Branson has a reputation as an affordable family destination, and parts of it earn that. Free hiking, free playgrounds, and a $30–$50 all-day rec center pool exist here. But the Strip also has no shortage of $100+ experiences, and if you're not careful, you can drop $400 on activities in a single day. Here's the real breakdown across 37 activities.
The Expensive End ($100+ for a Family of 4)
Branson Zipline at Wolfe Mountain — $140–$200 for 4 The premium outdoor experience in Branson. Worth it for kids who are old enough and heavy enough to ride. Book online for the best rates; combo packages in shoulder season cut cost.
Bransons Best Zipline — Shepherd of the Hills — $120–$180 for 4 Most lines require 70 lbs minimum — check before you buy tickets. Book the first morning slot. Online booking saves money.
Shepherd's Adventure Park — $120–$160 for 4 Adults ~$35 each, kids ~$25–30 each, food on-site $20–30 extra. Check for combo tickets bundling the Adventure Park with the Shepherd of the Hills evening drama. Weekday visits are less crowded.
The Shepherd of the Hills — $150–$250 for 4 The most expensive single experience in Branson, but it's essentially a full day — daytime adventure park plus an evening outdoor drama. Adults ~$35–45, kids ~$20–30 for the drama; adventure park priced separately. Buying combo tickets saves significantly versus paying each separately.
National Tiger Sanctuary — $100–$140 for 4 Adults ~$30 each, kids ~$20–25 each. Book in advance — the sanctuary has limited tour capacity and sells out. Worth every dollar for kids who are into animals.
Splash Country Indoor & Outdoor Waterpark — $100–$160 for 4 Adults ~$28–35 each, kids ~$22–28 each, on-site food $20–30 extra. Grand Country Resort guests get better pricing — day visitors pay more. Worth checking if the resort deal (stay + waterpark) is cheaper than paying separately.
Fun Mountain at Big Cedar Lodge — $100–$180 for 4 Per-activity pricing: mini-golf ~$10/person, go-karts ~$15–20, laser tag ~$10–15. Set a firm per-person budget before entering or costs escalate fast. Go-karts have height requirements.
Mid-Range ($60–$100 for 4)
Ripley's Believe It or Not! — $90–$130 for 4 Adults ~$25–30, kids ~$18–22. Buy online — Ripley's consistently offers 10–15% off walk-up pricing. Go City and CityPASS attraction passes may include it.
Aquarium at the Boardwalk — $90–$130 for 4 Adults ~$25–28, kids ~$18–22. Buy online for 10–15% off. Arrive at 8:30–9am to beat school groups that show up mid-morning on weekdays.
Branson's Wild World — $80–$120 for 4 Adults ~$20–25, kids ~$15–20. Look for web-only discount codes on their site before you go.
Branson's Promised Land Zoo — $80–$120 for 4 Adults ~$22–25, kids ~$15–18. Budget $5–10 extra per child for giraffe feeding — worth it. Morning visits strongly recommended; afternoon Ozark heat is brutal for an outdoor zoo.
Grand Country Fun Spot — $80–$120 for 4 Unlimited ride wristbands $80–$120. Individual attraction pricing also available. Resort guests get better rates.
WonderWorks Branson — $80–$100 for 4 Online tickets consistently cheaper than walk-up. Go City and attraction passes often include WonderWorks. Combo with laser tag or 4D theater adds cost.
Ripley's Super Fun Park — $80–$120 for 4 Combo tickets covering multiple Ripley's Branson attractions (Believe It or Not, Mini Golf, etc.) save money for families doing more than one Ripley's property.
North Pole Adventure — $80–$120 for 4 Seasonal — primarily fall/winter. Adults ~$25 each, kids ~$15–20 each. Part of Shepherd of the Hills property — look for combo deals.
Branson Mountain Adventure — Alpine Coaster — $60–$100 for 4 Per-person per run, ~$15–20. Multi-ride packages if kids want multiple runs. Closes for weather.
