Summer is the perfect time for a road trip! And we’ve got a great one for you: The Ultimate Castle Road Trip! While we usually focus only on the natural state, this time we are including our neighbor to the north: Missouri.

If you think you have to travel to Europe to tour enchanting castles, think again! Tucked away in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas and Missouri is a whimsical road trip perfect for architecture lovers, history buffs, and anyone craving a little magic. The Ultimate Castle Road Trip winds through scenic countryside and charming towns, leading you to seven unique, castle-like attractions — each with its own story and spectacular design.

From medieval mansions and storybook treehouses to stone ruins and historic homes, this journey will transport you into a world where fairytales and history collide.

Castle Rogue’s Manor – Beaver, Arkansas

Castle Rogue’s Manor – Beaver, Arkansas

Perched atop a 100-foot limestone bluff overlooking Table Rock Lake, Castle Rogue’s Manor looks like it leapt straight out of a fantasy novel. Hand-built by visionary Smith Treuer, this awe-inspiring fortress features grand timber-framed halls, guard towers, octagonal turrets, and a massive medieval fireplace flanked by bronze dragons. Constructed from native black walnut, red cedar, and salvaged redwood, it’s as sustainable as it is stunning.

Whether you're taking a guided tour, attending a special event, or getting married with the Ozarks as your backdrop, Castle Rogue’s Manor is a one-of-a-kind Arkansas treasure.

📍 Near Eureka Springs, AR
🔗 Castle Rogue’s Manor Facebook

Quigley’s Castle – Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Quigley’s Castle – Eureka Springs, Arkansas

This National Register of Historic Places site isn’t your typical castle — but its story is nothing short of legendary. Designed in 1943 by Elise Quigley, Quigley’s Castle was her dream home: a sanctuary where nature and imagination could flourish. Built with two foundations to allow for indoor gardens, the house features 28 windows, a rock-covered exterior (from her childhood collection), and French doors that open onto a breathtaking perennial garden filled with rock sculptures, antique roses, and even “bottle trees.”

Step inside to explore a home turned living artwork — complete with a butterfly collage bedroom, a built-in aquarium, and handmade flowerpots. This is one woman's creative spirit set in stone.

📍 Eureka Springs, AR
🔗 quigleyscastle.com

The Ultimate Castle Road Trip

Eureka Springs Castle Treehouse – Arkansas

Eureka Springs Castle Treehouse – Arkansas

Want to sleep in a castle in the trees? Eureka Springs Castle Treehouse offers guests the ultimate fairytale stay. Part of a quirky lodging collection that includes Hobbit Caves and Grottos, the Castle Treehouse boasts drawbridge-inspired entrances and medieval details, giving guests the charm of a castle with the whimsy of a treehouse retreat.

Their resident “elves” even offer free walking tours of Eureka Springs — a town where no two streets cross at right angles!

📍 Eureka Springs, AR
🔗 Eureka Springs Treehouses Website | Facebook

The Ultimate Castle Road Trip

Pythian Castle – Springfield, Missouri

Pythian Castle – Springfield, Missouri

Ready for something a little spooky? Built in 1913 by the Knights of Pythias, Pythian Castle has served as a retirement home, a military recreation center, and even a POW hospital during WWII. With its Carthage stone exterior and grand ballroom, the castle exudes Gothic charm — and a few ghost stories, too.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the castle is open for historical and haunted tours, events, and private bookings.

📍 Springfield, MO
🔗 pythiancastle.com

The Ultimate Castle Road Trip

Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins – Camdenton, Missouri
By Paul Knittel from St. Louis, United States - Ha Ha Tonka State Park, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5695900

Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins – Camdenton, Missouri

Once a dream mansion inspired by European castles, the stone ruins of Ha Ha Tonka Castle now stand as a dramatic tribute to the ambition and tragedy of the Snyder family. Construction began in the early 1900s, but after a devastating fire in 1942, only the limestone skeleton remains.

Today, the ruins are a popular highlight of Ha Ha Tonka State Park, where visitors can hike trails, explore natural springs, and take in stunning views of the Lake of the Ozarks.

📍 Camdenton, MO
🔗 Ha Ha Tonka History

The Ultimate Castle Road Trip

Samuel Cupples House – St. Louis, Missouri
By Farragutful - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69856560

Samuel Cupples House – St. Louis, Missouri

If you love ornate detail and historic elegance, Samuel Cupples House will take your breath away. Built in the Romanesque Revival style from 1888–1890, this 42-room mansion once belonged to a wealthy St. Louis businessman. Today, it serves as a museum on the campus of Saint Louis University.

Inside, you’ll find period furnishings, intricate woodwork, and the Eleanor Turshin Glass Collection — showcasing dazzling Art Nouveau and Art Deco glassware.

📍 St. Louis, MO
🔗 slu.edu/cupples-house

The Ultimate Castle Road Trip

Chateau Charmant – Fordland, Missouri

Chateau Charmant – Fordland, Missouri

Inspired by 13th-century French architecture, Chateau Charmant is the dream-come-true project of Bob and Bonnie Palmer. With just a small crew (mainly family!), they built this luxurious and romantic estate by hand. Each room reflects a different European castle, and the venue hosts weddings, community events, and medieval-themed celebrations.

It’s not open every day, so call ahead and plan to be enchanted.

📍 Fordland, MO
🔗 charmingcastle.com | Facebook


Whether you're daydreaming about medieval towers or searching for off-the-beaten-path adventures, the Ozarks Castles Road Trip offers a one-of-a-kind experience. From Arkansas's natural artistry to Missouri's historical grandeur, these castles celebrate imagination, history, and heart — all in America’s backyard.


So gas up the car, grab your camera, and prepare for a royal road trip through the Ozarks!