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The 15 Best Kansas Roadside Attractions

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Are you planning a Kansas road trip and want to find all the best Kansas roadside attractions along your route? Whether you’re driving across the state on I-70, traversing one of the state’s many scenic byways, taking the tiniest of adventures on Route 66, or vacationing in Wichita or Topeka, you won’t want to miss these fifteen must-see places to go in Kansas. They’re fun road trip stops and great additions to your travel itinerary or route.

Below are the 15 best roadside attractions in Kansas: from the world’s largest ball of twine to the world’s largest easel, from a Wizard of Oz house to a Stonehenge made of trucks, from a toilet stop shaped like a toilet to a collection of tiny versions of all your favorite big things! You won’t want to miss any of these bucket list worthy tourist traps and road trips stops on your Kansas vacation.

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• 1. World's Largest Ball of Twine
• 2. Dorothy's House and the Land of Oz

3. The Big Well

4. keeper of the plains.

• 5. World's Largest Czech Egg

6. Rock City

7. the garden of eden, 8. wheat liberty bell.

• 9. World's Largest Collection of Smallest Versions of Largest Things
• 10. M.T. Liggett's Political Sculptures

11. Big Brutus

12. johnny kaw statue, 13. bowl plaza, 14. truckhenge.

• 15. World's Largest Easel & a Giant van Gogh Painting

The 15 best Kansas roadside attractions (in no particular order):

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1. World’s Largest Ball of Twine

719 Wisconsin St, Cawker City, KS

In 1953 Frank Stoeber started the innocent task of rolling spare bits of sisal twine he found in his barn into a ball. Eight years later that ball grew to 11-feet in diameter and contained over 1,600,000 feet of twine. This was an impressive accomplishment for any one man, but when another man in Darwin, Minnesota out twined his ball, the locals got to work. They organized an annual Twine-A-Thon and the ball has continued growing ever since. As of 2018, the world’s largest ball of twine contained over 8 million feet of twine and weighed over 10 tons.

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2. Dorothy’s House and the Land of Oz

567 E Cedar St, Liberal, KS

There’s no place like home and the most famous resident to call Kansas home might just be Dorothy Gale, the character who wanted nothing more than to return to her farm there in the book and film The Wizard of Oz . In 1981 the town of Liberal declared itself to be the home of Dorothy and imported a house from a nearby town that resembled the one in the movie. Today you can visit Dorothy’s House and the Land of Oz and follow the yellow brick road to the house, take a tour through an animate retelling of the story, and take a selfie with Dorothy herself (either the statue out front or a decked out tour guide).

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Francis Burghart (@215_runningtourist) on Aug 26, 2019 at 4:23pm PDT

Big Well Museum, 315 S Sycamore St, Greensburg, KS

The Big Well in Greensburg is the world’s largest hand dug well. The 109-foot deep, 32-foot diameter hole was originally created in 1888 to be the source of water for the town. Many years later a staircase was added and even later still it was open to the public as a Kansas tourist attraction. In 2007 the town was devastated by a tornado but the well, along with a new museum, reopened in May 2012. Visit to to descend a spiral staircase deep into the earth, learn about the town’s history, and also check out the World’s Largest Pallasite Meteorite.

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339 Veterans Pkwy, Wichita, KS

The Keeper of the Plains is an iconic symbol in Wichita. The 44-foot tall, 5-ton statue was created by Native American artist Blackbear Bosin and unveiled in 1974 to celebrate the United States Bi-centennial. The sculpture sits on top of a 30-foot pedestal overlooking the city at the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas rivers. Visit during the day to learn more about the statue and see more work from the artist at the Mid-America All-Indian Center and visit at night to witness the “Ring of Fire,” when the firepots are lit to represent the relationship of earth, water, air and fire.

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5. World’s Largest Czech Egg

2520 Ave D, Wilson, KS

Find the World’s Largest Czech Egg in Wilson, the “Czech Capital of Kansas.” This 22-foot tall giant egg is painted in traditional Czech design and is the centerpiece of the town’s annual celebration of Czech Heritage in July.

