This was fun. It's not an amusement park kind of fun, but definitely worth the drive. It can be difficult to find, but another reviewer has written terrific directions. We went 4th of July weekend 2014 and this road was busy with locals driving through and they are very nice and I believe they think it is amusing that we tourists come to see these bridges that are their everyday lives. My husband and I drove across the shorter bridge and I did not have the nerve to drive over the longer bridge, but we walked across it and were not run over on this one lane bridge when someone else drove over it, they drive rather slowly over it. It was very interesting to see a bridge built this way and if we had children we would definitely take them. Definitely a go see once.
It is a bit out of the way. Easier to get to if you come from Rt 42. The bridges are interesting but the best part for us was watching a Bald Eagle hunt and feed.
this is a favorite spot to get away from the crowd at the lake. The old suspension bridge which still handles traffic is a tribute to engineering of the past. The setting in the ozark hills is perfect for taking pictures, with calm clear water below and kids playing, or canoes gliding through the water you get a true feel of the Ozarks. It can be tricky to find, but just travel down 42 about 5 miles past the State Park entrance and you will see the road on the right, follow it about three miles down and you will cross a small old suspension bridge which is all metal, then just after crossing you will see the second large wooden bridge. !!!! If you have children with you watch their step walking the bridge, gaps between boards are big enough to drop a foot through and one section was big enough for a child to drop through!!!!
If you like an out of the way place to visit and don't mind the wooden deck. Worth the drive to see, walk over and drive over
We packed a lunch and brought some inner tubes for a day trip here. The water was nice and cool and not to deep for a lot of family water fun.The kids loved the rope swing and building castles on the sand bar.The swinging bridge was really cool, but if your going to drive out there pack a lunch and enjoy the area.It was a great day!
My husband and I took a drive to find the swinging bridge yesterday. It is pretty difficult to find. Our GPS had no idea where to go. If you're heading from 54 on 42 go 5.5 miles past Ozark State Park and you'll see a gravel road named "Swinging Bridge Road" on your right hand side. Turn on the gravel path and follow that for a couple miles. You'll drive over one small bridge and then up a tiny bit to the right is the large swinging bridge. It was shaky and a little scary to walk across, but fun. I refused to drive our car over it even though we saw four larger trucks drive over. There's a river down below that people were swimming and fishing, so you could probably make a little day out of this visit. Definitely fun and a little adventurous to go and see if you'd like to go for a little drive.
Don't take the kids! You oh look a swinging bridge, Hmmm! Ok let's leave. Sure its free. Glad it is.
It was pretty cool to look at, scary to drive over.... very loud and narrow, not much room for error. The roads to get to the bridge is gravel but not horrible to drive on.. Worth the trip.
Glad to see a historic bridge built in ways we just don't do any more. Must walk out on the long bridge. Very spooky how much it moves, creaks and pops as traffic passes.
I like old bridges and barns. The park area has restroom facilities and the water looked very inviting. I didn't have my swim suit and skinning dipping isn't in my plans at 70+. Still I think it would be a great place to take the kids a piocnic and have a great day.