Love is a many-splendored thing. But finding a new place to take your guy/gal for a date night can be tough.
If you look hard enough, you can find multiple fun date ideas to take your person right here in Springfield.
OR, you can leave the hard looking to us and just read this list.
In this article:
- “Cute” Date Night Ideas
- Fun Date Night Ideas
- Free or Cheap Date Night Ideas
- Romantic Things to do in Springfield
- Outdoor Date Ideas
- Uniquely Springfield Things for Couples to Do
- At-Home Date Night Ideas
Let’s dive in so you can get out, fast!
“Cute” Date Night Ideas
Create Something Unique Together
Want to impress your date with your crafty skills? (or at least your willingness to try your hand at something creative?)
Take them out to one of the many DIY “art” places in 417 land!
From painting, woodworking, pottery, to glass blowing, and beyond, there’s plenty of classes around to choose from to get those creative juices flowing.
Check out this list of Springfield art classes, have some fun, and maybe discover a new hobby you both love!
Cook, Bake, and Decorate with Your Date
Prefer for your artistic expression to result in something edible? Take your date on a culinary creation adventure.
Pickwick and Cherry offer a date night cooking class where you and your partner can heat things up by preparing a gourmet meal.
If you and your sweet want to make some sweets, try out a class from Katie Made.
Prefer to leave the actual cooking/baking to someone else and just get to the fun decorating part? The Studio at Rustic Romance has got you covered by supplying all the baked goods and icing for you to create your edible masterpiece.
Copper Run
If you love a classy cabin feel and handcrafted adult beverages—definitely go and visit Copper Run.
Copper Run Distillery was the first legal distillery in the Ozark Mountains after prohibition and continues to be one of the best spots to find quality moonshine, whiskey, and rum.
You need to get your mind past sharp cheap vodka/moonshine thoughts. The cocktails Copper Run has dreamed up, ex. a “Shine – a Rita,” “Moonshine Mary,” and the signature infusions to sip on will blow your mind.
Or, just go straight up by trying all their spirits with a “flight.”
In addition to the beverages there’s some food “cheese board” type options, frequent live music going on at night, and the deck is a space you may never want to leave!
Located just south of Busiek at 1901 Day Rd, Walnut Shade, MO 65771, Copper Run Distillery is super worth the 30ish minute drive from SGF!
Ice Skating
What better excuse to hold your date’s hand than gliding together on the rink.
Jordan Valley Ice Park offers ice skating in their indoor rink all year round.
They have public skating sessions throughout the week. If you’d prefer something more exclusive, the ice park also offers private skating lessons.
Have a Dance Night
There are many dance studios in Springfield where you and your date can have fun, create a romantic memory, or both!
From swing lessons, salsa, ballroom, and more, to…
Learning the choreography to Thriller, and even partaking in a season of dance or–creating the choreography to your First Dance!
Here are some of the dances classes in Springfield you can experience on your next date night.
Movie it up at the Moxie
Not just another movie date, the Moxie offers a unique twist.
Moxie Cinema is an independent, non-profit movie theatre that focuses on quality over quantity. They select critically acclaimed movies to show that you won’t be able to find in any other theatre in Springfield.
That’s because The Moxie has a mission, above profit, to showcase cinematic works of art that inspire, educate, and enrich it’s viewers.
Pedi it Up!
Kick your feet up (literally) and get some couples pampering at one of the many spas and salons in town.
Pedicures aren’t just for gals! Joining in together on the fun can be a relaxing way for you and your date to spend some quality time getting to know each other.
Just try to suppress the giggles if your feet tend to be ticklish under the pedicurist’s hand.
Acacia, Nu Essence, and Dharma are just a few of the places in Springfield that offer couples packages.
Jesse from Wiser Living Realty also agrees this is a great idea—men!
Hear his pedi sales pitch and a bunch of other great date night ideas in this video:
Relive Your First Date
Rekindle the romance of your youth by going back to the spot of your very first date together.
