Less Than 2 Hours From St. Louis Is Missouri's Coolest Waterpark With A Natural Golden Sand Beach

The world provides curious travelers with endless places to explore, from weird roadside attractions to strange natural wonders. Some destinations even put a unique spin on classic vacation experiences. One such destination is Fugitive Beach in Rolla, Missouri, which takes standard summertime beach day fun out of the ocean and into a stunning quarry where golden sands meet waterpark thrills.

Dubbed one of America's best swimming holes by Business Insider and praised by visitors as a fun-filled, family-friendly oasis, Fugitive Beach arrived in Missouri over a decade ago to transform a closed-down limestone quarry into a thriving waterpark less than two hours from St. Louis. Today, this warm weather hotspot attracts tens of thousands of visitors looking to race down waterslides, leap into cool waters, and even sip piña coladas in a cabana on the sand.

Like many outdoor waterparks, Fugitive Beach opens around Memorial Day and closes after Labor Day. During this handful of months, rising local temperatures and long, sunny days make conditions perfect for hours spent swimming and sunbathing. Plus, with a convenient location just off I-44, Fugitive Beach makes an excellent detour during a summer road trip along this riverside route through 10 states.

Fugitive Beach offers adventures for all activity levels. Sunbathers can lounge on the sand, kids can zip down waterslides, and thrillseekers can leap from clifftop jumping platforms into the water below. While you get to choose how to spend your day at Fugitive Beach, there are some important rules to follow. Before entering the waterpark, you'll need to sign a waiver acknowledging potential risks. While Fugitive Beach now requires guests to wear lifejackets for certain activities, swimming in deep waters always carries a certain amount of risk, and people have drowned here before. While Fugitive Beach prohibits bringing your own alcohol, people ages 21 and over can buy alcoholic drinks from the on-site bar and grill. For everyone's safety, glass is banned from the beach.

Now that you know what not to bring, make sure you do bring essential items like sunscreen and towels. Past visitors also recommend packing water shoes. If you have your own life jacket, bring it so you don't have to rent one at the park. You can bring in your own food and drinks, though Fugitive Beach's bar and grill does serve treats like burgers, BBQ, and frozen margaritas.

Once you've packed your bags and signed your waiver, decide how to spend your day at Fugitive Beach. With more than an acre of water, the park welcomes swimmers, cliff-jumpers, waterslide enthusiasts, and people who want nothing more than to float in a tube for hours. Meanwhile on land, you can sunbathe or play games like beach volleyball. Groups willing to pay $50-150 can also rent a cabana or pavilion and enjoy having a shady spot to themselves all day.

While Fugitive Beach gives travelers plenty to do on hot summer days, sightseers curious to explore outside the waterpark can find more adventure in the surrounding city of Rolla. If you have an affinity for off-beat novelty attractions, check out Rolla's Museum of Vacuums (aka Mid-Missouri Vacuums) and the Ed Clark Museum of Missouri Geology. Prefer learning about new places through a historical lens? Visit the Dillon Log House Museum to see a home that dates back to 1838. You can even take a self-guided historic walking tour through Rolla to learn about local landmarks like the Historic Main Street Footbridge and Old Phelps County Jail. For a blend of historic intrigue and modern sensibilities, make time to see Rolla's very own Stonehenge, too. Brought to life in the 1980s by two Missouri University of Science and Technology professors, this strange sight makes a perfect stop for taking quirky vacation photos.

When you're not busy with museum visits, walking tours, and other fun activities, you can also find good eats in Rolla. If you're in town Thursday through Saturday, don't miss the chance to have delicious French dishes for breakfast or brunch at CrepEscape & A la Folie. At lunchtime, stop by beloved local spots like Ramen Bay or Scruff's Grill. And when it's time for dinner, enjoy beers and bites at Public House Brewing Company.