Things To Do at Lake of the Ozarks

Local Events Calendar (Always Changing)

If you’re confused, overwhelmed, or just vibing with a coffee and a dead phone — check the LOZlocal Event Calendar. It’s got lakefront concerts, backyard crawfish boils, boat-in movie nights, fishing tournaments, and street parties that shut down the Strip.

On a summer Saturday, there might be 20+ events. Some of them planned. Some of them… not so much.

View the Event Calendar

Lake Life: Chill, Float, Repeat

The lake is built for float mode. Want the secret to doing nothing like a pro? Grab a chair, find a dock, and pretend your phone doesn’t work.

• Ha Ha Tonka Spring & Castle Ruins – Feels like Middle Earth. But with flip-flops and fishing rods.
• PB #2 Public Access – Music from boats, kids flinging water toys, and at least one grandpa talking about “how it used to be.”
• People watching at the Strip – Sit down, sip something cold, and enjoy the parade of neon shirts, tiny dogs, and lifted golf carts.
• Bridal Cave – 60 degrees, all year, and a solid bet if it’s too hot to function.
• Seven Springs Winery – Shaded patio. Wine slushies. Acoustic guitar guy covering Tom Petty. You know the scene.

Tuesdays are the cheat code. Less boat traffic, fewer crowds, better parking, and zero wait for cheese fries.

On the Water: If You Know, You Know

From land, the lake is pretty. From a boat, it’s something else entirely.

• Got your own boat? Perfect. Use our guides for dock bars, gas docks, marinas, and the unofficial contest to see whose boat is longer, louder, or more unnecessarily shiny.
• No boat? No problem. There are charters, pontoons, jet skis, and scenic cruises that’ll do just fine.

Lake of the Ozarks has more shoreline than California and Oregon combined. That’s not just trivia. That’s a challenge.

Adventure Mode: Full Send Required

Some people come to relax. Others come to push buttons marked “Do Not Touch.”

• Parasailing – Fly, scream, repeat.
• Jet ski to Party Cove – Wear sunscreen. And maybe a helmet.
• Zipline & High Ropes – The kind of bonding experience where someone screams and someone else films it.
• Helicopter Tours – Ten minutes of “Oh my god, look at that house.”
• Escape Rooms – Air-conditioned chaos. You’ll argue. It’s fine.
• Go-karts & Arcades – Loud, fast, and exactly as fun as it was when you were nine.

Saturday afternoon? Buckle up. The lake goes from chill to “did that guy just backflip off a double-decker boat?”

Family Stuff That Still Slaps

This is the section where you lean into the nostalgia and pretend you brought the kids for their sake.

• Bagnell Dam Strip – Arcades, airbrushed tees, hot dogs, and bumper boats. Your inner 12-year-old is thriving.
• Ha Ha Tonka – Still epic. Still free. Still the best Instagram you’ll post all week.
• Caves, mini golf, docks – Some traditions don’t need upgrades.
• Main Street Music Hall – Corny jokes your dad will love, and air conditioning your whole family will fight over.

Eats, Drinks & Dock Bars

You can burn a day just eating your way down the shoreline.

• Lakeside breakfasts – The earlier the better. Bonus points if it comes with a view.
• Afternoon dock beers – Sit long enough and someone you know will float by.
• Pizza, tacos, burgers, BBQ – If it’s loud and smells like smoke, you’re in the right place.
• Shawnee Bluff Winery – View so good it makes you talk slower. Bring your wine voice.
• Swim-up pool bars – Open to the public. Come for a drink, stay for the people-watching.

Retail Therapy & Local Finds

Not every memory is a sunburn. Bring something back:

• Shopping on the Strip – Souvenirs, weird T-shirts, and maybe a bottle of hot sauce called Regret.
• Boutiques & Decor Shops – Tucked behind marinas, next to breakfast joints, and way cooler than they need to be.
• Antique stores & flea markets – Your grandma would love it. You might too.
• Osage Beach Outlet Mall – Still has a few big brands and surprisingly solid deals — especially if it rains.

Just Cruise

Some days, the plan is just… drive. Or ride. Or float.

• Cruise the Strip – By day, it’s families. By night, it’s jeeps with subwoofers and someone revving for no reason.
• Backroad rides – Bikers come from all over the U.S. to hit the curves. You’ll get it when you do it.
• Boat laps – From quiet coves to wide-open water, the lake has moods. Pick one.

Still Not Sure? Just Go

This site was built by people who actually live here — not a marketing intern with stock photos.

Check the calendar. Skim the list. Click the thing. Or just wing it.

“Let’s just cruise till something looks cool.”

Honestly? That still works.

Made by people who grew up here.
Powered by locals who never really left.
LOZlocal.com — This is the real lake list.