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1051 Ivy Rd, Minneapolis, KS

Across a five acre park in Minneapolis, you’ll find over 200 Dakota sandstone concretions: large spherical boulders that span up to 27-feet in diameter. Visitors are encouraged to climb these natural creations and, according to a sign out front, Rock City is the “only place in the world where so many concretions of such giant size are found in one area.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kat Braz (@skatbraz) on Jun 29, 2019 at 7:22pm PDT

305 E 2nd St, Lucas, KS

The Garden of Eden is a wonder both inside and out. S. P. Dinsmoor moved to Lucas in 1891 and spend the rest of his life creating this masterpiece. In 1907 he completed the famed log cabin, a unique home made from carved limestone logs that ranged in size up to 27-feet long. He then spent his years filling the garden with limestone and concrete sculptures of bugs, trees, a giant blinking Eye of God, and other forms. On the premises you’ll also find a mausoleum where Dinsmoor and his first wife lay to rest.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cynthia Kiesel (@cynthiakqb) on Mar 16, 2019 at 2:07pm PDT

Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum, 200 Poplar St, Goessel, KS

At the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum you’ll find a double-size replica of the Liberty Bell made out of turkey red wheat straw. The attraction was dedicated during the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial and was originally displayed in the Smithsonian. Find this wheat Liberty Bell in the “Turkey Red Wheat Palace” building among other relics dedicated to farmers who introduced and developed the wheat industry in Kansas.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Erika Nelson (@worldslargestthings) on May 1, 2019 at 2:19pm PDT

9. World’s Largest Collection of Smallest Versions of Largest Things

214 S Main St, Lucas, KS

Artist Erika Nelson has spent years traveling the country in search of roadside attractions and creating the world’s smallest versions of the world’s largest things she sees. From Albert the Bull to the World’s Largest Strawberry to the giant Paul Bunyan she has seen it all and crafted it all. Stop by her storefront museum in Lucas Kansas to see her creations.

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10. M.T. Liggett’s Political Sculptures

207 Elm St #201, Mullinville, KS

Artist M.T. Liggett’s former property is filled with hundreds of hand-built sculptures: some beloved some abhorred. Liggett (1930-2017) never minded the controversy his yard of art turned Kansas roadside attraction brought. Fun windmills and whirligigs are mixed among totems of political figures, both local and national, depicted as caricatures in comprising positions or surrounded by offensive imagery.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sam Kelly (@samkelly096) on Nov 25, 2019 at 1:39pm PST

6509 NW 60th St, West Mineral, KS

Big Brutus is a Bucyrus-Erie model 1850-B electric shovel designed to dig up to 69 feet into the earth. The 16-story tall, 11-million pound beast worked around the clock until it was retired in 1974. The giant shovel was then declared a declared a state landmark and turned into a museum. Admire Big Brutus’s impressive size from outside and climb inside to explore the five stories of gears and exhibits.

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N. 11th St. and Poyntz Ave., Manhattan, KS

Johnny Kaw is a fictional settler of Kansas whose tall tales live up to Paul Bunyan’s lore. His legend was born from George Filinger, a professor of horticulture at Kansas State University in 1955, as a PR move to kick up interest in Kansas and Manhattan’s 100th birthday. The 25-foot-tall Johnny Kaw statue was constructed in 1966 as a way to establish the hero as a local legend. Though Kaw hasn’t quite caught on the way Bunyan has, he has remained a local favorite and makes for a fun Kansas road trip stop.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jeremy Pafford (@jeremy.pafford) on Mar 9, 2020 at 7:03pm PDT

121 S Main St, Lucas, KS

Everyone needs to take a toilet break on a road trip, but if you’re looking for a toilet beyond the average gas station restroom, head to Lucas, Kansas. Bowl Plaza is a public toilet shaped like a toilet and covered with folk art mosaics.

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4124 NE Brier Rd, Topeka, KS

England has Stonehenge. Nebraska has Carhenge . And Kansas has Truckhenge. Truckhenge is made up of six antique trucks partially buried in the ground and surrounded by other works of recycled art. The piece was created by Ron Lessman in 2000 in response to county officials who wanted him to clean up his land. He was told to “pick the trucks up,” so, in an act of rebellion, he partially elevated them from the ground, creating a Kansas roadside attraction on the way.