Springfield is great for supporting it’s local businesses to stick around. So even if it’s been years since your love first blossomed, most likely your first date spot will still be there waiting for you to revisit.
Visit an Art Gallery
Impress your date with a trip to one of Springfield’s art galleries.
Hathorn Galleries is located in the heart of downtown and offers two levels of art from locals and nationally renowned artists alike.
Fresh Gallery, located on Walnut, offers a view of art exclusively from local artists. The gallery showcases art of every medium and also gives you an opportunity to meet the artists.
Springfield Art Museum is located near Phelps Grove Park. With it’s rotating exhibits and it’s vast permanent collection, there is always something new to discover. If you’d like a hands-on experience, the Springfield Art Museum also offers adult art classes throughout the year which you can check out here.
Fun Date Night Ideas
What are some places to go on date nights in Springfield?
1984
Regardless of your age, you and your boo are gonna love 1984
1984 is an arcade in Springfield packed full of all the super rad games from the past.
It’s just $10 per person to get you in the door and then you can play the arcade games to your heart’s content without worrying about lugging around quarters.
And you can use that free quarterless hand to hold your loved one close while you conquer the Space Invaders and Centipedes.
All the deets are here.
Big Shot Golf
Take it up a notch from your ordinary mini golf date and experience Big Shot Golf.
The 12 acres of fun include 56 bays, 3D augmented reality golfing, and of course, mini-golf.
Not into golf?
There is still plenty to keep you and your date entertained!
They’ve also got karaoke, ping pong, and bocce. And, don’t worry about working up an appetite…
While you practice your budding golf skills you can order some epic made-from-scratch foodie creations, handcrafted cocktails, beer, and almost anything else you could want from a top-notch food establishment.
Bowling
An oldie, but a goodie, going out for a night of bowling is a date night that won’t ever go out of style.
Springfield has plenty of bowling spots to choose from.
If you’re on the west side, check out Sunshine Lanes.
Their sister site, Enterprise Lanes, is over on the east side. Both locations are locally owned by the Wiemer family.
Andy B’s is also a popular bowling destination in south center Springfield. It attracts bowlers with it’s extra perc of having a dining area with quality dinner options to enjoy before or after your game.
Brewery Date Night
Are you looking for a fun, new date night destination? If so, then we have just the thing! The Ozarks region is home to dozens of craft breweries that are sure to impress. These local watering holes offer diverse styles of beer and provide an excellent opportunity to enjoy quality time.
More than just beer:
Breweries have an incredible atmosphere, with live music, games, events, and food trucks to keep you entertained. In addition to the brews on tap, many also offer a variety of different cocktails and wine.
If you’re looking for your next date night destination, a brewery is an excellent choice!
But There’s More…
At Show Me Brewery you can not only taste incredible beer, but you can also schedule an appointment with a brewer and go from idea to making your own romantic brew!
If you’ve never experienced adding hops to a wort, it may improve every element in your relationship and many other worthwhile areas of your life!
For around a $180 date, you and your partner can get the coaching, supplies, and ingredients needed for a 3-hour brewing session that makes a little over 100 bottles of beer!
You can check out additional details of brewing with Show Me Brewing here.
Escape an Escape Room
Being trapped in close quarters. Working on those problem skills. Teaming up together to save the world. What more could you want on a date?
There are multiple companies in Springfield that provide super fun interactive games of escape where you and your partner are locked in a room for 60 minutes working together to solve a series of puzzles before the time runs out.
417 Escape Artist, Springfield Escape Room, and Pythian Castle have so many fun rooms you can choose from. Each room has a different theme and difficulty level, so choose wisely.
Food Truck it UP!
The quickest way to your date’s heart is through their stomach.
One of the most unique ways to satisfy that stomach is at one of the many fabulous food trucks in Springfield.
However, nestled in the parking lot of Ace Hardware on S Campbell is one of our favorites, Tacos El Champu. Hands down, some of the best tacos in Springfield. Go try them!
What are some other options?
