Swinging Bridge Reviews

The bridges are not located on Highway 42! The area is called swinging bridges because there are two suspension bridges located near each other in Miller County.
From Highway 42 take Swinging Bridges Road just West of Brumley. A few miles down you will cross the smaller of the two bridges. This bridge has a metal surface that reminds me of a tin roof. Once you cross this bridge just a little ways farther is a road to your right, down it you should be able to see the big suspension bridge that is the main attraction.
The main bridge is the Grandauglaize Bridge which is a wire suspension bridge built in 1922. It is 500 feet long and spans 414 feet. It has a weight limit of 3 tons. There is a pay campsite located at the bridge run by the Conservation Department. It is on the honor system and you place the money in the box, they do check! Bathrooms are located at the campsite, but don't expect anything fancy. Most of the area surround the bridges is part of The Lake Of The Ozarks State Park.
The bridge is one lane and arched in the center so you can't see traffic coming on the other side. Roll down your window, turn off your radio and listen! If two cars try to cross at the same time from two directions someone is going to have to back up and most people are afraid to cross it going forwards!!
Be advised with the campgrounds in the area and the lake a lot of drinking goes on this area! My friend and I were walking across the bridge a few years ago and were nearly hit by a drunk driver. My last visit I saw people drinking down at the campground and then saw them drive across it.

Cool suspension still around. Walked across before driving. Interesting little side trip, just a short drive off the main roads.

There are actually two historic, swinging suspension bridges over Grand Auglaize Creek. Access is a gravel road (Swinging Bridge Road, a.k.a. Lake Road 42-18) originating off of 54 just west of Brumley. These are a must see for bridge and history lovers. For people whose primary interest is recreation or entertainment, they probably be a disappointment. We drove across both bridges and back (slowly). They were rock solid. We saw a pickup pulling a boat cross, not even on the reinforced part of the deck. Not a great destination for toddlers, as there would be safety issues.

This was a very cool attraction! I was walking about halfway down when a vehicle was coming across which was a bit scary, but it's a fine place to take some vacation photos and see a true vintage engineering feat!

Our tour guide at the caves recommend this spot. It is off the beaten path on a gravel road but with it. The area is pretty, the bridge is really cool and there are a couple of great fishing spots under the bridge. Glad we made the trip.

Ok place but not a highlight or don't miss kind of place. 2 bridges at. The end of gravel road, seemingly to nowhere

I was visiting the area and had to come see the swinging bridge. I was in my Jeep Wrangler and it was way cool to go over the bridge. There are 2, one longer than the other. Pretty scary for my passenger. There are boards missing and it looks very old. There is a great area to swim on the other side. Bring your towel and cool off. Definitely recommended. Not many bridges like this still around.

The Swinging Bridge is a 15-20 minute ride from Osage Beach! Really glad that we made the trip. It is in a beautiful wooded area over a narrow river. There were campsites, a swiming area and laughter below the bridge! We went a little late in the day when the sun was setting and it was beautiful! The bridge is one lane and every time we attempted to walk across the bridge a car would appear. So we decided to go ahead and drive across even though it was a little scary! Really cool swinging bridge!

It is just a swinging bridge but I took the granddaughters over it and we screamed the whole way not sure if we would make it across. It was a fun and free thing to do.

Cool spot Wirth the drive. After I left I started down some dirt road back in time it seemed. Finally came out on hwy A. Fun twist road to fly around on. Beautiful country.

There are 2 bridges: the first one is wooden (larger, longer) & the second one (smaller & shorter) has more metal to it. We did NOT drive on either as both looked unsafe. However, I rate this as a 5 because it's worth seeing, experiencing, & walking across. A car did drive across it while we were on it & you could feel it sway. Both are unique when you consider the history of those & the fact that a guy without a formal engineering background built them.

This local landmark was recommended by a merchant. It was just a short distance off the highway and worth the drive for a brief, free experience.

I love old bridges and weird, out-of-the way sightseeing, so this was right up my alley. It’s definitely out in the middle of nowhere, but a fun excursion that only took us about an hour.

We came across info on the internet about these bridges and decided to find them. Quite a long drive down a gravel road but well worth the trip. A bit of history. Bridge needs repair.

So maybe this isn’t the best find on vacation..but it is a quirky little local thing to do. I can’t say that I’ve ever drove over a small swinging bridge, or for sure two in a row. And we drove over the first and walked the second. When you walk it you can get it swaying and it’s a tad freaky! It was a beautiful drive to the bridges and I’m glad we went!

Traveling through off highway 101 from Ventura county to Sonoma county. Nice stop next stop San Luis Obispo

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 were just kind of wandering around Lake of the Ozarks State Park & stumbled upon Swinging Bridges Road. It has a backwoods, remote feel, and driving over the bridges is kind of a spooky thrill.

Before you go read up on the history of this beautiful bridge. You’ll appreciate it even more. Make sure to drive across both bridges. Then you can park and walk underneath and hear the cars go over you and see the bridge swing. It sounds like it will collapse, but it won’t.

If you're at the Lake you'll want to go for just a short drive to Brumley and DRIVE across the swinging bridges...OK, if you're a city slicker, you'll look at them and decide to walk! The big bridge is 500 ft long and the clanking noises that the planks make as you drive across are way cool! Some day the bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic, so go ahead and live dangerously and make the drive across! A must do when you're at the Lake!

Located on the upper art of one arm of the Lake, swinging bridge is a cable bridge built decades ago.

Considering how long ago these bridges were built, it is amazing to me that vehicles use them on a daily basis. We did not drive over them but walked over both. I'm sure it would be "an experience" to drive them. Some reviewers mentioned how hard they were to find, but we stopped at the ranger station for directions and had no trouble locating them. They are on gravel roads though, so be prepared. (That is one issue I have with many Trip Advisor items - the directions are not always easy to locate on the site,)

The directions are easy to follow. Well worth the trip to see. We drove across the metal one but opted to walk across the wood one. With a boat and heavy truck, we would of well exceeded the weight limit of it. The family joined in with the locals jumping off it also! Love the hidden gems such as this!!!!

