Searching for Midwest charm and creativity? Make a stop in Salina! This central Kansas town blends artsy energy with classic Americana. Explore quirky public art, walkable downtown streets, and family-friendly attractions. Salina offers a great mix of culture, comfort, and small-town spirit.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Salina is in spring or fall (April–June or September–October). These months offer mild weather for strolling downtown, enjoying local festivals, and visiting nearby nature trails.
How to Get There
- By Car: Located along I-70 and I-135, Salina is about 1.5 hours from Wichita and 3 hours from Kansas City.
- By Air: Fly into Salina Regional Airport (SLN) or Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) and drive in.
- By Bus: Greyhound and other regional bus services connect Salina to major Kansas cities.
Where to Stay
- Homewood Suites by Hilton – Modern, spacious suites with a pool and easy highway access.
- Courtyard by Marriott Salina – Comfortable lodging with a bistro, business amenities, and close proximity to attractions.
- Historic Stiefel Theatre Lofts – Unique vacation rentals in the heart of downtown, ideal for arts lovers.
Top Attractions
1. Explore Wildlife Close to Home at Rolling Hills Zoo - Just 15 Minutes Away
Rating: ★★★★★
The Rolling Hills Zoo, which can be reached off of Interstate 70, encompasses almost one hundred acres of prairie in Salina, Kansas. The zoo is home to more than 350 animals that represent over one hundred species of endangered or rare animals, including Amur leopards, orangutans, tigers, and greater one-horned and white rhinoceros. A number of sheltered observation areas offer up-close viewing of the many animals in their natural outdoor settings. There is also a Wildlife Museum at the Rolling Hills Zoo, featuring one of the premiere collections in the world of full mountain animals, which are showcased in naturalistic dioramas.
625 N Hedville Rd, Salina, KS 67401, Phone: 785-827-9488
2. Dive Into Local History at the Smoky Hill Museum
The Smoky Hill Museum offers visitors a chance to explore the history of Salina and the state of Kansas in unique ways through several interactive and fun exhibits around every corner. A big city museum housed inside a small package, this “hands on, minds on” museum is designed to make adults want to return and children want to stay longer. The programs and exhibits at the Smoky Hill Museum are created from the numerous stories of the local area and more than thirty thousand artifacts from the museum’s collections, consisting of both permanent exhibit galleries and special exhibits.
211 W Iron Ave, Salina, KS 67401, Phone: 785-309-5776
3. Host With Ease at the Webster Conference Center
The Webster Conference Center in Salina, Kansas was designed as a place where people can escape from the hustle and bustle of the world today for a day or even a week with their organization, church, or family. A perfect place for relaxing, the grounds include more than 220 acres of beautiful land and quiet streams. There are also many different outdoor recreation activities and facilities for guests to enjoy as well, such as archery ranges, basketball and volleyball courts, open fields for outdoor games, a swimming pool, Frisbee golf, challenge courses, nature trails, paddle boats, canoes, and more.
2601 N Ohio St, Salina, KS 67401, Phone: 785-827-6565
4. Catch a Big Game or Concert at Tony's Pizza Event Center
Formerly known as the Bicentennial Center, Tony's Pizza Event Center in the town of Salina consists of an 18,000-square-foot convention center, Heritage Hall, meeting rooms, and a multipurpose 7,583-seat arena. Nicknamed “Mid-America's Meeting Place,” the center is home to the Champions Indoor Football league’s Salina Liberty team. Throughout the year, an array of different events are hosted by Tony’s Pizza Event Center, including conventions, trade shows, sporting events, family shows, and concerts. Annual events that take place at the center include the Tri-Rivers Fair, Shrine Circus, the Mid-America Farm Expo, and the Salina Home and Leisure Show.
800 The Midway, Salina, KS 67401, Phone: 785-826-7200
Attractions for Couples
5. Support the Arts - See a Show at Salina Community Theatre
The Salina Community Theatre is a national award-winning theater in the town of Salina and is considered to be the premier regional and local theater in the central Kansas area. For more than fifty years, the Salina Community Theatre has presented musical, comedic, and dramatic theatre in its modern theater building near downtown Salina. In addition to producing quality theatre for adults and kids alike, the theater also serves as an educational organization with a mission of providing people of all backgrounds and ages a chance to participate in producing plays, as well as other theatre activities.
303 E Iron Ave, Salina, KS 67401, Phone: 785-827-3033
6. Get Active and Play Hard at the Salina Fieldhouse
The Salina Fieldhouse , situated in the downtown district of Salina, is a sports facility more than 65,000 square feet in size featuring multiple surfaces for sports, including turf, synthetic, and hardwood. Basketball courts can be changed to accommodate an indoor regulation soccer field and volleyball courts. There are also pitching tunnels and drop-down batting cages. Built for multiple sports, the Salina Fieldhouse is also great for dance, dodgeball, field hockey, kickball, and other sports. The mission of the facility is to promote and inspire a healthy lifestyle through its variety of programs, services, and recreational opportunities.
140 N 5th St, Salina, KS 67401, Phone: 785-833-2260
7. Head to Hickory Hut Barbecue for Smoked Perfection
Hickory Hut Barbecue, owned and operated by the Blake family, has been serving some of the best barbecue around in Salina and the greater central Kansas region for more than thirty years. Robin and Dale Blake, the founders and owners of the popular barbecue restaurant, saw the opportunity to create a business around serving quality, simple barbecue in Kansas and have acquired quite a large following of loyal customers from all over the country. Hickory Hut Barbecue is open from 11:00am until 9:00pm, Monday to Saturday, serving a menu consisting of baskets, sandwiches, and dinner plates.
1617 W Crawford St, Salina, KS 67401, Phone: 785-825-1588
8. Cool Down with Classic Flavors at Dagney's Ice Cream
Dagney's Ice Cream opened in Salina, Kansas is a mission of making and serving the “best and freshest ice cream,” made from the highest quality of ingredients. There’s also a focus on excellent customer service at the locally owned and operated ice cream shop, which has become a popular destination for people in town of all ages. Dagney's Ice Cream strives to find and use the best of ingredients, as well not to cut any corners, so that their products are the best customers can find. The ice cream shop is open in the afternoon and evening, Tuesday to Saturday.
105 E Iron Ave, Salina, KS 67401, Phone: 785-833-2125
Plan Your Trip