If you’re looking for a variety of options, head on over to Route 66 Food Truck Park on E St Louis St. They have multiple food trucks all parked at one location and even have an indoor dining area to sit and enjoy your food in any kind of weather.
Additionally, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite food trucks in Springfield here.
Lend Helping Hands
Let go of your date’s hand long enough to lend a helping hand to someone in need.
Volunteering not only is an awesome way to help the community, it’s also a great time of bonding with the ones you’re serving alongside (including your hot date).
There are so many great organizations in town that are looking for people like you and yours to do some good.
Whatever best fits your skills, whether it be carpentry, cleaning up, handing out food, washing animals, etc, you can find your fit through the volunteer search engine here.
Millsap Pizza Nights
Outside of the hustle and bustle of the city, but still close enough to be in Springfield city limits, is Pizza Night at Millsap Farm.
The farm welcomes you to join them every Thursday night late April – mid October for an evening of live music, community, and of course, pizza.
You and your date will be immediately caught up in the enchanting atmosphere amongst the trees and under the string lights.
The pizza is made fresh right in front of you in their homemade brick ovens.
Play Board Games at a Local Shop
You and your date like playing board games but still want to get out of the house? Simply visit one of the many shops in the area that offer board games to play while out on the town.
If you’re looking for a legit game shop to play some games you can take your date to Nameless City Board Games on S Campell or Meta-Games on E Sunshine.
You can also grab a drink and pick a game to play from massive collections at local bars like 4 by 4 Brewing Company near Galloway Village or Best of Luck Beer Hall downtown.
Roller Skating
There’s one place to take your date for some retro fun on 8 wheels.
The roller rink is fun for all ages and a perfect place to make some fun date memories.
In line with almost every roller rink since the 70’s, Skateland offers an area to rest and buy concessions, a few arcade games to play while taking a breather from the rink floor, and plenty of retro music to keep the night rockin and rollin.
TommyHawks Axe House
YES!
What says I love you more than taking your date to throw some sharp objects into a wall like a Viking?!
A few years ago, after serving active duty in the U.S. Army for 20 years, a man named Tom decided to hone in his Army Special Operations skills into making Southwest Missouri’s first indoor axe-throwing venue.
And It. Is. Awesome.
You and your companion can book your lane and battle out who throws the best axe.
Don’t worry, you’ll get some training on how to handle your weapon before you start chuckin it.
Get all the glorious info here.
Have an Epic Nerf Battle
Looking for a fun date idea?
The War Zone is the perfect place to have a Nerf battle with your friends or significant other. They offer free-play and organized battles in an arena, so you can choose how much intensity you want. You’ll enjoy hours of exciting gameplay and get to know each other better while having a blast!
With an arsenal full of different types of Nerf guns available for beginner or pro, there’s something that suits any style of play.
Try out one of the fun activities on your next date night at The War Zone!
Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium
This amazing aquarium connected to Bass Pro took years to complete but it was definitely worth the wait.
You and your date could easily spend hours in this peaceful and perfect date destination.
With the aquarium beautifully filled with underwater creatures from all over the world, and all of the attention to detail that makes you feel immersed in the experience, it’s no wonder Wonders of Wildlife was voted America’s Best Aquarium.
Romantic Things to do in Springfield
Bed and Breakfast
Thankfully you don’t have to travel far to feel like you’re taking your date on a mini-getaway.
There are so many great bed and breakfast options right here in the Springfield area!
Walnut Street Inn is one of the most adorable and historical options in town. Not only is their property gorgeous, they offer special little touches like rose petals on the bed, candles lit around the room right before you enter, fresh flower bouquets, and even sweet treats like bon-bons and cakes.
Beautiful Cape Cod is another getaway found right in center Springfield. It comes with a stocked bar, an outdoor in-ground pool, and a jacuzzi. What more could you want on a date?
