Phelps district, Missouri, United States

Places to visit near Rolla

Rolla is a town in Phelps district, Missouri, United States, home to about 20,019 people. Within 50 km by road there are 108 places to visit — 26 hill stations & viewpoints, 25 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 17 caves and 15 forts & heritage. The must-see places are Frisco Lake (1 km), St. James Chapel (18 km) and Kaintuck Hollow (20 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Rolla on the map

Rolla, Missouri
Rolla, Phelps district, Missouri, United States. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Rolla at a glance

Location
Phelps district, Missouri, United States
Population
about 20,019
Coordinates
37.9514° N, 91.7713° W
Places within 50 km
108 (7 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for caves

Top places to visit near Rolla

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Rolla: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Rolla

Things to see near Rolla, by type

Hill stations & viewpoints near Rolla

97 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Rolla. The closest is Pea Ridge (15 km); the best-known is Kaintuck Hollow (20 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

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Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Rolla

59 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Rolla. The closest is Frisco Lake (1 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

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Caves near Rolla

35 caves within 100 km of Rolla. The closest is Little Beaver Cave (9 km). Best time: year-round.

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Forts & heritage near Rolla

21 forts & heritage within 100 km of Rolla. The closest is Fort Dette (1 km). Best time: october to february.

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Parks near Rolla

14 parks within 100 km of Rolla. The closest is Schuman Park (1 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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Museums near Rolla

9 museums within 100 km of Rolla. The closest is Phelps County Historical Society (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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A one-day trip from Rolla

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 78 km on the road.

  1. Start in Rolla
  2. 18 km St. James Chapel · church, Phelps
  3. 18 km Frisco Lake · lake, Phelps
  4. 1 km Fort Dette · fort, Phelps
  5. 1 km Christ Church · church, Phelps
  6. 20 km Kaintuck Hollow · viewpoint, Phelps
  7. 20 km Back to Rolla

Plan a longer trip from Rolla — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Rolla

No traveller has reported from around Rolla yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Rolla

    All places near Rolla by distance

    Within 15 km of Rolla

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Rolla by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Hill stations & viewpoints2697Pea Ridge (15 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs2559Frisco Lake (1 km)
    Caves1735Little Beaver Cave (9 km)
    Forts & heritage1521Fort Dette (1 km)
    Parks614Schuman Park (1 km)
    Other attractions69KMNR-FM (Rolla) (1 km)
    Museums69Phelps County Historical Society (1 km)
    Churches48Christ Church (1 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens14Mark Twain National Forest (41 km)
    Waterfalls14Falls Hollow (50 km)
    Beaches & coast11Birds Nest Beach Park (45 km)
    Treks01Ozark Trail (97 km)

    Rolla: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Rolla?

    Frisco Lake (lake, about 1 km), St. James Chapel (church, about 18 km), Kaintuck Hollow (viewpoint, about 20 km), Christ Church (church, about 1 km), Fort Dette (fort, about 1 km), KMNR-FM (Rolla) (attraction, about 1 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Rolla?

    108 places on Spotwander: 26 hill stations & viewpoints, 25 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 17 caves, 15 forts & heritage, 6 parks.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Rolla?

    Pea Ridge, about 15 km by road; Coalpit Hollow (20 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest lake to Rolla?

    Frisco Lake, about 1 km by road; Blues Pond Dam (4 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest cave to Rolla?

    Little Beaver Cave, about 9 km by road; Point Bluff Cave (10 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Rolla?

    Start in Rolla, visit St. James Chapel, then Frisco Lake, then Fort Dette, then Christ Church, then Kaintuck Hollow, and drive back — about 78 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Rolla?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for caves.

    Towns near Rolla

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Rolla’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Rolla on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.