Springfield ranks among best summer travel destinations

The Springfield metropolitan area ranked No. 12 on a list of the 100 best summer travel destinations published this week by personal finance website WalletHub.com.

The Springfield metro is the highest ranking in Missouri on the list. St. Louis is No. 23, followed by Kansas City at No. 61.

The list ranks 100 metropolitan areas by travel costs and hassles, such as flights; local costs, including hotel rates; the number and diversity of attractions; weather; activities, such as the prevalence of affordable restaurants; and safety, including COVID-19 case rates, and violent and property crimes.

Springfield had a total score of 64.81 out of 100 points. The metro area ranked No. 8 for safety, No. 13 for travel costs, No. 27 for weather, No. 60 for local costs, No. 67 for attractions and No. 71 for activities, according to WalletHub.

"We've always known Springfield is a great place to visit and it's great to see others acknowledge it," said Tracy Kimberlin, president and CEO of the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, in a news release announcing the WalletHub results.

The Orlando, Florida, metro area ranked No. 1 with a total score of 72.95. St. Louis' score was 60.7, and Kansas City’s was 55.08.