A Few Outside of Springfield Options
Just 6 miles outside of town you’ll find The Bombay Getaway at Arlie’s Farm. You and your date will be surrounded with breathtaking views and the serenity that comes with staying on the farm. Oh, and it also has a hot tub. 😉
A little further outside of Springfield (but still within 10 miles), you can stay on a 25 acre property along the James River. Surrounded by woods, rivers, and beautiful nature, The James River Cabin is a perfect spot to take that mini-getaway. You can cozy up with your date in front of the fireplace, cuddle on the front porch swing, or relax together in the hammock. And if you’d rather have a more active retreat, your stay also includes the options to go hiking, take out the utv on the trails, bicycling, kayaking, fishing, arrowhead hunting, or swimming.
Couples Massage
Take your date to a place that has the perfect excuse to get naked!
I’m talking about a couples massage, of course.
And you don’t actually have to get naked, but it’s totally acceptable in the privacy of the couples massage room if that’s what you prefer.
Naked or clothed (or somewhere in between), a couples message is a great way for you and your partner to relax together and truly unwind.
Grove Spa, Acacia Spa, and Dharma Day Spa are all great options for your naked date excuse in the Springfield area.
Hold Hands at the Theater
Show off your cultured side by taking your date to the theatre.
Our town has multiple theatres showing live performances of your favorite musicals, plays, ballets, and sometimes even local’s original writings.
Check out the schedules for Lander’s Theatre, Springfield Contemporary Theatre, and JKH Hall.
Additionally, the Missouri State Theatre and Dance Department post their upcoming productions on this calendar.
Lavender Falls Tuesday Tastings
Tucked in the rolling hills less than 30 minutes outside of Springfield lies Lavender Falls Farm.
While some farms may be very unromantic, with the certain *ehem* aroma that is inevitable amongst the majestic animals of the traditional farm. Fear not. Lavender Falls Farm is filled only with the pleasant scent of blooming lavender mixed with the freshness of the everflowing natural spring.
Make reservations here to visit the farm on their Tuesday Tasting so that you and your date can view the beauty of the farm grounds while enjoying an unique multi-course dinner made exclusively for the event.
Relax at a Concert
If you prefer to experience your live music without the choreographed dancing and dramatic story line, maybe a date to a concert is more your speed.
Springfield Symphony Orchestra offers multiple concerts throughout the year where you and your date can sit back, hold hands, and be immersed in the music.
Additionally the MSU jazz bands, orchestras, and other soloists and ensembles often have concerts you can check out on their calender here.
And, for an even more relaxed atmosphere, you can take your date to one of the many concerts held at Nathanael Greene Park through the Gigs in the Garden program.
Tea Bar and Bites Themed Dinners
Have you been to Tea Bar and Bites?
It’s absolutely adorable.
The restaurant is located on the picturesque Pickwick Avenue, has a secluded brick paved patio, and is just dripping with charm.
Any day of the week is a great time to take your date to Tea Bar and Bites. But to kick the romance up a notch, make your reservation to attend one of their Themed Dinners.
Their Themed Dinners take place about once a month and are truly a special experience. Chef Marty Almaraz will prepare you and your date a 5 course meal to enjoy while you listen to live music and take in the unique atmosphere.
Free or Cheap Date Night Ideas
Fun Acres
Fun Acres is the place to get your mini golf on. And a great excuse to cuddle up with your date to teach them how to properly use the golf club 😉
The course is filled with all sorts of neat vintage statues and sculptures. The atmosphere is so fun and lighthearted.
Fun Acres has been around for ages but is still as fun as the first day it opened.
You and your date will have a blast competing your way through the 18 holes of mini golf, getting swept away in the nostalgia of it all.
You might have lived in 417 land for years and have never noticed this mini golf location. That’s because it’s cozily tucked behind a shopping strip off of Campbell. But it is definitely worth hunting to find this gem.
Get their address, prices, and hours here.
Busiek State Park
When the weather is right, take your date out to experience Busiek State Park.
With over 2000 acres of conservation land and 18 miles of trails, there’s plenty to explore at this gorgeous park.
There’s also an area for camping if you decide you want to make your date night an overnight adventure.
Geocaching
A modern day twist on treasure hunting, geocaching is always a fun date night choice.