If you haven't done so, look up the story of these bridges online. Their history seems unlikely, but I drove across both of them--to my wife's terror. Then we realized the bridges were the only way out, so we went back across. I

don't guess they're particularly scenic, or weren't that afternoon, so we didn't take pictures, but it was interesting to see them. They're down a gravel/dirt road and they have a weight limit, so don't go in pulling a boat or heavy load.

Some of the hiking trails in the park are nice and we saw deer much closer than I was expecting, including one big buck with quite a rack. Enjoy your trip.

Bridge is not open to foot traffic. You can walk under it and up to it, but that’s it. According to locals, it is not expected to open up again due to safety

We chose to walk this historic bridge. Worth looking for. It was longer than I had expected. Definitely made well to stand the test of time.

We were on an antique Chevy car tour with our Vintage Chevrolet Club of America this past week. This was suggested as an optional destination since it is located on a gravel road but I'm so glad we went. It was fun to see our old truck cruising on the old bridge. Beautiful drive to get there and the setting is deep in the woods. A must do!

It was kinda hard to find. We stopped at the caverns to get a map. Lots of driving down in paved roads to get to it. Was kinda scary, but worth checking out.

The road leading in to bridges is dirt and we drove over both bridges before getting out to walk over the wooden one. There is a lovely swimming spot near the wooden bridge.

We have come out here a couple of times and this is a fun free attraction. Take 42 out of town about 8-9 miles. Right before you get to some orange and cream storage buildings turn right--called swinging bridges road:) first bridge is metal, second is wood and primitive $7 nightly campground on right after 2nd bridge. Great photo ops!

I took my wife's family from Pennsylvania here. A very nice half day drive. Take the long way back to Highway 54 (don't make a uturn) for some true country back roads driving.

Today we found the famous “Swinging Bridges of Brumley” at the Lake of the Ozarks. The two swinging bridges are located just 1000 feet apart and both still carry traffic today for area residents. They are located in Miller County, on Swinging Bridges Road, off Hwy 42 from Brumley. The first bridge was like driving over a washboard. The second one appeared more stable. We walked over them both, and drove over the first one.

Having read a number of reviews about the swinging bridges we detoured to check them out, on a round trip from Osage Beach. It is a long way to the bridges and partially on unsealed roads with man sized potholes. Easy to think that you are lost. Bascially it is just a couple of old bridges in a rural area. Vaguely interesting but unless you are looking to fill in time I'm not sure it is worth the journey.

We had a great day and drive to the two bridges- wish it was warmer for a swim and picnic- reminded us of days gone by at the Ruvers!

I loved my experience visiting the Swinging Bridges! There are parts of the road leading up to the swings that allow you to pull to the side and park if you are not wanting to drive across. I would recommend at least driving across the smaller bridge to get to the larger one, though. You can get out & walk across, just keep your eye out for vehicles driving as there isn’t a whole lot of wiggle room. When standing in the middle of the bridge I could definitely feel it swinging. Great stop for taking photos while also checking out all that goes into the structure and keeping it stable. While slightly intimidating, driving across the larger bridge was not nearly as terrifying as I had imagined, we just had to be mindful of vehicles coming from the other direction as there is only room for one vehicle at a time and trying to reverse once on the bridge proves to be slightly more of a challenge!

We were close to the swinging bridge and so we drove the extra few minutes to drive across it. It's ok. I'm not sure I'd drive out of my way to visit here. There are some missing planks on one of the bridges. They look like they are about to fall apart too. 😳

When heading here do not go into the park to get to the bridges - you get to them on Swinging Bridge Road - which is all dirt and gravel. The bridges were pretty cool - it's hard to believe they are still drive-able. We ventured down another road and ended up at the primitive camping sites. The road was pretty potholed so be careful. This site is right on the river so it was really pretty.

Out of the way and not the easiest to find, but take the time to get direction and go see these bridges that you cannot see every day. Take a camera and capture something that is a thing of the past

Lost in the woods. When you think you are lost, you finally get to the 2 bridges. Have your video camera ready to listen to the clapping of the boards as you go across. Good spot by the River to have a picnic. We had fun with this old and frightful traverse. ( They don't really swing)

Heard about the swinging bridge that can hold up to 3 tons. On looking at the bridge, I wasn’t very confident. The bridge is worn, but manny parts have been restored. I know we could have driven it, but walking it was enough. Once we got off the bridge, a local crossed in his full size pick up without problems. Maybe for the driver that is braver than me!

Personally I like the back country roads, and a slower pace. We spent a few days in the off season down at Lake of the Ozarks State Park and took a drive to see these two swinging bridges. They aren’t scary as people have mentioned, just beautiful bridges over a scenic river.

I talked my husband into taking this drive. The GPS had trouble finding it. But we made a misturn and ended up in a park that was full of deer so that appeased my husband for the extra miles. When we finally found the correct turnoff to go to the bridges, I was somewhat disappointed. I guess growing up in Arkansas, I am too accustomed to rickety old wooden bridges. But it is still worth the drive and would be a great place to take the kids swimming. It was just too late in the fall to try that.

Was excited to see what this bridge was all about. Very out of the way on gravel roads. Didn't meet a single car while crossing the bridge as it is a one lane bridge. There are actually 2 different bridges to cross, one is shorter than the other with the longer one being more wooden (driving on wood planks).

Beautiful area,cool bridges and great fishing,you can wade and fish or plenty of shoreline to catch white bass 1-3lbs and hybrids 1-6lbs and an occasional largemouth.

I just waited for a car to cross it - I did after I saw a car crossing. Is not that bad. It didn't swing for me.

Enjoyed seeing this last bridge of it's kind. Was a bit surprised on how much gravel road we had to travel when getting to it from the south. Still … would do it again.

