nine poker tables for you World Series of Poker wannabes. To win your money back even faster (riiiight…) try the high-stakes room with machines that cost $5 to $25 per play. There’s also a 1,500-seat events center on the grounds that plays host to country music concerts and nationally televised boxing matches year round. Lisa Marie Presley is performing on October 19 ($25-35). Or, if you prefer music played by women who have never been married to Michael Jackson, check out Lee Ann Womack the following night ($35-45).

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS TO TULSA.

Hot Springs, Arkansas

Despite the instinctive urges most people have to write Arkansas off as the inbreeding capital of the world, our neighbor to the south actually makes for quite a good road trip. The state is a nature lover’s dream. And you know that the home state of Bill Clinton is going to be entertaining, right?

Distance: 262 miles

The Destination: Hot Springs is definitely the longest drive of our four trips, but it’s worth it. Besides being farther away than the other places, the roads are narrow and twist through the Arkansas hills. It can be a bit daunting to navigate the turns, we know, but it makes for a beautiful drive. If you make the trip, you’re likely heading for Oaklawn Park (2705 Central Ave., 1-800-625-5296), home to live thoroughbred horse racing. The live races don’t start again until January 19, but there’s still tons to do for racing fans if you can’t wait that long. First, there’s Instant Racing. Instant Racing is basically an electronic gaming machine in which players bet on the outcomes of video races. It isn’t a completely random game of chance however, as all the races are based on actual horse races from the past. The trick is that there’s no way of knowing which races they’re based on, making it as close to real racing scenarios as possible. Track Announcer and spokesman Terry Wallace says that Oaklawn also hopes to open their new “games of chance” center in early November. This will basically consist of casino games minus the slot machines (video poker, etc.).

Before You Leave: It’s worth the 4.25-mile detour to check out Magic Springs Amusement Park (1701 E. Grand Ave., 501-318-5370) while you’re in town. From Oaklawn, just head north on Highway 7 until you see Grand Avenue, and take a right. Although it’s open through the week during the summer, the park is only open on the weekends in October (It closes for the season on October 29). Magic Springs has been around for a while, but things have changed since new owners took over in 2000. Since then, they’ve opened a new ride or attraction every year. This year it was the X Coaster, a loop that takes riders into a corkscrew 150 feet off the ground. It’s not only the highest coaster inversion in the world, it also does it without shoulder harnesses, so riders are dangling—safely, they tell us—from nothing but a lap bar. This month they’ve got their Halloween-themed “Magic Scream” program going, with two haunted houses on the grounds. Tickets are $39.99 for a day pass, but you can get $10 off coupons at Hot Springs Wendy’s locations.

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS TO HOT SPRINGS.

Columbia, Missouri

The drive to Columbia might be the most entertaining of all. Sure, you start on boring old I-44, but then you pass all the fast food joints in Lebanon, the go-karts at Lake of the Ozarks and the Capitol in Jefferson City. If you can’t find something to do on this trip, don’t come crying to us about it.

Distance: 185 miles

The Destination: Columbia’s another college town, but you’re not going for the nightlife. Oh no, this trip is going to be a relaxing, get-back-to-nature sort of adventure. On the southern border of town is Rock Bridge Memorial State Park (5901 S. Highway 163, 573-449-7402). Three streams run through this 2,273-acre park, which never seems to be busy for some reason. It’s named for the 120-foot natural rock bridge on the grounds, which are fun to walk through and provide a great view when standing on top of the 63-foot formation. Park Naturalist Roxie Campbell says that the leaves are just starting to change colors for the fall, so if autumn foliage turns you on like Vincent’s dresses on Project Runway, get there quick. Of course, it’s not the end of the world if you miss the leaves, Campbell says. After all, once the trees are bare it’s easier to see the rock bluffs throughout the park.

Another highlight of the park is Devil’s Icebox, a double sinkhole cave. There are actually two caves, one of which is open to the public (the other is closed because of high waters, but you can return in the spring for guided canoe tours of the cave). You still might get wet at Connor’s cave—the one that’s open to the public—so be prepared and don’t forget your flashlight. A word to the wise: skip the caves if it’s rainy or icy, as the stairs are annoyingly steep. We don’t want you to die.

Before You Leave: Okay, so the rock bridge is beautiful, but there is some hiking involved. Still, we promised you a relaxing road trip and we’re going to give it to you dag-nabit. Next stop: Les Bourgeois Vineyards (14020 W. Highway BB, Rocheport, 573-698-2133). Located just 15 miles away in the small town of Rocheport (hop on I-70 West and take a right on Highway BB), Les Bourgeois is where you want to be for a scenic, relaxing afternoon of dining and wine tasting. There are free tastings daily in the (duh) tasting room. This is where the popular Riverboat Red is made. If you’re there on the weekend, you can also take a tour of the winery on Saturdays and Sundays. Or, you know, do some more wine-tasting.

Travel up the road a mile and you’ll find the Blufftop Bistro, overlooking the Missouri River. It’s open for lunch and dinner daily and offers some breathtaking views and great food on the level of Gallery Bistro in Springfield. There’s also the nearby A-Frame, a seasonal outdoor wine garden where you can sit and sip outside if it’s warm enough. If you’re on a budget, bring a picnic for a great way to enjoy the scenery without ponying any cash at the bistro. Oh, and no drinking and driving. We say so.

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS TO COLUMBIA.