Geocaching is an activity where participants hide a container of small treasures and a log book, input the GPS coordinates of the container into the geocaching database, and leave it for other geocachers to discover.
There are hundreds of geocaches in Springfield alone and millions throughout the world.
How does it work?
All geocaches are given a ranking of difficulty to find, ease of terrain, and size of container.
To get the adventure started, sign up for an account through the geocaching app or through their website here.
Once signed up, you can use the app on your phone to see all nearby geocaches. Simply click on the geocache you want to find and the app will help direct you with gps directions or an in-app compass.
Happy caching!!
Marble Hunting
Another treasure hunting type adventure is marble hunting.
Basically exactly what it sounds like, marble hunting is simply going out to hunt for marbles that others have hidden.
You can find out all the details and how to get started marble hunting in Springfield here.
PickleBall
Pickleball is a combination of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It’s played on a badminton sized court with a modified tennis net. Players use what look like giant ping-pong paddles and a wiffle ball type ball to play the game.
There are multiple pickleball courts in Springfield to play on including Meador Park, Chesterfield Family Center, and Nichols Park.
If you’re new to the game or need to brush up before date night, read all the rules from the USA Pickleball Association (yup, that’s a thing) right here.
Explore a Nature Trail
Surround you and your date with a plethora of friendly wildlife, trees, and seasonal blooms. You and your date will feel like you’ve left the city and are in the middle of a natural wonderland.
The 80 acre conservation area at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center is one of the best, however you can also check out an abundance of nature trails in Springfield here.
Springfield Sculpture Walk
The Springfield Sculpture walk is a rotating collection of sculptures that are on display outdoors all throughout Springfield.
Displayed year round, you simply open the map on the Springfield Sculpture Walk website or in the app on your phone to find out where to go view all of the current sculptures.
You can see the 30+ sculptures around town on this map, and learn more details about the Springfield Sculpture Walk here.
Uniquely Springfield Things for Couples to Do
Andy’s Frozen Custard
Andy’s Frozen Custard may now have over 85 locations across the nation. But here in the Ozarks was where the fresh creamy delicious concoction was born.
Are you even a loyal 417 lander if you haven’t taken your date out to Andy’s?
With a wide variety of toppings and flavors, there’s something for every frozen custard lover to enjoy. The custard shop even incorporates local ingredients in the mix like Askinosie Chocolate.
Andy’s is part of what makes Springfield, Springfield and it needs to be at the top of every local’s date night destination list.
Askinosie Chocolate Factory Tour
You might have known that we have a chocolate factory right here in 417 land. But did you know you can tour the chocolate factory?
Yep!
Grab your person and go explore the Askinosie Chocolate Factory.
Every Tuesday they give the public a behind the scenes look at how they craft their phenomenal chocolates.
Don’t forget to buy some sweets for your sweet after you’ve taken the tour.
Get all the info for this delicious date here.
Bass Pro
So, this might not initially come to mind when you think of date night, but hear me out.
If you and your date are into wildlife, the great outdoors, or even just seeing adorable turtles, you two could spend hours enjoying all that there is in the “Grandaddy of all Bass Pro Shops”.
Bass Pro got its start in Springfield and continues to receive lots of love from locals and thousands of tourists each year.
Even if you don’t plan on shopping, you can still take in the multiple wildlife sculptures on display, the alligator pit, an in-store pond filled with cute little turtles, multiple aquariums, the National Archery Hall of Fame, candy and soda shops, waterfalls, and even a full service restaurant.
Visit the Fork
Ok, so maybe it wouldn’t fill up a full date night, but visiting The Fork would certainly be a fun uniquely Springfield date night quick stop.
The Fork is nestled behind the Food Network building in Chesterfield Village and stands at a whopping 35 feet tall. You can get all the info and some history on this world’s largest fork here.
After you behold the magnificent towering metal utensil, you have plenty of great date night restaurants to choose from right in The Fork’s neighborhood.
