Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri — the full battle plan.
Saturday, July 18 (night sortie) → Thursday, July 23 · rolling out of Ann Arbor
Two legs, one hotel, zero meltdowns (aspirational). The route: I-94 → I-69 through Fort Wayne → I-70 west past Indianapolis → overnight in Terre Haute → St. Louis → US-54 into Osage Beach.
Backups if Drury is full: Holiday Inn Express or Candlewood Suites, both on the same US-41 corridor.
Plan B — Dawn Patrol: skip tonight, leave Ann Arbor 6:00 AM Sunday and run it in one ~10.5-hr push. Doable, but you arrive with nothing left in the tank. The night sortie is the smarter opening move.
Book tonight, from the road. Both live picks from the basecamp board were pulled July 18 for these exact dates.
Nap windows respected, grandparents honored, custard budgeted. Mornings are for adventures — the lake does the afternoons.
Pajama loadout, white-noise app armed, Grandma Diane's candy pocket sealed until Indiana. Danny drives, Grandpa Mark navigates, everyone under 8 is unconscious by Marshall. Check in, carry sleeping children like sacks of flour, lights out.
Side quest: first awake human to spot the "Welcome to Indiana" sign earns shotgun rights for Sunday.
Breakfast waffles, then west. Cross the Wabash and steal an hour back. St. Louis stop: Ted Drewes 🍦 frozen custard on Route 66 — order the concrete, hold it upside down, explain to Olivia why it doesn't fall. Grocery run at Dierbergs, claim the cabin, and get everyone in the water before dinner. First-night rule: nobody cooks — Wobbly Boots BBQ does.
Side quest: first to spot the actual lake wins first-cannonball rights (Quinn's cannonballs are administered by an adult).
Morning at Ha Ha Tonka State Park 🏰 — real stone castle ruins on a bluff, a natural bridge you walk under, and a spring the color of a postcard. It's free, and the castle overlook is a short stroll from the upper parking lot. Go by 9 to beat the heat. Randy's Frozen Custard on the way home (daily requirement, see Lake Rules). Afternoon: naps, then Grand Glaize Beach in the state park — free sandy beach, playground, and toddler-depth water.
Side quest: Quinn may acquire exactly three (3) rocks for the official collection. Castle stones do not count. Park rangers agree.
Morning: Bridal Cave under Thunder Mountain — a gentle hour-long tour, 60°F all year, stalactites, a wishing well, and glow-in-the-dark rocks that will fully rewire Mackenzie's brain. Quinn rides the carrier (strollers can't make the turns). Post-nap: Big Surf Waterpark — wave pool, kiddie lagoon, and slides big enough for Olivia to earn bragging rights. Grill night at the cabin; fireflies for dessert.
Side quest: over 3,000 couples have gotten married inside Bridal Cave. Whoever asks the guide the best question about this gets to pick Wednesday's breakfast.
The main event: a rented pontoon from State Park Marina (book it Sunday!). Idle out to a no-wake cove, drop anchor, and let the lake do the work — swim ladder for the big kids, puddle-jumper flotilla for the small ones, Kelley's cooler program in full effect. Evening: the historic Bagnell Dam Strip — Dogpatch Arcade skee-ball, LeMans go-karts (there's a mini track for the littles), and Miner Mike's indoor coaster if anyone needs air conditioning. Custard, obviously.
Side quest: official count of party barges playing music louder than their engines. The under-10 tally is final and legally binding.
Pancakes, pack-out, one last dock inspection for forgotten rocks. Option A: two hours at St. Louis City Museum — a ten-story former shoe factory rebuilt as the world's most committed jungle gym; the kids sleep like champions afterward, which is the entire strategy. Option B: Arch photo + Ted Drewes round two, and bank the extra hour of road. Either way: dinner on I-70, home by bedtime, victorious and slightly sticky.
Side quest: everyone declares their Trip MVP at the last gas stop. Ties broken by Quinn, rulings final.
Honest July-peak estimates for the crew of 7 — verify exact prices when booking. Custard line is non-negotiable.
| Line Item | Est. Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drury Inn, Terre Haute (tonight) | ~$140–180 | Free breakfast, kids free, indoor pool |
| Cabin, 4 nights | ~$640–1,410 | Condo vs. lakefront estate — see Base Camp |
| Gas, ~1,400 mi round trip | ~$180–220 | Two time zones, one van |
| Bridal Cave tour | ~$100–120 | Little ones free; verify at the window |
| Big Surf Waterpark | ~$130–170 | Under-3s free; check afternoon rates |
| Pontoon day + fuel | ~$400–500 | The splurge that makes the trip |
| Ha Ha Tonka + Grand Glaize Beach | $0 | Missouri state parks are free. Castles included. |
| Strip night (karts, arcade, rides) | ~$80–120 | Bring quarters for dignity's sake |
| Custard fund | ~$75 | Daily requirement × 6 days × 7 people |
| Groceries + Wobbly Boots + road food | ~$450–550 | Grill nights keep this sane |
Ballpark total: ~$2,200–3,400 depending on cabin and boat ambition.