This is a heart stopper! The bridge is basically made from wires holding up metal beams....that seems a little safe compared to the boards on the bridge! You need to know that there is no "walking path" on the bridge. If you see a car coming, you need to get off the bridge or stand to the far side and hope a side mirror doesn't hit you. :)
The easiest way to get there is to take Route 42 to Swinging Bridge Road. Swinging Bridge Road is a gravel/dirt road to the right. I would suggest you google map it. You will go 2 - 3 miles on Swinging Bridge Road before you get to the first bridge....it is scary to cross, but keep going because this is the smaller of the two bridges. After visiting the second, bigger bridge, we would recommend turning around and taking the road back the way you came. If you continue on, it takes forever to get back to another main road. Also, remember, this is Missouri.....the roads wind, go up and down, and will take you to the middle of nowhere....:) It is worth the drive!

Just returned from a trip specifically to this site. I want to add to other reviews that as of late April, 2021 the long bridge is blocked off. You can walk under it but you can't drive or even walk on it. Lest you think I give up too easily, let me list the concrete barriers, berm of dirt, and locked metal gate discouraging entrance. When I arrived a little after 1 P.M. there was a State Park Ranger there in his vehicle. I parked, pretended to be seriously considering overcoming the obstructions, then announced that it looked a little too challenging, even for a Subaru. He laughed and agreed then drove off.

We decided to drive to Swinging Bridge as a day outing. Our map software took us in from the south and we drove about 5 miles on gravel roads (recently graded). We arrived at the bridge and simply drove across. Once across, we pulled into a small gravelled area and walked back onto the bridge. As we walked onto the bridge, I was shocked at how many of the boards were split and weak - I had to carefully choose my footing so as to not step wrong & go through!
I was glad we had not looked at the bridge closely because we probably would never have driven across!
Scary, but old and interesting. But come in from Hwy 42. Then park and look around without having to drive on this rickety bridge.

This swinging bridge was AWESOME! It's a little terrifying if you're a scardy-cat like me (because the wood is old, has tons of gaps and holes, and is creaky!), but so worth walking and driving across. It's a very nice area to explore. I highly recommend making this bridge and state park a part of your Ozarks vacation!

An interesting stop. There two of them about a half mile apart. Drove across the first one but opted not to go across the order. About 5 miles of gravel road to reach the bridges.

Just a neat place...Kids went swimming and I fished!

We simply saw this on the map while driving across country, so we excuse the pun swung by. You have to drive quite a way in, and there is really nothing there but 2 suspension bridges 1000 feet apart that carry traffic one way. Hubby drove the f250 across, while I walked haha with out problems. A little bridge groan, and some crackling wood. The 2 bridges were built in 1922 & 1925, the wire suspension bridge is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Although an inspection conducted in 2015 rated it structurally deficient due to its poor superstructure condition, that doesn’t stop daily traffic from locals and the looking Lou’s from crossing it.

There is a nice place to swim and the river looks nice for a little kayak. I am not sure if the creek and land are private so you might ask before you put something in the creek.

It is fun to travel over the bridge and feel it sway under you. Always a fun time, interesting to take new people over it....to see their expressions!

I wasn't actually sure this bridge would hold our car. Small, narrow and apparently sturdy because we made it across safely. There are two. The first is not so bad. The second is longer, looks more rickety and you cannot see if someone is coming from the other direction until you are already driving on the one way bridge. Good luck! :)

Nice remote setting over one of the many rivers that feed the Lake of the Ozarks. Very few remaining swinging bridges remaining that are still in every day use for cars.

Remote & interesting. And route we passed the pumpkin cave! Looks like a really fun destination spot for October. I’m can patch, playground and a large cave. Pass that we’re the swinging Bridges. We walked on them and enjoyed going down to the water. A structure we never expected to see! Worth the trip in an area where there’s very little to do!

This is an experience everyone should get to experience in their lifetime. If you have never experience you are in for a treat.

Off the beaten path but well worth the trip. Its about 12 miles outside of Osage Beach and the final 2 miles is gravel road. The bridge was built in 1931 and moans and groans as you drive across it. The first smaller bridge is nothing compared to the larger one. You can drive or walk across. It is a piece of history that should be enjoyed.

We googled the directions on our way back from the state park...it took us in from a direction (not 42). We drove about 3 miles in on the dirt road before we hit a washed out part of the road and decided to turn back. We drove an extra 20 miles to the other side and made it to the bridge. Worth it!

Very interesting piece of engineering. Slightly scary for some but safe. It is a little off the beaten path but not hard to find.

It's pretty cool bridges but they don't swing. They're just old and rickety and loud to drive over. Neat to experience but I wouldn't go back.

Amazing that it's still there and you can drive over it! The kids loved this creaky creepy bridge. Actually there are 2 of them! The gravel road to get there was rather bumpy but worth the tirp.

I am always on the lookout for old bridges, covered or swinging and to find this one was awesome. The hair on the back of your necks stands on end as you drive across and listen to popping and snapping of the wood planking and cable strands. You don't want to miss this one "Before it's Gone".

Interesting history; will bring back old memories if you grew up somewhere where these type of bridges were the norm. Not too far off of 42; good place for a short stop and a few photos.

It was neat to see and get some great pictures of. The drive is nice if you like to see the scenery and enjoy taking pictures. I would go back.

We visited in late July in the early evening. It was a long drive on a gravel road but the bridges were really cool! We parked and walked the first bridge and explored the area. It was so quiet and beautiful. We drove over the wood bridge to get to the second, smaller bridge. It made quite a racket but was really neat! There was a fallen tree to the left so we parked our car and went exploring. Walking around on the rocks made me a little nervous (could it be like quicksand rock? Can snakes live in rocks?) but it was a lot of fun! On the drive there was a part where the lake water came right up to the gravel road. It was gorgeous! I do recommend bug spray though. We would have stayed longer but we were under attack! Loved this place.

This bridge dates back to WWII, so yes it's OLD and RICKETY. If you have a physical disability or fear of heights, (or hate driving on gravel roads), this is probably an attraction you want to skip.

It is a unique experience and definitely worth it if you enjoy a little bit of adventure. While I personally would never drive my car on the bridge, several vehicles drove on it during our short 30 minute visit. As stated, it only holds 3 tons or 6,000 pounds.

I recommend this attraction to visitors.

How often do you see a place like this?? Old wooden bridge that straddles a shallow river. You'll feel a bit uneasy crossing it, but it's safe and worth it!

