Looking for wide-open spaces, Americana charm, and unexpected adventures? Head to Kansas! This central U.S. state is more than flat prairies—think scenic byways, rich frontier history, quirky roadside attractions, and vibrant college towns. Whether you're into hiking tallgrass preserves, exploring Old West towns, or catching a basketball game in Lawrence, Kansas delivers the heartland experience with authenticity and warmth.
Kansas Highlights:
- For Nature Lovers: Roam the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve – Hike or drive through one of the last remnants of the original prairie ecosystem.
- For History Buffs: Walk the boot-worn streets of Dodge City – Explore Old West lore at museums and preserved saloons in this legendary cowtown.
- For Families: Discover science and wildlife at the Flint Hills Discovery Center – A hands-on experience in Manhattan that’s fun for all ages.
- For Roadtrippers: Pose with roadside oddities like the World’s Largest Ball of Twine – Find quirky, charming Americana in unexpected places across the state.
- For Culture Seekers: Visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City – One of the Midwest’s premier art museums, with iconic shuttlecock sculptures on the lawn.
Best Time to Visit Kansas
The best time to visit Kansas is in the spring (April–June) or fall (September–October), when temperatures are mild and the prairies bloom with wildflowers. Summers are great for festivals and road trips, though temperatures can be hot and humid.
How to Get to Kansas
- By Car: Kansas is centrally located with access via I-70, I-35, and U.S. 54. It’s ideal for road trips and scenic drives through rural towns and prairie country.
- By Air: Fly into Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport or Kansas City International Airport (on the Missouri side but close to northeast Kansas).
- By Train: Amtrak’s Southwest Chief stops in several Kansas towns including Topeka, Lawrence, and Dodge City.
Where to Stay in Kansas
- Recommended for Families: Great Wolf Lodge (Kansas City area) – A fun indoor water park resort perfect for kids and family entertainment.
- For Couples: The Historic Eldridge Hotel (Lawrence) – Elegant rooms and deep Kansas history in a walkable college town.
- For Nature Lovers: Prairie Fire Lodge (near Strong City) – Cozy cabins surrounded by tallgrass prairie views and wildlife.
Best Things to Do in Kansas
1. For an affordable day trip: Massachusetts Street
Walk along eclectic shops and eateries on this affordable downtown Lawrence attraction.
Massachusetts Street, the main street in Lawrence, is a very popular tourist destination and part of it is listed on the National Registry of Historical Places. The street features many buildings that were built during the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century and which are of historical interest, including the Free State Brewing Company, Weaver’s Department Store, and the Granada Theater.
Many of these significant buildings are marked with bronze plaques explaining their significance. The Watkins Museum displays exhibits related to local and state history. Nearby green spaces include a city park and a Japanese Friendship Garden. The street is also a shopper’s paradise, with many shops offering unique products.
833-½ Massachusetts Street, Lawrence, KS 66044, Phone: 785-842-3883
2. For space and science fans: Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center
Explore exciting space exhibits and real spacecraft at this unique Hutchinson destination.
The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center is a space museum, planetarium, and STEM ed-ucation center in Hutchinson, Kansas, famous for restoring and exhibiting spaceships as well as organizing space camps.
It now displays over 13,000 spaceflight artifacts, making it the largest collection of Russian and US space artifacts in the world. Some of the unique and authentic ob-jects in display have actually been flown into space or were a flight-ready backup. There is also a large amount of space suits on display as well as a V-1 flying bomb, a V-2 rocket, a Vostok space capsule, a Lockheed SR-71 blackbird, the Liberty Bell 7 Mercury spacecraft, and the Apollo 13 command module Odyssey.
Hutchinson Community College, Hutchinson, KS 67501,1100 N Plum St, Phone: 800-397-0330
3. For movie lovers: Oz Museum, Wamego, Kansas
Discover unusual movie memorabilia and explore the whimsical world of Oz in Kansas.
The OZ Museum in Wamego is dedicated to The Wizard of Oz. It features over 2,000 artifacts that relate to L. Frank Baum’s books, the well-known movie as well as the silent films and board games. The museum was founded in 2004 and has encouraged the de-velopment of several Oz-related businesses, now known as the Oz Cluster.
A perfect time to go there is for the OzToberfest, when an annual street festival is held, offering many fun activities for adults and children, including a costume contest, a window art contest, hot air balloon rides, a yellow brick road bike ride as well as food and drinks, music, live presentations, and much more from the magical world of the Wizard of Oz!
511 Lincoln St, Wamego, KS 66547, Phone: 785-458-8686
4. For history buffs: Museum of World Treasures, Kansas
Admire ancient artifacts and see fascinating sights from around the world in Wichita.
The Museum of World Treasures in Wichita, has a vast display of historical pieces, ranging from complete fossil dinosaur skeletons, including the famous Ivan the T. rex, to Egyp-tian mummies, a section of the Berlin Wall, and three floors of the most diverse collection from world history.
As it is a non-profit organization, it provides educational programs, events, and exhibits thanks to the generosity of its donors. The museum is located at the Farm & Art Market Building in Old Town and also offers a banquet room for birthdays, weddings, and meetings.
835 E 1st St N, Wichita, KS 67202, Phone: 316-263-1311
Attractions for Couples
5. For nature enthusiasts: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
Hike through native landscapes and enjoy scenic views during your fall trip.