Bigfoot Fun Park — $60–$100 for 4 Per-activity pricing for go-karts, mini golf, and rides. Buy activity bundles at the ticket booth vs. individual pricing. Branson attraction passes (Go City, etc.) often include Bigfoot.
Track Family Fun Parks Track 3 — $60–$120 for 4 Go-kart rides $10–15 each. Wristband packages cover multiple attractions on the property — buy them if you're doing more than 3–4 rides total.
The Branson Coaster — $60–$90 for 4 Adults ~$15–20, kids ~$12–15 per run. Multi-ride packs save money when kids inevitably want to go again.
Adventure Seekers — FlyRide — $60–$90 for 4 Sessions are time-specific — book online. Walk-up availability can be limited in peak season.
The Butterfly Palace — $60–$80 for 4 Online booking saves a few dollars vs. walk-up. One of the better values on this list — nearly 2 hours of genuinely immersive experience.
Budget Picks ($30–$60 for 4)
Arcade City Branson — $50–$100 for 4 Game card based, $12–25 per player. Inside Branson Landing — combine with the free waterfront walk to extend the outing.
Pizza Ranch FunZone Arcade — $50–$80 for 4 Pizza buffet $12–15/adult, $8–10/child, plus game cards $10–15/player. One stop for lunch plus entertainment. Buffet pricing is reasonable by Branson standards.
World's Largest Toy Museum Complex — $40–$60 for 4 Adults ~$12–15, kids ~$8–10. One of the most affordable paid attractions in Branson. Closed Sundays.
1984 Branson Arcade — $40–$80 for 4 Budget $10–20 per player for a real session. Buy a value game card pack vs. per-game pricing. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
7D Dark Ride Adventure — $40–$60 for 4 Look for combo tickets with nearby Branson Landing attractions. Re-ride discounts often available.
5D Adventure — Castle of Chaos — $50–$70 for 4 Online tickets slightly cheaper than walk-up. Branson combo passes may include it. One session is usually enough.
World of Wizards Mini Golf & Arcade — $40–$70 for 4 Mini-golf ~$8–12/person, arcade cards extra. Call ahead — hours appear potentially outdated.
Branson RecPlex — $30–$50 for 4 Day-pass rates: adults ~$8–10, kids ~$5–7. This is a public recreation center with an indoor pool and water slide. Significantly cheaper than commercial waterparks. Call ahead to confirm visitor pricing and pool hours.
Free
Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area — $0 Real Ozark hiking. Bring water and trail snacks. Natural surface trails — not for strollers.
Branson Parks & Recreation — Free–$20 Splash pads, parks, free programs. Taneycomo Lakefront Park has a free splash pad in summer.
Branson Boardwalk — Free to walk Lakeshore promenade and fountain shows are free. Budget $30–$80 for food inside the complex.
City of Branson Playground — $0 Free public playground. Best used as a budget reset day. Go morning or evening — summer afternoons are hot.
Stockstill Park — $0 Free. Bring a picnic. Weekday mornings are quiet.
Murphy Park — $0 Free. Spacious community park away from the strip crowds.
Rise Play Park — $40–$70 for sessions Child pricing per session ~$12–18. Parents often reduced or free. Book online to guarantee a spot.
Cost Summary by Trip Type
Day trip, 2 paid activities: $150–$280 depending on choices Weekend, alternating paid/free days: $350–$600 3-day trip with smart sequencing: $500–$800 total activities
Money-Saving Moves Specific to Branson
Branson attraction passes (Go City, CityPASS). Multiple Branson venues participate. If you're doing 4+ paid attractions, run the math — passes can save $50–$100 for a family.
Book online, always. Ripley's, the aquarium, FlyRide, ziplines — all offer 10–15% discounts vs. walk-up.
Free anchors + one big paid activity per day. The Lakeside Forest, Branson Boardwalk, and free parks are legitimately good. Use them to frame each day around one premium experience rather than stacking paid activities.
Mornings for outdoor, afternoons for indoor. Ozark summer heat makes outdoor activities brutal after noon. This naturally routes you to cheaper indoor options in the afternoon.