A very interesting short outing from Lake of the Ozarks State Park camping trip. About ten miles south from the State Park entrance off HiWay 42 with half of that being black top the last half gravel road. Two very cool swinging bridges from pre-WWII era. Both narrow with one being metal slats the other wood floor slats. Creepy to walk across but yet so fun. There is a small tent campground by the second one with a vault restroom and a creek beach to wade and swim in the clear water too. Just like another review said it is like going back in time. Worth the trip to go see.

Was very interested in visiting the swinging bridge. There are actually two. When I crossed the first one with hesitation I had no idea of what was waiting. Second bridge was very scary driving over. So much so that I was shaking! Well worth the trip down the dirt road for a thrill of a lifetime of your brave enough to cross!

this is a bit out of the way... interesting bridge but made me nervous and did not even try to drive across it. worth seeing though

Amazing...was a little scary...but SO worth it!!!! It was easy to get to..even on a motorcycle and after heavy rain!!

I couldn't find an address to enter into navigation and couldn't get google map directions. However, in the reviews, I found directions from a woman visiting from England, that helped, but we almost gave up a couple times.
It is worth the trouble. The drive takes you back in time, wood cabins, smoke rising from the chimneys, log cabins falling down. The bridge is down a gravel road. There's a short bridge to cross, then keep right to go over the longer bridge. We walked over the bridge, nervous about driving over it. If you jump up and down, it shakes.
It's probably a fun place on a hot summer day. It was cold and rainy the day we were there.

This was quite a drive away from everything else. We weren't sure if we found the right place, since there were no signs. Some others walking on it told us we had found it. It is not just a walking bridge. Cars drive on it. We walked across it and it was a little scary when a truck would drive over it while were on it. There was no place to go other than squeeze against the side while the vehicle went by.

This was just not at all what I was expecting and not something worth making the trip out to.

This reminded me of growing up in Iowa...the gravel roads, the trees and hills, and the bridges. We didn't drive across it, but it was a great photo opp in fall with the beautiful fall leaves and the sunlight shining through them.

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.

We drove to the area of the swinging bridges and some roads were partially washed out from the flooding the week before, but had been grated and leveled for the most part. The first bridge was relatively easy to find, and fun to cross. We made a wrong turn and ended up at a dead end field, and found the correct road on the way back down. As we were crossing the second bridge, there was a truck coming the other way, so I had to back up (I was about 1/3 of the way across). That was a strange feeling!! We made it back off, and proceded again across the bridge without a hitch. I agree with the shortage of signs and knowing which direction to go. Also, our gps did not have a signal there. Worth the time to go, though, if you like the outdoors and a little adventure.

We drove to the 2 swinging bridges... had no problem finding them on Swinging Bridge Rd. The Auglaize one only holds 3T so we didn’t drive over it... and we wouldn’t have anyway! Broken, rotten boards! It was absolutely fascinating... but horrifying too! :) Beautiful area and really nice to walk around. The Miller Creek one is medal and is super loud to drive across! A great little 30 min stop!

The bridges were a little hard to find but worth the effort. We drove across the bridges and enjoyed the view. We took lots of pictures. It was a beautiful fall day!

We visited Ozarks State Park and the Swinging Bridge a few years ago. Very nice park and the bridge was fun. It does swing. We took my motorcycle to the park and, when I said we were riding across the bridge, my wife climbed off and said she would walk.

This is off the main roads-- the must go on gravel to get here but it is a treasure! I won't drive across it but you can park close by and walk across. It is a great place to take photos. Very unique. Take water and snacks for a picnic.

The Swinging Bridge near Brumley, off Highway 42 is a true piece of history for Miller County and the rural way of transportation from a bygone era. It's construction as a one lane bridge over water has served the folks in this area for many decades. It is worth the side trip!!!

We got to go over one of the bridges and it was so much fun. Then the road washed out. There were people behind us that tried to go farther but ended up have to back up all the way off the next bridge, there was no road left at the end!
The kids were amazed by the flood waters, and a little bit scared. Glad we drove all the way out there regardless of having the turn around early.

Located about 2 miles off MO 44 on Swinging Bridges Road. It's worth a trip to see if you're in the area but it's not THAT big of a deal. You'll come to the shorter metal bridge coming this way, and it is by far the more terrifying of the two. It is in a fairly advanced state of disrepair with quite noticable and nearly unavoidable holes in its washboard surface. You won't fall through, but it could possibly cause a blowout if you don't have good tread on your tires. The real payoff here though is the sound it makes when you go over it which is best described as someone beating the inside of a stainless steel trash can at a short distance. This is mercifully brief as it is the much shorter of the two bridges. Then comes Grand Glaize Bridge some 1000 feet later around a right hand corner. This one noticeably swings some as it is about 450 feet long and though it is pretty narrow, it is much more structurally sound. It is also over a much larger stream and considerably higher above the water. This one was a bit of an anticlimactic experience actually. No room left over for another car, though. No room left over for even a pedestrian to be honest. It is wooden, except for the suspension cables which on both bridges are kinda rusty indeed. This does add to the paranoia you'll no doubt enjoy as you cross the bridges. Unless you have a county road map however, ahem, you will be going out the way the way you came. Meaning, back over the noisy washboard, and bangrumbleclatter and you're done. I did this in June 2019, and I really doubt they'll bother with a rebuild of the smaller one, so go soon if you want to give them a go before it falls into the creek.

We've visited the swinging bridges twice. Very interesting and scenic. Scared my 90+ year old mother half to death when we drove over them with her about 10 years ago!

We love to find the hidden gems on vacation trips and this was definitely one of them. There are 2 bridges both very different in design/structure and very exciting to drive over. They are on a gravel road (watch out for washed out areas, due to excessive rain) on the east side of the Lake of the Ozarks State Park. Just search for "Swinging Bridges Road". (It is a bit of a drive to get over to them depending on where you're coming from!) We got out and walked over them and watched as a few other cars drove over them to get the full effect!

This attraction is very near to the Lake of the Ozarks Cavern and McCubbins Point picnic area so that makes for a good day trip.

