Branson Transportation

Getting There:

By Air: Branson is serviced by the Springfield/ Branson Regional Airport (+1 417 869 0300/ http://www.sgf-branson-airport.com). The airport offers service to Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Denver, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis, and St. Louis. The following carriers provide flights:

American Airlines (+ 1 800 433 7300/ http://www.aa.com) Delta (+1 800 221 1212/ http://www.delta.com ) Northwest (+1 800 225 2525/ http://www.nwa.com ) United (+1 800 241 6522/ http://www.ual.com )

There are a number of shuttle services that provide transportation between the airport and Branson. Two of the most prominent include Gray Line Tours (+1 800 542 6768/ http://www.bransongrayline.com) and Best Price Shuttles and Tours (+1 417 251 0153).

Rental Car companies include:

Alamo (+1 800 327 9633/ http://www.alamo.com) Avis (+1 800 831 2847/ http://www.avis.com ) Enterprise (1+ 800 736 8227/ ttp://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/home) Budget (+1 800 527 0700/ http://www.budget.com ) Hertz (+1 800 654 3131/ http://www.hertz.com) Thrifty (+1 800 367 2277/ http://www.thrifty.com)

By Train: Amtrak (+1 800 872 7245/ http://www.amtrak.com) offers limited services to and from Little Rock.

By Car: Branson is easily accessible from US Highways 65 and 13.

Getting Around: Public transportation is limited in Branson and therefore visitors should plan accordingly. There are a variety of shuttle services such as A-1 Airport Shuttle (+1 417 335 6001), Airport Shuttle (+1 417 336 8244) and Hillbilly Shuttle (+1 417 334 5678). Taxi services include Branson City Cab (+1 417 334 5678) and Branson Yellow Cab (+1 417 862 5511).

If traveling overseas, take the safety precaution of registering your trip at https://travelregistration.state.gov and for helpful, practical advice about traveling technicalities and safety standards check out http://travel.state.gov/ .

Planning a Trip

Getting There & Getting Around -- The nearest airport is Springfield-Branson Regional Airport (tel. 417/869-0300; www.sgf-branson-airport.com), in Springfield, 43 miles to the north, though that will change when Branson Airport opens in May 2009 (www.bransonair.net). You need a car when visiting Branson, and all the major car-rental agencies have desks at the airport. The major highway into Branson, which is 3 1/2 hours from Kansas City and 4 hours from St. Louis, is U.S. 65 from the north, where it intersects with I-44 at Springfield. Be forewarned that traffic on "the Strip," or "76 Country Boulevard" (W. Hwy. 76), in Branson is notorious for traffic jams, but a number of color-coded relief roads help.

Visitor Information -- Contact the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce (tel. 800/214-3661 or 417/334-4084; www.explorebranson.com) or stop by one of two Welcome Centers for brochures, maps, and coupon books offering discounts: north of Branson at the junction of highways 65 and 160, and in town at the junction of highways 65 and 248. Both are open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 5pm (to 6pm in summer) and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.