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is a 10,894-acre national park located in the Flint Hills region, north of Strong City, Kansas. It protects a remnant of the tallgrass prairie that once cov-ered 170 million acres of the United States, stretching from Indiana to Kansas and from Canada to Texas.
Nowadays, only 4% remains, the rest having mostly been plowed under for urban or agricultural development. The park contains over 500 species of plants, 39 species of reptiles, 31 species of mammals, and nearly 150 species of birds. There are a number of hiking trails and bus tours and you can also drive along the many trails, although most of the flora and fauna are too small to be seen from a passing car.
2480B Kansas 177, Strong City, KS 66869, Phone: 620-273-8494
6. For learners: Kansas State Capitol Building
Tour historic halls and admire murals on this easy and educational Topeka visit.
The Kansas State Capitol Building in Topeka is the headquarters of the executive and legislative branches of government for the state of Kansas. The dome of this building was modeled after that of the United States Capitol. Visitors can tour the building, including the dome, which involves a climb of 296 steps from the fifth floor.
There are two tour options, one which showcases the history of the Capitol building and the other which comprises the dome tour. The visitors’ center features exhibits related to Kansas history, the state government, and the Capitol building itself as well as an auditorium and a tour desk.
SW 8th & SW Van Buren, Topeka, KS 66612, 785-296-3966
Recommended Activities for Families
7. For kids and families: Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead
Visit friendly animals and enjoy interactive exhibits perfect for kids and families.
The Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead is located in Overland Park, Kansas, and is a family-friendly farm experience and educational facility. The farmstead gives visitors the opportunity to view and interact with farm animals, birds of prey, and butterfly gardens. There are interactive activities such as nature walks, a full-scale country schoolhouse, a fishing pond, and horse and pony rides.
The 12-acre park hosts a variety of activities throughout the year and boasts attrac-tions for all ages. The park has several refreshment options during your visit, including a restau-rant featuring typical amusement park fare and an ice cream parlor.
13800 Switzer Road, Overland Park, KS 66221, Phone: 913-897-2360
8. For animal lovers: Sedgwick County Zoo
See exotic animals and walk along shaded paths on a fun summer outing.
The Sedgwick County Zoo is a zoological park in Wichita. It is well-known for its efforts in con-servation and its breeding of rare species. The zoo is home to over 2,500 animals from almost 500 species. The park is laid out according to geographical region and each section includes animals from that part of the world.
Tram tours of the zoo are included in the admission price and boat tours of certain sections are available at an additional cost. Sedgwick County Zoo has four different food and beverage locations which serve snacks, light meals, and drinks. Giraffe feeding sessions are available several times a day and special events happen throughout the year.
5555 Zoo Boulevard, Wichita, KS 67212, Phone: 316-266-8211
9. For racing enthusiasts: Kansas Speedway
Experience thrilling races and enjoy a weekend of high-speed attractions near Kansas City.
The Kansas Speedway is a 1.5-mile race track and motorsports facility in Kansas City. The speedway hosts several annual NASCAR events, including two Sprint Cup Series races. The area near the hotel includes a movie theater, an outdoor shopping mall, and several hotels, in-cluding the Hollywood Hotel and Casino, which is located at the track and overlooks turn two.
The casino features 100,000 square feet of gaming floor and nearly 30,000 square feet of other entertainment amenities. The track features the Richard Petty Driving Experience, which allows visitors to actually drive a race car on the track.
400 Speedway Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66111, Phone: 866-460-7223
Where to Eat in Kansas
- Recommended for Families: The Cozy Inn (Salina) – Tiny burgers with a big reputation—no-frills, old-school goodness since 1922.
- For BBQ Fans: Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que – Technically across the border in KC, but worth the trip for some of the best BBQ in the country.
- For Farm-to-Table: The Merchant (Lawrence) – A local favorite with seasonal fare, craft cocktails, and charming décor.
If you are interested in local events:
- For Music Fans: Walnut Valley Festival (September, Winfield) – A bluegrass, folk, and acoustic music celebration drawing talent from all over.
- For Community Fun: Kansas State Fair (September, Hutchinson) – Ride, eat, and shop your way through this classic state fair experience.
- For Literature Lovers: Willa Cather Spring Conference (Red Cloud, near the Nebraska border) – Celebrate the famed author's roots and prairie inspiration.
Day Trip Itineraries Within 30–60 Minutes of Major Kansas Cities:
- From Wichita: Cowtown Museum (10 min) – Step into an Old West village with live reenactments and blacksmith demos.
- From Topeka: Gage Park (10 min) – Visit the zoo, rose garden, and mini train in one of the state's best urban parks.
- From Lawrence: Clinton Lake (20 min) – Hike, fish, swim, or camp along scenic lakeshores and woodlands.
- From Manhattan: Konza Prairie Biological Station (15 min) – Hike into untouched prairie landscapes teeming with wildflowers and sweeping views.
- From Hays: Sternberg Museum of Natural History (10 min) – Explore fossils, dinosaurs, and prehistoric life from Kansas’s ancient oceans.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What does Kansas offer?
- Kansas offers everything from big city lights to wide open prairies. It is a largely agricultural state with a plethora of outdoor activities, but its cities also provide plenty of attractions.
- What wildlife-related activities are available in Kansas?
- Zoos, aquariums, lakes, and wildlife parks offer fantastic opportunities to view wildlife from up-close.
Plan Your Trip