I only live a little over an hour from here near Columbia, MO so I have been here several times. For me these old bridges may be an hour distant, but they are a world away. I've always been interested in history, especially how people traveled, communicated, and interacted, especially in rural areas. There are actually 2 bridges on this road, both of which are well worth going out of the way if you are planning on visiting Lake of the Ozarks. I'd especially say to make the effort to see these if you are from a large urban area, they are a fascinating contrast to city life, and a interesting glimpse into rural life in the early part of the 20th century. These would also be an excellent place to visit for someone interested in civil engineering.

I love old bridges and this one does not disappoint. It is probably a 15 minute drive from the Osage area and in the middle of no-where. Still if you love old bridges, worth the drive.

A long ride to get there.
Went over bridge, very poor gravel road on other side.
We were not very impressed.

On our recent first time trip to the Ozarks we wanted to explore the state park (mostly due to it being a free activity). The drive was pretty on our way to the Swinging Bridge landmark, I did not realize we were going to drive over another little creepy bridge on our way there....that had my anxiety up! When we came to the Swinging Bridge we parked and got out as I was NOT going to drive over it...boards did not look the safest. I had read reviews that others drove it- good for them, not my jam. A neat attraction though that is free and in a beautiful area.

An experience that everyone should experience, your car ride over two suspension bridges which suspend over the Glaize arm of Lake of the Ozarks! State Park area with picnic tables & beautiful setting!

Took the gravel road back to the 2 swinging bridges. The first one was rough and noisy. The 2nd one was kind of a rush. If you walk it before you drive it, you may not drive it. Just do it. Pretty scary but very cool. And yes roll down the windows for the full effect. Worth the drive. And it is free. Get the directions from Tripadvisor. No problem.

We had to drive a little ways to find the swinging bridge, but when we got there, my husband was like, is this it? Yup, you just go over one bridge in the woods.

Although remote and beautiful natural environment. Bring a tube and a few "beverages" and float around in the shallow stream. A great break during our week's vacation.

I definately would not make this a main priority of your site seeing trip. More like a fill in site to see if you have the extra time between your endeavors.

Was told about this place by a little birdie. Though the gravel roads can be difficult to navigate, the locals are friendly and if you waive they waved back. Before you get to the bridges there is a pumpkin patch operational during the fall that has a large cave and the entrance painted as a pumpkin. Drove over both Bridges. The first small Bridge vibrated my car so much that my phone dislodged from the mounted holder but it was still awesome! The sound was amazing! Drove over the second bridge completely terrified LOL. It makes sounds like the wood is cracking beneath you. It was a unique once in a lifetime experience. Noticed that there is an area for camping ran by the state parks and operational on the honor System. Cannot wait to go camping, and take advantage of an amazing swimming hole and fishing spot! These campsites are extremely primitive. I will be bringing my toddler along but we'll have to do so with him under extreme supervision as this place is located amongst woods and a river. Would not recommend bringing small children unless you have experience camping with them. The river levels were low when visited, and I assume that they stay remotely low but more than likely can be prone to flash flooding. I would not suggest overnight camping to the unexperienced camper but it is an amazing place to spend the day lounging in the shallow Waters.

The ride to the bridges was fun. While holding our collective breaths we drove over the first bridge, but absolutely refused to drive over the second one. Instead, with much trepidation, we walked. And it was a WOW experience. There are warped pieces of wood, big holes in a few places and an eerie feeling of time long ago. It was a beautiful natural place with a sandy beach-like area and a creek/brook/river running quietly under the bridge. It is really a great spot if you looking to explore "things" around Lake Ozark.

What a place to take the family. The historical value is certainly there. A little difficult to get to but worth the time.

Not sure if we really got to the right bridges but drove over the swinging bridges. I must say if you have a clean car you will not when you leave. The roads we ended up on were all dirt and very bad. Need to use some four wheel drive. Excellent ride a must see.

went here cause of the reviews, about 10 miles from osage beach, but worth the drive, we just walked across the bridge, cause it didnt look safe to me, there were boards missing, and it was moving when we walked on it, what if we drove a big truck over. glad we went though

First, get a good address so you don't waste time trying to find it. It is on "swinging bridge road" so if you're not on that gravel road, turn around. This was fun, I didn't hesitate taking our Buick Enclave over the bridge but once across the 2nd one, I thought about not coming back. If you walk it first, you'll never cross it in a car. Broken and rotted boards, large gaps, rusted cables, etc. Don't over-think this, just go. And I agree with the other post, roll down your windows to get the full effect. It may also come in handy if you fall in the river and need to get out of your car. Anyway, I can't believe there is anything left in America that has this element of danger. It's pretty cool and if you like to see things that are not commercial and one-of-a-kind, check this out.

My husband and I thought we would drive around and see a few sights before dinner. Swinging Bridges was listed as #4 of things to do in the area so we input into our GPS and off we went. We drove 5 miles down a dirt road and only saw two other cars. Suddenly there is this old wooden bridge with a sign saying weight limit 5 tons; it looked totally unsafe. We were out for an adventure, I guess, so we went across in our F150 truck. OMG, you could hear the boards creaking and I will admit I breathed a sigh of relief when we made it across. We turned a curve and there was another bridge but this one had a weight limit of 15 tons and was more metal than wood. Don't know if I would do it again but we laughed about it and told a few people so I guess I would recommend it.

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!

Cool to see the swinging bridges and drive across them. A reap piece of Missouri history! I hope they continue to maintain these and make them an area attraction. Very unique adventure!

Such a cool thing to see. 2 bridges but very different from each other. Highly recommend and it’s free.

Great clean spot. Bridges made me feel a little shaky but sturdy as ever. I can definitely see me bring the dogs and kids here next year.

I love bridges this one was the scariest I have ever walked/drove across but I'd do it again! I asked my 10 year old son if he wanted me to drive across it and he said "YOLO" so we did it...

Would not go again. The bridges are in disrepair. Did not feel safe, even walking across them. The road is not marked very good and an unimproved dirt road to get there. You would think the state park department would improve this attraction.