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15. World’s Largest Easel & a Giant van Gogh Painting

1901-1917 Cherry Ave, Goodland, KS

In 2001 artist Cameron Cross painted a large-scale, 24×32 foot reproduction of Van Gogh’s “Three Sunflowers in a Vase,” which was then displayed on an equally large-scale steel easel. The 80-foot tall, 45,000-pound structure is the world’s largest easel!

Want to see more of the strangest roadside attractions in America? From Alabama to Wyoming, check out our list of the best roadside attractions in each state .

Pin this list of the 15 best Kansas roadside attractions:

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Valerie Bromann

Founder & road trip expert.

Valerie Bromann is a a website manager, content creator, and writer from Chicago, Illinois (currently living in Dallas, Texas). As an avid road tripper who has visited hundreds of roadside attractions, Val always pull over for a world’s largest thing. Founder of Silly America and author of The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book , she visits, photographs, and writes about all the weird tourist destinations she visits and offers road trip planning advice and inspiration based on her own travels so you can hit the road for yourself.

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Last modified: April 13, 2022 Category: Kansas Tourist Attractions & Road Trip Stops , Roadside Attractions

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BY Valerie Bromann

The road trip you’ve been dreaming of starts here! Journal about your stops and get to know your fellow passengers with activities and exercises designed to pass the time and bring you closer together. Instead of “Are we there yet?” you’ll find yourself asking, “We’re there already?”. Complete with prompts you can turn to while driving between locations, this journal will one day be a memento of your life-changing trip.

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Attractions

Road trippin' is about what it does inside you. It's the search, the journey.

You will love what Rural Kansas offers. Enjoy the quirks and things you won't find in bigger cities.

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Th e B ig Kansas Road Trip

In a way, it's about pie., let us explain..

You can tell people about a good piece of made-from-scratch pie but there's nothing like actually smelling the aroma of it and taking that first bite and making swirls with the filling that drips on the plate and mixing it with the little pieces of sugary crust. Eating a pie in the location it's made is priceless. There is nothing like being there.

The Big Kansas Road Trip is designed to turn people on to exploring by doing it and to do it in a way that will help sustain our communities. 

Kansas communities are bolstered by people who love to explore. 

The idea is to get people onto the back roads and into Kansas towns to actually SEE PLACES .  To actually EAT IN LOCAL CAFES and to talk to and GET TO KNOW THE LOCALS.

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10 Best Road Trips You Can Take Through The Scenic State Of Kansas

Discover the heartland's beauty with these captivating road trips through Kansas, showcasing its hidden gems and breathtaking landscapes.

• Kansas offers diverse landscapes, from tall grass prairies to red hills to wetlands, making it an ideal destination for road trips to experience its natural beauty.
• The Flint Hills National Scenic Byway provides a breathtaking journey through the largest remaining tallgrass prairie in North America, where visitors can spot bison and prairie chickens.
• The Frontier Military Historic Byway explores Kansas' role in settling the American frontier, connecting three former frontier forts and showcasing historic sites and battle sites.

The American Midwest offers some of the most stunning and diverse landscapes across the country. Kansas, in particular, is filled with vibrant prairies, rolling hills, dense forests, beautiful wetlands, and scenic waterfalls waiting to be explored . For travelers looking to take in the scenic beauty of the Sunflower State, a road trip is often the best way to experience everything in the states, including some of the wonders of Kansas .

The diversity of Kansas landscapes allows for completely different scenery and attractions within just a few hours’ drive. Glide across the widescreen Flint Hills, then wander the eroded red hills of the Gypsum Hills. Spot shorebirds at a wildlife refuge before touring frontier forts. Whether spending a weekend or a week on the road, Kansas offers the chance to soak in quintessential Great Plains scenery while exploring the state’s distinctive landmarks. From the tall grass to the red hills to the Wetlands, here are 10 of the most scenic road trips to experience the natural beauty of Kansas.

