For size, the best drive-thru Christmas lights in Branson are the Trail of Lights at Shepherd of the Hills, with millions of lights across a 160-acre homestead. For price and late hours, Lights of Joy wins, at $25 per car on Monday and Tuesday and open until 11 p.m. every night, Christmas Day included.
Last Updated: September 29, 2026
Which Drive-Thru Christmas Lights Are Open in Branson in 2026?
Two drive-thrus have posted full 2026 details: the Trail of Lights, open November 6, 2026 to January 2, 2027, and Lights of Joy, open November 1 to January 3.
If you are planning a December trip around the lights, VacationStar rents cabins, condos, lodges and townhouses around Branson, so a lights night can end back at your own rental. Here is how the two compare:
Trail of Lights (Shepherd of the Hills) | Lights of Joy | |
2026 season | Nov 6, 2026 to Jan 2, 2027 | Nov 1 to Jan 3 |
Hours | Dusk to 10 p.m. Sun to Thu, dusk to 11 p.m. Fri and Sat, 9 p.m. close on Dec 31 | 5 to 11 p.m. every night |
Christmas Day | Not stated on the page | Open |
Price | $30 to $35 per carload, $50 per van (8 to 15 riders) | $30 per car Wed to Sun, $25 Mon and Tue, tax included |
Size | Millions of lights on a 160-acre homestead | 1.25 miles, 250+ displays |
Entrance | 6021 W 76 Country Blvd, in the Inspiration Tower lot | 700 Expressway Lane |
Vehicle rule | Single-axle vehicles only | Group rates for limos, minibuses and motorcoaches |
Is the Trail of Lights or Lights of Joy Better?
Pick the Trail of Lights for scale and tradition, since the park says it has run for more than 35 years. Pick Lights of Joy for value, later weeknight hours and a synced soundtrack through your car speakers.
The Trail of Lights winds through the Shepherd of the Hills Homestead with millions of multi-colored lights and themed, animated displays. The park calls it Branson's longest-running drive-through lights attraction, and it has the larger footprint of the two at 160 acres.
Lights of Joy builds 250+ all-new displays each year, brings back an RGB digital tunnel with new animated shows, reworks its 12 Days of Christmas display every season and always includes a nativity scene. Music plays through your car speakers when you download the free Tune2 app and enter show code LOJC, and Santa poses for free photos on select nights.
Can't pick? Do both in one evening. Lights of Joy opens at 5 p.m. and stays open until 11 p.m., so you can start at the Trail of Lights at dusk and finish at Lights of Joy. Our Branson Christmas lights tour guide covers how to plan a full night of displays.
How Much Do Branson Drive-Thru Christmas Lights Cost in 2026?
Expect $25 to $35 per car. Lights of Joy is $25 on Monday and Tuesday and $30 the rest of the week with tax included, and the Trail of Lights is $30 to $35 per carload or $50 for a van.
Both displays offer a way to save. Lights of Joy takes $3 off when you bring 3 canned goods for Christian Action Ministries. The Trail of Lights gives $5 off with a ticket stub from the A Christmas Story dinner show at Shepherd of the Hills. The Trail of Lights takes cash or card, and it passes card processing fees on to you, so cash is the cheaper way to pay there.
The cost is per vehicle, so a full car is the cheapest way to go. That also works in favor of one shared rental for the whole family, and our Branson condos give a smaller group a full kitchen so the money saved on lights is not spent on dinners out.
At the Trail of Lights, use the entrance at 6021 W 76 Country Blvd, bring a single-axle vehicle, and arrive early, since buying online does not let you skip the line
Shepherd of the Hills warns that evening traffic on its two-lane highway can mean delays of up to an hour between 5 and 9 p.m., and it suggests the Ozark Mountain Highroad or Highway 265 as alternate routes. The drive-thru is separate from the park's North Pole Adventure, so a light-trail ticket does not include it. On December 31, the trail closes at 9 p.m.
At Lights of Joy, download the Tune2 app before you arrive so the music is ready. The display only closes for ice or unsafe road conditions, so check its website if the weather turns. With kids in the back seat, a drive-thru keeps everyone warm, and our list of ways to keep kids busy at your rental this Christmas covers the hours before you head out.
Which Branson Light Displays Have Not Posted 2026 Details Yet?
Big Cedar Lodge's light tours and Promised Land Zoo's Let There Be Lights had not posted 2026 dates or prices as of September 29, 2026.
Big Cedar Lodge runs a self-guided tour you drive in your own car, which takes 20 to 30 minutes and passes over a million lights, plus a Holiday Tram and Nature at Night, a 2.5-mile route in an enclosed golf cart at Top of the Rock. Big Cedar says overnight guests should buy early because availability is limited. Promised Land Zoo's Let There Be Lights page describes a 2-mile animated light show but still shows its 2025 season. Check both pages again in late October.
If your dates are already set, you do not need to wait for them, since the two displays with posted 2026 schedules cover every night of December. Send VacationStar your dates to line up a rental now.
Where Should You Stay for a Night of Christmas Lights?
Stay in a vacation rental with a kitchen so you can eat before dark and head out when the displays open, and book direct with VacationStar for discounted show and attraction tickets.
A lights night starts at dusk and can run until 11 p.m., so an early dinner at the rental keeps the evening simple. Booking direct gets you discounted show and attraction tickets, and our guide to a Christmas trip on a budget with vacation rentals has more ways to keep a December trip affordable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Branson drive-thru lights are open on Christmas Day?
Lights of Joy says it is open every night of its season, Christmas Day included. The Trail of Lights page does not list Christmas Day hours, so call the park to confirm.
Can you take a van or RV through the Trail of Lights?
Vans carrying 8 to 15 riders pay $50. The trail allows single-axle vehicles only, so check with the park before bringing an RV or a trailer.
How do I book a place to stay for a Christmas lights trip?
Call VacationStar at (877) 495-4991 with your dates and group size. Booking direct includes discounted show and attraction tickets.
Is there music at Branson's drive-thru lights?
At Lights of Joy, download the free Tune2 app and enter show code LOJC to play the Christmas music through your car speakers.
What else makes Branson worth it at Christmas?
Shows, a Christmas market and a train ride to meet Santa all run alongside the lights. Our reasons to spend Christmas in Branson round up the rest.
Do the drive-thrus offer group rates?
Lights of Joy lists group rates for limos, minibuses and motorcoaches. The Trail of Lights charges $50 per van for 8 to 15 riders.
Where should a family with young kids stay for a lights trip?
A rental with bedrooms of its own keeps late nights easy. Our Ozark mountain cabins have full kitchens, and many have hot tubs for the parents after bedtime.
What else is happening in Branson for Christmas 2026?
See what else is on in Branson in December for the parade, the Christmas market and the rest of the season's events