Took some gravel roads to get to the Swinging Bridge. At first I thought it was just something to look at until I saw people driving on it. We walked over it and some of the boards looked liked they needed replaced. As we were walking over a bridge a car started coming across. There is no rooom for them to pass so you have go back the way you came. Most poeple driving on the bridge appeared to be local.

My husband and I went on search of the swinging bridges. We did find them after a fun search on a beautiful sunny day. Not sure going after a lot of rain would be a good idea because, as other reviews have mentioned, they are not in the middle of town! It's a ways out there. But once you find them you do feel a sense of history. It's beautiful and away from the mainstream.

Ready for a Pleasant Surprise? From Osage Beach take Hwy 42 to Brumley. Just before Storage Buildings take a right on Swinging Bridges Road(Not Hwy C). About 1.5 miles you will cross Small Bridge. Go a short distance past that, turn Right and you are at Large Bridge. For best results make a Round Trip across it. On the West side there is a camping area from which you can get Great pictures of the bridge as it crosses the Lake of the Ozarks. For maximum effect Take Videos as you cross the Bridge.
Note: One Lane of Traffic Across Bridge!

We drove here from the West side and got to the longer bridge first. Make sure you are on Swinging Bridge Rd. We were on there for a looming time before we got to the bridge. I am amazed that it does still hold cards, but it does. Kids liked going under the bridge and looking in the water.

Great side trip when you need a break from the sun and the lake. Fun to walk over but even more fun to drive over. Be prepared to take a few wrong turns to find the bridges.

Not for the faint of heart! Very thrilling and super exciting for the whole family. We drove over both bridges (the other one is right after this one if you take a right right after this bridge & it is even better!) Highly recommended and my most favorite part of our trip. Raw, Free entertainment.

We actually drove across one of these and walked across the other. I have to say I think people drive over these pretty often but you couldn't pay me to drive across the wood one! Lots of fun for the kids and adults.

We enjoyed this fun little detour. The first bridge is of steel and is quite loud. We parked and walked the 2nd (wooden) bridge before we drove it. It was cool to see the river down between the slates, as well as all the cracks and warps in the wood. The wooden bridge had more sway to it than the steel. Once we got to the other side, we just turned around and went back instead of continuing on the dirt road.

The best part was finding the bridge, then parking under it and walking along the sandbar. The bridge is kinda cool, but we didn't find it "scary" as others have said. If you are nearby, take a look. If it's a long drive for you, you might want to try something else unless you are a fan of unique bridges.

I didn't follow gps--i took hwy 42 out past Ozark Park and when I saw a "swinging bridge" road to the right I took it. First bridge was an old metal type then came to the old swinging bridge--beautiful but a little scary to cross and also I was alone--kind of middle of woods place--i got some great pics!

Myself, mom (75), and daughter (13) took a girls trip and I wanted to see this bridge. My mom started out with you can go see it, but you can not drive over it. I finally talked her into driving over it. The clanking sounds were awesome as you drive over the wooden bridge. The smaller bridge I believe is aluminium that you drive on. I had no problems with the gravel road as I am from the country and am used to bad roads. I believe the road would be covered in water during a rainy time though.

As a past local, one of our favorite places to go when visiting friends in town is the swinging bridges. Although it is listed several places, it remains a little secret for most. The locals like this because it is rarely crowded. Great place to hike through untouched wilderness in Missouri.

This is a fully suspended bridge. When you drive over it you can feel the sway. You can also walk over it. There is a little picnic area that you can drive down into and get out and go walk on it or get a chance to take some really neat pics.

Very attraction place to go on Longest Swinging bridge made us so exciting to feel the movement and went on surrounding areas to walk through.. It's beautiful and peaceful that you and the family can spend time there without being distraction.. We the family loves it there and want to go back there again..

Since it was a rainy day, we drove to the swinging bridge. It would be difficult to find without a GPS. It was interesting to see, but I would spend much time there. We did not hike around, picnic there or swim in the river. We drove over the bridge and turned around.

As a local, I can tell you this bridge does not really swing! It may move slightly, but it doesn't swing. Regardless, this bridge is a hidden sight that is a very nice place to visit! The views leading up to the bridge are very isolated, yet beautiful! Truly a place if you want to see the nature side of the Lake of the Ozarks! This bridge is also very close to the State Park, which you should also visit! Just a friendly note, keep an eye on the weather for the day if/when you plan your visit to this bridge. Being as isolated as it is, it could become hazardous if you go out and visit during bad weather! Otherwise, you will really enjoy this bridge and all of the natural beauty that comes on the side! Would recommend for all. I will go back, soon!

Drove over the first metal bridge and thought that was easy then just a little further the BIG OLD WOODEN bridge. We walked across and it was pretty exciting! A car came by afterwards and we were very glad that we were not on the bridge at the same time.

Don't take the kids! You oh look a swinging bridge, Hmmm! Ok let's leave. Sure its free. Glad it is.

This was a very cool experience that I recommend to everyone! It is stable and did not move, but you can tell its old and not made as they are today.

Not a lot else to do in area if you are not a lake/boating person, so, go see it just for fun, but bridge does not swing.

If you’re going specifically for the Bridge, it’s not worth the drive. We mistakenly thought we could still walk on it. As a reviewer below said (which I wish we had read prior to going) there are concrete barriers, a pile of dirt, a metal fence barrier covering the opening and signage. We went to take portraits, which isn’t even possible with all that I just listed. Beneath the bridge near the parking lot and bathroom side; the beach access was still nice and peaceful. The deeper water was a lovely aqua greenish and made a nice backdrop for pictures. Some kayakers came to launch while we were there. These activities are still possible. But, the bridge, is not.

We spent the day on our motorcycle in Lake of the Ozarks and this was on my list to try as I like out of the beaten path sights. We were on our BMW and faired fine on the first small bridge but met up with a couple with a Harley who had slight damage on the front fender from the low suspension from the first bridge, so beware if your motorcycle is low to the ground! We decided to just walk the second bridge and it is a scenic overlook and a unique bridge. I would only make the trip if already in the area and then I think it is a unique bridge to stop and see.

