Where to Stay in the Missouri Ozarks
Short-Term Rentals · VRBO · Airbnb
Try the Ozarks Before You Buy
A lot of people fall in love with the Missouri Ozarks the same way: they rent a cabin for a long weekend, float a river, sit on a porch as the sun goes down over a hardwood ridge, and start asking about land. We get those calls all the time. So we built this page as a practical guide to where to stay across the five counties we work in — Franklin, Gasconade, Crawford, Phelps, and Dent — whether you are coming to scout property, take a family weekend, or just see if Ozarks living is for you.
We do not run a rental booking service and we have no financial relationship with any of the platforms or properties below. The links go to public search pages on VRBO and Airbnb, filtered to the right area. From there you pick what fits your trip.
Franklin County
Closest to St. Louis — most of these are 45 to 75 minutes from the metro. Wineries, the Bourbeuse and Meramec rivers, hardwood country, and a real working farm community. Good for first-time visitors who want country without committing to a long drive.
Best towns to search: Washington, Hermann (just over the line in Gasconade), Pacific, St. Clair, Sullivan, Robertsville.
Search VRBO — Washington, MO · Search Airbnb — Washington, MO
Gasconade County
Hermann anchors the county and remains one of the most charming small towns in the state — a working wine region with riverfront, B&Bs, restored 1800s buildings, and weekend energy without the crowds of bigger destinations. Plenty of riverside cabins along the Gasconade River for fishing-focused trips.
Best towns to search: Hermann, Owensville, Bland, Rosebud.
Search VRBO — Hermann, MO · Search Airbnb — Hermann, MO
Crawford County
This is float country. Steelville — the self-proclaimed Floating Capital of the World — is the hub, and rentals here range from rustic cabins right on the Meramec to multi-bedroom group lodges built specifically for float weekends. If you are coming for a river weekend, this is where you stay.
Best towns to search: Steelville, Cuba, Bourbon, Sullivan.
Search VRBO — Steelville, MO · Search Airbnb — Steelville, MO
Phelps County
Rolla anchors the county and brings the steady infrastructure of a college town — restaurants, hotels, easy I-44 access. Outside of town, the Little Piney and the upper Gasconade run through some of the most underrated country in the state. Good for travelers who want a comfortable home base with quick access to the wilder parts of the Ozarks.
Best towns to search: Rolla, St. James, Newburg, Edgar Springs.
Search VRBO — Rolla, MO · Search Airbnb — Rolla, MO
Dent County
Wildest of the five. The Mark Twain National Forest blankets a big share of the county, and the Current River runs cold and clear nearby. Rentals here lean toward cabins, hunting lodges, and back-country retreats — perfect for a quiet long weekend. Salem is the courthouse town and main hub.
Best towns to search: Salem, Bunker.
Search VRBO — Salem, MO · Search Airbnb — Salem, MO
Coming Down to Look at Land?
If you are coming to the Ozarks specifically to scout property, let us know in advance. We can save you time by lining up a few tracts that fit your criteria so your trip does double duty.
Justin Head · 573.308.7376 · justin.head@whitetailproperties.com
Ryan Record · 573.259.6360 · ryan.record@whitetailproperties.com