Emporia is a small city founded in 1857 in Lyon County, Kansas, between Topeka and Wichita. Emporia is a lively college town, home to the respected Flint Hills Technical College and Emporia State University. It is well-known for the Dirty Kanza bicycle race whose signature event is 200 miles of gravel and the Glass Blown Open (GBO) disc golf tournament - the largest disc golf tournament in the world!

The city is situated on upland prairie, with the Cottonwood River flowing on the southern edge of the city. Peter Pan Park and Soden's Grove Park are large green spaces that the folks of Emporia use for recreation and to enjoy nature. David Traylor Zoo and a verdant botanical garden are home to a number of exotic animals, such as lemurs, a mountain lion, birds, and many others. A great place to learn about the city’s history is the Red Rocks State Historic Site, a former home of William Allen White, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and political adviser to several American presidents. Emporia is famous for its lively biking community and has a number of gravel biking trails.

Plan Your Trip

Get Ready to Go!

Need some more help?


Read our Reservations & Travel Planning Tips guide.