Landing at Waynesville Saint Robert Regional Airport in Fort Leonard Wood puts you right in the middle of things, with Ozark rivers, Route 66 stops, and Missouri lake country within easy reach. Fort Leonard Wood is a major Army training post, and the twin towns of Waynesville and St. Robert next door grew up around it. The area feels like the Ozarks at their most relaxed, with clear spring-fed rivers, limestone bluffs, and roadside attractions that still trade on the old highway.

Standout experiences around Fort Leonard Wood: - Float or paddle the Big Piney and Gasconade rivers on a summer day - Tour the Army engineer, military police, and chemical corps museums on post - Drive the historic Route 66 alignment through Devils Elbow and across the old steel bridge - Stop at the Uranus Fudge Factory for a slab of fudge and a healthy dose of puns - Walk the Roubidoux Spring trail in Waynesville, a stop on the Trail of Tears - Explore the old Pulaski County courthouse museum on the Waynesville square - Hike or ride the trails at Mark Twain National Forest

Fort Leonard Wood is well placed for a quick Missouri loop. Rolla and its university town coffee shops are about a half hour northeast, the Lake of the Ozarks is about an hour northwest, and Springfield is roughly 90 minutes southwest. Fried catfish and gooey butter cake show up on local menus, and the rivers run cold and clear enough for a swim well into September. Come for a float trip and stay for the small-town welcome.