Bridge is closed with a pile of dirt and concrete barrier
You can't even walk on it.
The river is low now so one could wade in it
We could not see any trails. Not developed. No facilities
Use caution if raining as you have to cross a low-water bridge to get there from the northern approach. You can avoid that by taking Rodden Church Road from the south.
I wouldn't go out of my way to see it again unless the bridge opened.
Might be good place for birdwatching early in the morning

These Bridges are a marvel of engineering. If you like old bridges and interesting engineering oddities these are right up your Alley plus the drive is breath taking.

We stopped to visit the bridges. The made my heart skip a beat when we drove on them but walking wasn’t an issue. The construction of the bridges showed their age. It was a nice step back into history. One visit for us is enough.

I've been camping under this bridge since I was a young boy. My Grandma who was cherokee used to live up the road. Her name was Daisy Musick My mom, uncles and aunts used to play there as kids all the time. My uncles would jump off the bridge when they were younger and one of my uncles knocked his eye out. They had to put it back in. Walking across it as a kid was scary because it used to be in worse condition and there were big gaps in the boards......One of my aunts fell through one of the boards to her waist. Its a beautiful bridge. Its safe I've seen school buses and road graders go across it so if the bridge can handle their weight it should handle a car or r.v. If you park your car on it and rock back and forth you can feel the bridge move. If its windy outside its even cooler. I would suggest anybody that is in the area to check it out. Its worth the drive...

Visited this place 25 years ago before there was a Trip Advisor. Hasn't changed a bit except for the tourist traffic coming out to see them. Definitely worth the drive and if your lucky enough some of the local Brumleys will be out and about :). Hard to believe you can still drive over them only in Missouri. Lol.

Built in 1912 these two suspension bridges are interesting and historical working bridges. I thought it was held together by rust at first glance! Worth a visit, a pretty country drive, do walk over it. You can spend an afternoon on the other side of the bridge tubing, bring a picnic, fishing, or swimming.

A relic from the past, even before the Lake of the Ozarks was formed. Designed by Joe Dice, who had a 4th grade education. He had designed several bridges in the area, but I believe only 3 still exist. Some fell when the Lake was formed. Go ahead and drive across it, the drive on the other side is beautiful.

This is a lesser known attraction in the Missouri Ozarks. It is worth the trip, just make sure you have good information on getting there. There are two cable span swinging bridges over the back water of the Lake of the Ozarks. (they are less than a mile apart) It is a very beautiful area. There is a public park at the end of one bridges. A great place to have picnic. Also great for photos. Yes you can walk on the bridge, just be cautious as the bridges are in use and vehicles use the bridges. Enjoy this unique area of Missouri Ozarks!

We drove across the smaller bridge but with a low clearance vehicle decided to just walk across the big one with its somewhat broken boards. Lots of vehicles drove across it so it's certainly safe enough. Interesting construction; we also enjoyed a hike above the river. Beautiful flowers this time of year, as well as vultures enjoying the leavings of the many fishermen!

A unique experience at the Lake! You can actually see the wooden boards bend underneath cars crossing it...which causes about half its visitors not to drive on it. But if you take the time to get there, definitely walk if not drive on it! It was a bonding moment for our whole family—where some were more scared than others! Aside fe J the drive, it’s a quick visit.

This is not the sort of thing that most people I know would take their car on, but as soon as we heard about it, we headed out in our brand new 2017 car and drove it right over both bridges! I mean, why not? You only live once! And we had to see it.

But WHY do you have to see the Swinging Bridges? There's a lot of reasons. One of the reasons is that it's a nice little drive to get there through some really pretty countryside.

If that doesn't grab you as a good reason, maybe the history of the bridges will. Did you know that these bridges were built by a man named Joe Dice who built over thirty bridges in Missouri without ever using any blueprints at all? He had no formal training in bridge building--he just learned by building them. He used twine to figure out how he was going to determine the distance and the shape of the bridge and said he could tell things were right by the "feel" of the wire he used to build the bridge. When the state of Missouri began requiring blueprints for bridges, he retired.

Does the history not grab you? Well, how about the scary bridges themselves! They are made out of wood, wire and twine--Joe's tools of the trade. When you pull up to the bridges, you can't believe they are actually still usable. There are literally boards missing from them. They are listed as being in poor condition by the state, so they won't be around much longer. When you drive across, there is a hideous popping and crackling noise as you drive over--is it the wire? Is it the board? Is it your tires?

Anyway, we made it over both bridges. There was no swinging whatsoever, but the sounds were loud enough to wake the dead. On the other side, if you take a sharp right, you find yourself on the side of the water and there's a really nice beach where you can have a picnic, sun yourself, skip stones, or go wading and watch fish (that's what I did). We hung out for an hour or so, listening to cars pop and crackle their way overhead and communing with nature. It was a great spot. That's the other reason to go.

So plan ahead. Take a cooler, some beach towels, maybe a pop up tent if you have one and spend some time at the beach when you get there. It's really nice. Then take a deep breath and get ready for the ride back. The bridges won't be there forever. I'm sure your vehicle will make it back across just like ours did!

This is a great stop. It does seem out in the middle of nowhere, but worth the time. Very cool old bridge. Great photo ops.

Be sure to wear your bug spray. Beautiful area, but be sure to wear your bug spray. I was being eaten by mosquitos.

If you want to take a short very beautiful scenic ride in the woods then go and drive across these two wonderful pieces of Americana. One bridge is made out of wood and is the longest of the two and the other is made out of metal but looks like no other bridge I have ever seen. We saw lots of animals on the way including a huge owl and deer. Yes, both bridges creak and moan as you go over, but we made it, loved it and laughed out loud when we got to the other side. Even the teenager thought it was cool.

The bridges were a bit out of the way but definitely worth the drive. We enjoyed walking around the beach area as it was quite and peaceful.

Been there three times with family and friends. We're going back this Summer. It's fun to walk and drive on. So much fun!!

Built in 1912 this historical structure is so beautiful to see. there is a gravel bar below to swim at. There are two bridges here...suspension bridges.