Florida Vs. Kansas: Are Swamps Or Prairie Lands Flatter?

10 flint hills national scenic byway, a drive through the lush tallgrass prairie of the flint hills.

Visiting Flint Hills is one of the awesome must-do things in Kansas . But a visit to this ecosystem is not complete without driving the namesake byway. Stretching through the heart of the state, the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway provides a breathtaking journey through the largest remaining tallgrass prairie in North America. Designated as a National Scenic Byway in 1986, this drive takes visitors through wide open spaces filled with lush, rolling grasslands. Travelers have the chance to walk the tall grass prairie , where they can spot bison, prairie chickens, and many other species that call this iconic landscape home. With very few trees or settlements along the way, the pristine prairie seems to go on forever.

The Flint Hills Byway connects numerous ranches, small towns, and state parks that offer opportunities to learn about the area's ecology and history. Located just north of Wichita, the byway provides easy access for visitors as a perfect day trip or weekend getaway.

• Distance: 48 miles
• Road Trip Length: Full day or overnight
• Major Stops: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve , Chase County State Fishing Lake , Flint Hills Discovery Center

9 Frontier Military Historic Byway

Historic forts and battle sites along the frontier military scenic byway.

For history buffs, the Frontier Military Historic Byway explores Kansas' crucial role in settling the American frontier. The 168-mile route connects three former frontier forts that protected westward travelers in the 1800s. At Fort Riley, the 1st Infantry Division Museum outlines the fort's origins along the Santa Fe Trail. Visitors can also tour the fort's historic homes and cavalry stables. Just down the byway lies Fort Larned, featuring a fascinating history museum inside the stone commissary building. The star attraction of the route is Fort Scott National Historic Site, where costumed reenactors and various demonstrations showcase military life on the frontier.

Beyond the forts, roadtrippers can explore battle sites like Mine Creek and Little Osage Crossing. Interpretive signs and walking trails explain the events that took place there. For an in-depth experience of the frontier army, this byway is a must-see.

• Distance: 168 miles
• Road Trip Length: 3 hours
• Major Stops: Fort Riley , Fort Larned National Historic Site , Fort Scott NHS

8 Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway

Vivid red hills and wild prairie along the gypsum hills byway.

Winding through the vivid red gypsum hills of south-central Kansas, this byway treats travelers to one of the state's unique landscapes. The 42-mile route passes through the Gypsum Hills Scenic Area, known for its vibrant red soils and wildly eroded formations. Contrasting with the red hills, lush green prairie grasses blanket the valley floors in a colorful patchwork. Visitors might spot bison, wild turkeys, and prairie dogs roaming through the grasslands, as well as diverse wildflowers in spring. The byway's southern section features the restored ghost town of Old Mobeetie, providing a glimpse of frontier life.

With various hiking trails leading into the gypsum hills, road trippers can easily stretch their legs to admire the striking red vistas and stone sculptures up close. For a scenic drive off the beaten path, Gypsum Hills offers sensational grassland scenery.

• Distance: 42 miles
• Road Trip Length: Half day to full day
• Major Stops: Rock City Park , Old Mobeetie Town Site

7 Kansas Historic Route 66 Byway

Following the mother road through classic kansas towns.

Get your kicks on the legendary Route 66 through southeast Kansas. As one of the state's most iconic drives, this stretch of the "Mother Road" transports travelers back to Route 66's 1950s heyday. The byway closely follows the original Route 66 alignment past classic diners, drive-ins, and mid-century motor courts in retro towns like Galena, Baxter Springs, and Riverton. Road trippers can stop to see historic attractions like the 1926 Marsh Rainbow Arch Bridge, the last surviving marsh arch bridge on Route 66.

From the ornate Coleman Theatre in Miami to the mining exhibits at the Historic Route 66 Visitor Center in Galena, this byway is the perfect way to experience the nostalgia of travel's golden era. Visitors can even stay overnight in a Wigwam motel room. With its classic Route 66 stops, southeast Kansas offers travelers the iconic Mother Road journey.