Outdoor Date Ideas
Float on the River
Nothing challenges a couples teamworking skills like trying to navigate a canoe together.
If you’re up for the challenge, take your date out on one of the many beautiful rivers in the Springfield area.
Not sure where to start? 37 North has you covered with their James River Float Series. They’ll guide you along the rivers and even teach you and your date a thing or two about what makes our waterways so special.
Paddleboarding
Kick your water experience up a notch by taking your date out for an attempt at paddleboarding.
The James River is a great spot for paddleboarding… if you think you can stay upright in quick moving waters.
For the rest of us who are still new to the sport, calmer waters like Lake Springfield, might be the place to start. They even have paddleboards you can rent if you don’t own your own.
Picnicking the Easy Way
Want an easy to pull off a picnic date in Springfield?
Save the date picnics will put together a customized picnicking plan for you and your date, done.
Or, just make some sandwiches, grab a blanket, and visit the closest top Springfield park, now!
Romantic Picnic Idea in 417
If you want a more romantic location, you can’t really beat the abundance of options at the botanical gardens in Springfield. With a Japanese Stroll garden, gazebos, and plenty of nature strolling, the botanical gardens make it simple and fast to find a romantic picnic spot in Springfield.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
Well, not me, obviously take your date.
And not just a ballgame.
Springfield has baseball, football, golf, sand volleyball, soccer, and pretty much every other outdoor sport you might want to take your date to watch.
The best spot, in my humble opinion, has to be Hammons Field for a Cardinals baseball game!
You can also root alongside your date at one of the many college sports games we always have going on in the area.
Or even check out a game played by your choice of the plethora of adult sports leagues happening in town.
Dickerson Park Zoo
Take a walk on the wild side by planning a date at the zoo.
Dickerson Park Zoo is almost 100 acres located in north Springfield.
You and your date can stroll hand in hand down the multiple paths while you view animals from all over the world.
You can also take a stop at the cafe, take a ride on the train, and maybe stop by the gift shop for an adorable memento to your fun zoo date.
At Home Date Night Ideas
These date night boxes in Springfield are a unique and fun way to liven up an at home date!
Local Box of Goodies
Bring the best of local home with a box of goodies from a local spot.
Homemade delivered will “shop, prepare, and deliver” an in-home date night meal to begin a laid back enjoyable evening with amazing food.
NoBaked can send you home with a variety pack of their delicious cookie doughs to sample to your heart’s content. And sometimes you can even get cookie dough from NoBaked and local brewed beer from 4 X 4 in a bundle.
D’Lish has a variety of baked goods to enjoy while you cuddle up on the couch.
DIY Art Kits
Get crafty at home with the help of AR Workshop. They provide DIY-TO-GO kits that you can pick up from their shop on Battlefield.
There are so many options to choose from! Painting, string art, canvas, woodwork, and more!
All you have to do is go to their website, choose a project for you and your date to enjoy, order one (or two, or three), and then go pick it up from AR Workshop when it’s ready.
Let the creating begin!
Charcuterie Date Night
Problem: You want the delicious variety of a charcuterie board but prefer to skip the embarrassment of figuring out how in the world to say “charcuterie” to your waiter
Solution: Order a Date Night Box from 417 Charcuterie.
Even better, 417 Charcuterie let’s you order online and have the delicious box of goodies delivered right to your door. The only person who will know the secret of how badly you butcher the word “charcuterie” is your date.
Pottery-To-Go Packages
You don’t have to get out to the pottery studio to create a ceramic keepsake with your date.
Instead, why not hone in on your painting skills in the comfort of your own home?
Firehouse Pottery offers Pottery-To-Go packages that provide the ceramic, glaze, and paintbrushes.
Once your masterpieces are finished you can take your work of art back to the studio for firing.
What are you waiting for?
We hope this list will help get your creative juices flowing. Don’t worry too much over where to go or how much money you have – there are tons of free or cheap options available in Springfield alone.
And remember, sometimes the best date nights happen when we stay in our own backyard so—stop thinking and pick one!
