Stop by and see Walmart headquarters.............
Hannibal, MO has a few fun things to see, if you happen to be over that way.
I suggest you check out Yelp and Trip Advisor for places to stay and eat.
I hear Ferguson, MO is nice this time of year.
Go to Eureka Springs. Definitely worth the stop.
I’ve been to that area many times since the 1960’s - Springdale-Fayetteville and Branson. Really nice scenery, great trout fishing on the White River near Harrison and Yellville AR, and friendly folks too.
Go to the spa in Hot Springs, take the paddlewheel dinner cruise and the Duck boats.
Not exactly north but as long your nearby...
I totally enjoyed the experience; cheap too.
I did find a mini diamond, and the next day the found a full-size keeper.
People were all very helpful and many had interesting finds.
And, in town the biscuits and gravy were excellent.
CRATER OF DIAMONDS STATE PARK
One of the only places in the world where the public can search for real diamonds in their original volcanic source, Crater of Diamonds is a one-of-a-kind experience that brings people from all over the world to Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Visitors to the park search a 37-acre plowed field, the eroded surface of a volcanic crater, for variety of rocks, minerals, and gemstones and any rock or mineral you find is yours to keep. You may bring your own mining equipment to search with (no battery-operated or motor driven mining tools allowed), or rent tools from the park.
https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/crater-diamonds-state-park
I love Thorncrown Chapel outside Eureka Springs. Architectural gem https://thorncrown.com
If you like fishing , check out Bennett Springs State Park . I could spend all five days fly fishing for trout !
If you’re going to be at Wilson’s Creek anyway, not a far drive to Lambert’s Cafe in Ozark (just off Hwy 65), where they are famous for throwing dinner rolls at you. It’s usually very busy. Comfort,fried food.
On the other side of the cultural spectrum, in Bentonville AR they have Crystal Bridges Museum (Alice Walton the main donor toward getting it built). On the grounds is a Frank Lloyd Wright house disassembled in NJ and rebuilt there.
See Alice Walton’s Museum of American Art History.
Crystal Bridges
https://crystalbridges.org/
Bkmk travel Arkansas
Carry plenty of Tabasco and fried chicken in your purse. The locals will love you.
Schedule a half day fishing for trout trip at Cotter Trout Dock, Cotter, Arkansas near Mountain Home. One trip on the White River and one can catch over fifty Rainbow Trout in a four hour period. The possession limit is only five per person per day not to exceed ten trout at any time. The mountains there on highway 412 are beautiful, the Buffalo River and Bull Shoals too from Harrison. Branson is only forty minutes away. From Eureka Springs, Springdale, and Fayetteville the area is two hours East.Norfolk and the fishery and Dam are quaint areas to visit and the Ozark Nat’l Forrest has beautiful scenery.
You’ll be grabbing some beef sticks at Hatfield’s in Neosho MO. Maybe 3 pounds or so.
A couple of points to keep in mind.
1) Review the University of Arkansas football schedule and schedule around that.
2) Schedule around the Bikers Blues and Barbecue Festival (looks like Sept 26 - 29 this year). Not because of the bikers (most of them are probably older and slower than you) but because they fill up the hotel rooms and rates may be higher because of the crowds.
3) I’d echo the two museums - Walmart on the square in Bentonville and the Art Museum. North of there in southern Missouri there are several caves you can tour if you are interested in that. The big Walmart across from headquarters is kept pretty nice. Walmart No. 1 in downtown Rogers isn’t worth the detour unless you just want to buy something to get the store number printed on the receipt.
4) It doesn’t really get pretty going down the interstate until south of Fayettville.
5) The casinos just west of there in Oklahoma are run by the Cherokees. It’s been a while, but last time I was through the area, they were crappy compared to the Choctaws or Chickasaws. I wouldn’t bother with them. (OK, from the pictures, it looks like they may have upgraded).