• Distance: 13 miles
• Road Trip Length: About 20 minutes drive
• Major Stops on the route: Rainbow Bridge , Waylan's KuKu Burger, Coleman Theatre

The Best Stops Along Route 66, Ranked

6 land and sky scenic byway, panoramic views along the land and sky byway.

Taking its name from the incredible prairie vistas, the Land and Sky Scenic Byway provides phenomenal viewing opportunities as it winds through the wide-open spaces of west-central Kansas. Stretching 88 miles between historic Fort Larned and the town of Leoti, the route features panoramic landscapes extending to the horizon. With few trees or buildings obstructing sight lines, travelers can experience the immersive grandeur of the vast prairie. The byway also connects a series of excellent viewpoints, including Coronado Heights, where visitors take in sweeping ridge-top views. The Pawnee River Valley Overlook offers a breathtaking perspective over the valley's eroded red rock formations.

• Distance: 88 miles
• Road Trip Length: 2 days
• Major Stops: Coronado Heights , Pawnee River Valley Overlook, Point of Rocks

5 Wetlands & Wildlife Scenic Byway

Abundant birds and wildlife along the wetlands & wildlife byway.

For nature lovers, the Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway provides excellent opportunities to spot birds and wildlife. Located in the southeast corner of the state, the byway loops through sections of the Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge near the Missouri border. Travelers can admire diverse wetland habitats, including marshes, streams, forests, and prairie. The refuge protects the habitat for migratory birds like sandhill cranes, ducks, and geese. Visitors might also spot white-tailed deer, beaver, and river otters. Interpretive overlooks explain the refuge's ecology.

• Distance: 77 miles
• Road Trip Length: 2 hours
• Major Stops: Marais des Cygnes NWR , Osawatomie

4 Native Stone Scenic Byway

Limestone canyon country along the native stone byway.

Winding through the dramatic limestone canyon country of southeast Kansas, the Native Stone Scenic Byway treats travelers to spectacular rock formations and rolling green hills. The byway loops for 75 miles among waving bluestem grasses, wildflowers, and rocky outcrops. Signature attractions include Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park, where acidic waters have carved fascinating formations in the soft chalk deposits. At Rock Creek Crossing, visitors can hike through the riverside canyon for close-up views of the eroded limestone.

The scenic drive also passes beautifully preserved Victorian buildings in the towns of Independence and Neodesha. With its picturesque prairie landscapes and charming small towns, the Native Stone byway showcases some of Kansas' best scenery.

• Distance: 75 miles
• Road Trip Length: 90 minutes
• Major Stops: Little Jerusalem State Park , Rock Creek Crossing

3 Post Rock Scenic Byway

Limestone outcrops along the post rock byway.

Named for the unusual fence posts carved by early settlers, the Post Rock Scenic Byway in north-central Kansas provides a tour through the rugged Post Rock Country. The region is known for its scenic limestone formations that create a unique prairie landscape. The 20-mile byway passes through WaKeeney, the self-proclaimed "Post Rock Capital of the World," where monuments and fences exhibit the area's famous stone carvings. Visitors can also see post-rock fences bordering picturesque prairie vistas throughout the grasslands.

Signature stops include the stone-walled Bridgeport Hill Ranch and the mushroom-shaped rock sculpture known as Mushroom Rock State Park. In spring, colorful wildflowers bloom across the prairie. With its iconic post-rock landmarks, the byway captures the spirit of the rural Midwest.

• Distance: 20 miles
• Road Trip Duration: 30 minutes
• Major Stops: Mushroom Rock State Park .

Small Kansas Towns That Will Make You A Believer In Its Beautiful Countryside

2 smoky valley scenic byway, pristine prairie along the smoky valley byway.

Travelers journey through one of the most intact prairie regions of Kansas along the Smoky Valley Scenic Byway. Following the Smoky Hill River, the byway winds through the Smoky Valley for over 60 miles of lush native grasslands. With very little development along the route, visitors experience expansive open landscapes dotted with wildflowers and small herds of grazing bison. Beside the cottonwood-lined river, travelers might spot white-tailed deer, coyotes, badgers and meadowlarks.

