Branson & the Ozarks: Music, History & Scenic Beauty

Day 1 – Journey Across the Southwest

Your Ozarks adventure begins as you depart Albuquerque and travel east across the wide-open landscapes of New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. Relax aboard your comfortable motorcoach while enjoying changing scenery that ranges from high desert mesas to rolling plains, with plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs along historic Route 66.

Arrive in Oklahoma City this evening and check into your hotel before settling in for the night. Tomorrow you’ll continue toward the beautiful Ozark Mountains and the charming Victorian town of Eureka Springs.

Overnight: Double Tree Oklahoma City Airport

Day 2 – Into the Ozarks & The Great Passion Play

After breakfast, continue east through Oklahoma before entering the picturesque Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas. Along the way, pause to visit the towering Christ of the Ozarks, a beloved regional landmark that stands more than 65 feet tall atop Magnetic Mountain overlooking historic Eureka Springs.

This afternoon, check into the famous 1886 Crescent Hotel, one of Arkansas’s most iconic Victorian landmarks. Perched high above town, the beautifully restored hotel has welcomed guests for well over a century and offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.

This evening, enjoy an included dinner before attending the internationally acclaimed Great Passion Play, featuring a new original musical score recorded by the world-renowned Budapest Scoring Orchestra in immersive surround sound. Even if you’ve seen it before, you’ve never experienced it like this.

Overnight: 1886 Crescent Hotel

Meals Included: B, D

Day 3 – Historic Eureka Springs & Branson

Begin the morning with a visit to the breathtaking Thorncrown Chapel, one of the finest examples of modern sacred architecture in America. Rising 48 feet into the surrounding forest and constructed of wood and more than 6,000 square feet of glass, the chapel beautifully blends architecture and nature into a truly peaceful setting.

Continue into the heart of historic Eureka Springs, where a guided tram tour introduces you to one of America’s most charming Victorian communities. Learn about the town’s fascinating history as a celebrated spa destination while viewing beautifully preserved homes, winding streets, unique shops, and historic hotels. Enjoy free time to browse galleries, boutiques, cafés, and local artisan shops before departing for Branson.

Upon arrival in Branson, check into your hotel before heading out for your first evening of entertainment. Enjoy dinner and one of Branson’s outstanding live productions, showcasing the incredible musical talent and family-friendly entertainment that have made the city famous throughout America.

Overnight: Hotel Grand Victorian 

Meals Included: B, D

Day 4 – Titanic Museum & Showboat Branson Belle

Following breakfast, visit the remarkable Titanic Museum Attraction, where interactive exhibits, authentic artifacts, and compelling personal stories bring to life the history of the world’s most famous ocean liner. Walk the replica Grand Staircase, touch an iceberg, and discover the inspiring stories of passengers and crew aboard the ill-fated ship.

Later, board the elegant Showboat Branson Belle for one of Branson’s signature experiences. Cruise the sparkling waters of Table Rock Lake while enjoying a delicious lunch accompanied by outstanding live music, comedy, and dazzling variety entertainment. The scenic views of the Ozark Mountains provide the perfect backdrop for this unforgettable afternoon.

Return to your hotel this evening with free time to relax, browse nearby shops, or enjoy additional Branson attractions at your leisure.

Overnight: Hotel Grand Victorian 

Meals Included: B, D

Day 5 – Branson at Your Leisure & Dolly Parton's Stampede

Enjoy a leisurely morning to experience Branson at your own pace. Browse the unique boutiques along Highway 76, visit local craft and specialty shops, relax at a neighborhood café, or explore additional attractions throughout the city’s renowned entertainment district. With its welcoming atmosphere and endless variety of shopping, dining, and entertainment, Branson offers something for everyone.

This evening, experience one of Branson’s signature attractions—Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction. Enjoy a delicious four-course feast while talented riders, magnificent horses, friendly competition, spectacular special effects, music, and breathtaking stunts create an unforgettable family-friendly production. Combining thrilling equestrian performances with Southern hospitality, the Stampede has become one of Branson’s most beloved traditions.

Overnight: Hotel Grand Victorian

Meals Included: B, D

Day 6 – Crystal Bridges & Bentonville

After breakfast, bid farewell to Branson and travel into the scenic Ozarks of northwest Arkansas. Your destination is the acclaimed Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, one of the nation’s premier art museums. Designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie and nestled among wooded hills, streams, and walking trails, the museum houses an extraordinary collection of American masterpieces spanning five centuries.

During your visit, enjoy time to explore the galleries and beautiful grounds before touring Frank Lloyd Wright’s Bachman-Wilson House, an architectural treasure carefully relocated and reconstructed on the museum campus. Following free time to explore Bentonville’s charming downtown square, check into your hotel before gathering for a memorable farewell dinner celebrating a wonderful week of friendship, music, history, and Ozark hospitality.

Overnight: Comfort Inn Bentonville

Meals Included: B, D

Day 7 – Oklahoma City History & Heritage

Travel west this morning into Oklahoma, beginning with a visit to the outstanding National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Home to one of the world’s finest collections of Western art and artifacts, the museum celebrates the people, cultures, and traditions that shaped the American West. Following an included lunch, enjoy time to explore exhibits featuring Native American history, rodeo champions, western film legends, and beautifully restored frontier towns.

Later, experience one of America’s most moving memorials at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. Built on the site of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, the memorial honors the victims, survivors, rescuers, and all whose lives were forever changed by the tragedy. Stroll among the symbolic Field of Empty Chairs, reflecting pool, and Survivor Tree while learning the powerful story of resilience, hope, and healing.

This evening, return to your hotel in Oklahoma City and enjoy time to relax before the journey home.

Overnight: Double Tree Oklahoma City Airport

Meals Included: B, L

Day 8 – Journey Home

Following breakfast, begin the scenic drive back to New Mexico. Along the way, stop at the towering Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Groom, Texas, one of the tallest free-standing crosses in the Western Hemisphere. This inspiring landmark offers an opportunity to stretch your legs and reflect before continuing your journey.

Enjoy lunch at the legendary Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, famous for its classic Texas hospitality and Route 66 atmosphere. As you continue west across the High Plains and back into New Mexico, reflect on a memorable adventure filled with spectacular entertainment, inspiring attractions, charming mountain towns, world-class museums, and the natural beauty of the Ozarks.

Arrive back at the Sun Tours office this evening with wonderful memories of Branson’s legendary shows, the historic charm of Eureka Springs, the scenic Ozark Mountains, and the warm hospitality that makes this region one of America’s favorite vacation destinations.

Meals Included: B, L