Must drive the bridge, that's the fun part and the scenery is beautiful. The bad reviews say they walked it and took night pics... NOPE. It's historic and sketchy, that's the part that makes it thrilling and I found it to be one of my favorites stops ever

We were able to visit and take some pictures. We actually drove over both bridges. It is a little hard to find...but worth the drive.

These are two old bridges which have been there so long they're falling apart. I'm not sure they were that sturdy in the first place. The State Safety Board just hasn't been by in a long while to condemn structures. That's the exciting part -walking across the bridges let alone drive a vehicle across them. Beware, there is a washboard dirt road leading to these bridges. It probably was not worth the half hour drive from osage beach. If you're going out to the State Park anyway it's pretty close on Highway 44.

This is kinda out in the middle of nowhere--but very cool. We started driving on it & I asked my husband to stop & back off of it. He didn't, and you have to turn around to get back over. It is very old I'd be surprised if you can drive on it yet. The boards are old & scary but cool at the same time--worth seeing

Granted, this is an attraction where you spend more time driving there than you spend actually enjoying the attraction. It doesn't matter. The journey is part of what makes it so interesting. We approached from the Richland area instead of Osage Beach. There was a healthy amount of driving on gravel roads so be aware of that. Drove across the main bridge and then turned around and drove back the other way. Bridge seemed plenty sturdy. View of the water below was pretty darn cool. Glad we went out of the way to check it out.

This place is well worth the drive and the struggle to find it. Simply breathtaking sights show the age of minimalist at its best. The construction of the bridges is by far amazing, but the fact they are still fully functioning is crazy! We thought they looked cool, and driving over then was a once in a lifetime experience. It can make you squeal with excitement and nervousness at the same time. This is a definite must see on your next trip!

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.

I don't like bridges in general so I drove over short one and walked part of longer one. For sure need to have windows down when driving over short one.

Very wonderful place to visit, will go back to see again

I was just happy we survived. The kids seem to enjoy it, but they are irrational.

Zoom in on the picture and you'll see the broken, cracked boards. It is a one way bridge.

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.

If you have a spare hour and want to see a bit of off lake scenery, the swinging bridge is a fun 30 minutes of exploring. One time is enough but worth the detour to ride over it!

The pictures posted by Lynn C (dated May 2016) must be from somewhere else. I've never seen a footbridge on Swinging Bridges Rd between Montreal and Brumley. Would like to know where to find the footbridge though. I live in Montreal and love the swinging bridges.

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.

My Mom and I had a bit of a hard time finding this bridge, we kept driving into the state park which you do not want to do. We finally found it after a long drive on a gravel road. We got there about sunset and was a little creepy. We walked halfway across and turned back as it was getting dark. Had a great view from the bridge, glad we found it eventually!

Our family really enjoyed venturing down the gravel road to the bridges. We were amazed at the first one, then awestruck by the second one! We walked and drove across both of them, and walked the trails around the larger of the two. Great way to spend an afternoon viewing wildlife and enjoying nature!

Really neat hand-built bridges with a beautiful view (there are actually two swinging bridges). They are really creaky though and kind of scary to drive over. Take a deep breath and go for it!

When I say allow time, I mean to find them. Even though they seem to be a fairly popular spot, there's a real shortage of signs and directions, even in the Lake of the Ozarks State Park.

We ended up taking the long, LONG way around and drove though many miles of unnecessary gravel roads.

Okay place to visit but not much to see or hang out for more than a few minutes.

We had a great time driving and walking over the old bridges. Don't bother using GPS, just drive down HWY 42 until you see swinging bridges road on the right. It's a gravel road and after a while you will reach the first bridge, with metal slats. After that bridge make first right and you will reach the second, much longer bridge! You have to drive on the 2 wooden support planks. After you go over you can park at the camp ground down below to the right and walk under and over the bridge. I would give yourself at least an hour to enjoy scenery, a nice walk, and to take photos. Come back and camp!! You can do so for $4 on a self serve basis.

Few bridges like this exist any longer. The construction is primitive compared to bridges made today. As you drive across the bridge you can feel the boards creek and move. The cables move and weight is made to put more tension on them. This is truly a "moving experience" Worth the drive, especially if yoy are a car or history buff.

This is worth seeing, but if you are pressed for time, there are other things in the area you can spend your time on. HaHa tonka I could spend days in. This is just a couple of bridges and a campsite where you can fish. As an engineer, I'm a little worried about the main cables showing so many broken strands. I have to assume it has been inspected for the posted weight limit. Take a light vehicle and give it a drive, though, cause it was definitely something I'll remember. Not many of these left in the US.

Interesting and photographic place to see bridges of old. There were two swinging bridges, and if I recall, both can be driven across (very slowly) by car.

Keep on 42 almost to Brumley, about 5 miles after the entrance to the state park. We did not drive across but walked across.

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.

These were so cool, but a little scary too! We went over 2 swinging bridges in our 1/2 ton pick up truck. Very pretty back roads drive!

This was our second trip to see the bridge. Took our daughters and grandson. They loved it. Lots of pictures. Fun family time.

We were looking for things to see in the area. We read on Google about how the bridge was built, so we thought we would check it out.

To us, it's fascinating that this man could build a bridge so long ago,that is still standing today.

Definitely read the story before you see the bridge.

Totally out of the way,but worth it. Something you don't see everyday. It is about 12 miles away from Osage Beach. There are actually two bridges. You can walk a crossed them but be careful,because they are still used.

We have read about the swinging bridges for a few years and never went until this past weekend. It was actually worth the short drive and an hour of time. There is really nothing to do once you are there but to walk or drive over the two bridges, but, you can say you were of the few that braved it.
We came in from the state park area and it didn't take long to get there. It is a dusty rock road, but, there is a car wash just as you come back into Osage Beach and we stopped there after.
We drove across the first metal bridge and parked and walked across the longer one. It has a 3 ton weight limit but we saw a few trucks go over it that and they had no problems. It looks as scary as people make it sound.
For a free and easy adventure, go take a look. It won't hurt a thing and you are experiencing lots of history!