Several scenic overlooks allow roadtrippers to take in the sea of grasslands stretching to the horizon. The byway also passes charming small towns like Lindsborg, which exhibit their Swedish pioneer heritage. For breathtaking pristine prairie vistas, the Smoky Valley byway is a perfect choice.

• Distance: 60 miles
• Road Trip Length: Full day
• Major Stops: Lindsborg , Kanopolis State Park

1 Prairie Trail Scenic Byway

Following the oregon trail along the prairie trail byway.

Retrace earlier pioneers' footsteps along the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway, a segment of the historic Oregon Trail. Located northwest of Salina, the byway closely follows the wagon ruts and traces left by 19th-century settlers heading west. Road trippers can walk in the pioneers' footsteps along the rugged Alcove Spring Trail while learning about life on the Oregon Trail at the Alcove House historical site. The byway also passes other important trail remnants like Independence Crossing and Devil's Backbone.

Beyond Oregon Trail history, the route features beautiful prairie vistas dotted with wildflowers and roaming bison herds. Visitors might glimpse pronghorns, coyotes, prairie chickens, and other wildlife native to the plains. With its combination of heritage and scenery, the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway is a special Kansas road trip.

• Distance: 80 miles
• Major Stops: Alcove House , Independence Crossing

Driving Kansas I-70, The Essential Road Stops

Article By: Kyle McCarthy

Driving Kansas I-70 is worth more in memories than 500 miles of 18-wheelers and corn fields. There are small towns with huge scale artworks, 50s cinemas, arts festivals, military forts and local history museums to appease every restless road tripper in your vehicle.

If your family is on a cross-country road trip, take advantage of “ Seventy on I-70 ,” a vintage Kansas travel guide highlighting the interstate’s many large, small and almost ordinary attractions. Kansas offers a surprising amount of pure Americana.

Kansas Interstate-70 from East to West

Heading East to West, leave the verdant hills of Missouri for what’s at first glance, desolation. Kansas City, KS does not compare to Kansas City, MO – the gem of Missouri whose museums, barbecue joints, sports teams and hotels outshine their neighbor just across the border.  

However, the border region does have some attractions. Cross-country road-trippers desperate for a pit stop between Kansas I-70 Exits 410-423 should stop when there’s a NASCAR race at Kansas Speedway . Alternatively, shop in the Legends Outlets Mall or catch a Kansas City T-Bones game — they’re not the Missouri Kansas City Royals but few teams are.

Shawnee and Kansas’ Native American Heritage

Shawnee, off Kansas I-70 Exit 411, was home not only to the Shawnee tribe of Native Americans. After the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, President Thomas Jefferson planned to offer land west of the Mississippi River to eastern tribes who would voluntarily resettle. As European American settlements grew, however, they pushed Westwards for more land. Congressional Acts in 1825 and 1830 then forced several different Native tribes to move farther west into the inhospitable territories of Kansas and beyond.

Shawnee Town 1929 is a recreated farming village that celebrates the town’s agricultural success with exhibits, authentic farm artifacts, costumed interpreters and events. Summers are marked by food trucks, live music events, crafts fairs and family activities starting with the Old Shawnee Days Festival in June, a big Independence Day event and the August Tour de Shawnee bike races. Check the town’s website to see how public health protocols may change events. Mission Park, with its boating lake and facilities, makes it a great picnic stop other times of year.

Side Trips off Kansas I-70 and East Kansas Detours

Side trips in this area include Bonner Springs , where the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame is located. The Ag Center, with its exhibits on better farming, is most worthwhile if you have future farmers of America strapped into the backseat.

Leavenworth , 18 miles farther north, has a 28-block historic district downtown and a famous maximum security military prison portrayed in the 2001 movie, “The Last Castle.” Fort Leavenworth, established in 1827 to assist settlers in fighting off Native American tribes, is the nation’s third oldest active military installation. The facility and Frontier Army Museum are, sadly, temporarily closed to the public due to the pandemic.

Kansas Prairie, Wetlands and Rocks

Missing the call of the Wild? Turn off Kansas I-70 at Lawrence to find Baker Wetlands , a 1,000-acre environmental preserve protecting nearly 500 plant species, wildlife and 278 species of birds. This is a special place to stretch your legs.

Or, take Exit 313 for Manhattan, not the city you’re expecting. Instead, Manhattan is home to Tuttle Creek State Park , known for the camping and recreation facilities around its reservoir. Younger kids will appreciate the snake collection at the Sunset Zoo’s Nature Exploration Center .

Fishermen will likely know Milford Lake , outside Junction City , the largest one in the state and the best place to go fishing and camping. The Milford Nature Center is located just below the dam and between February and May, it’s fun to visit the fish hatchery.

Detour for a photo opp farther west off Kansas I-70 Exit 76, at Monument Rocks , a national natural landmark about 25 miles south of Oakley . We’d like to say you can see this towering rock arch and walls for miles but that’s not quite accurate. Up close your family will appreciate the noble kestrel falcons which nest in the rock’s perforations, and feel the mystical vibe that Native Americans believed existed here.

Do you drive after dark? Kids will be love watching the aliens land through the ink-black skies. Yes, the blinking red lights of wind turbines , thousands of them, extend as far as the eye can see across the plains north and south of Kansas I-70, creating a scene worthy of “Star Wars.”

Eisenhower in Abilene

Kansas’ number one attraction is the Eisenhower Presidential Library , museum and home in Abilene, off Exit 275. While it is temporarily closed due to the pandemic, Abilene can teach you a lot about Dwight D. Eisenhower, the country’s 34th president from 1953-1961 and a five-star general. Ike, as he was known, and his wife Mamie were very popular during their time.

Not only did Eisenhower sponsor the Federal Highway System you are driving on, he also sponsored and signed the 1957 Civil Rights Bill which Congress then altered and weakened. In addition to negotiating a peaceful end to the Korean War, Eisenhower resisted getting into other battles over several Cold War incidents that might have turned a less cool head to war.

Jesus Watches Over Colby

We chose Colby as the place to sleep on our 2020 cross-country road trip because of the famous billboard, Wheat Jesus . Let us all praise Google for alerting us to these roadside wonders when we ask our phones, “what’s interesting about (this place)?”

Wheat Jesus is a two-sided billboard portraying Jesus holding a sheaf of wheat in his right hand. There is no text. The billboard is a gift to road trippers by local business people Tuffy and Linda Kay Taylor, who wanted to inspire drivers with a “silent message” about what was important in their own lives. Erected in 2009 with the help of a local artist and sign making company, the remarkable portrait seems to watch passersby from every angle. The Taylors and contributions pay the electric bills to keep the billboard illuminated 24/7.

Since Colby straddles I-70, most of its business comes from long haul truck drivers. That clientele makes the Sonic Burger drive-through restaurant another of the town’s hallmarks. For a retro experience, show the family how carhops deliver burgers and shakes to your car window.

Yet another Colby attraction is the Oasis Travel Center Dog Park at Kansas I-70 Exit 53. (You are 53 miles east of the Colorado border at this point.) With separate areas for both large and small dogs, this is a worthwhile stop to give your canine pals a break from the road.

Overnight in Colby, Kansas I-70 at Exit 54

Colby is a town of few lodging choices, so we picked a  Super 8 that was well reviewed as “sparkling clean” with “blazing fast Internet.”

The following morning, we met Eric, the desk clerk who put out their big buffet breakfast. Yes, despite other hotels having shut their restaurants to stop the spread of COVID-19, this friendly Super 8 was serving a huge public buffet. We sampled the hot biscuits n’ gravy, freshly made by Eric himself from his mom’s recipe, first. Follow it up with tasty u-cook waffles, fruit, cereals, yoghurt, toast and more; breakfast is free with double double-bed rooms that start at $59 per night.

Don’t leave town without a visit to the Prairie Museum of Art & History . The 24-acre property has several buildings, including the Cooper Barn, the largest single barn in Kansas. Considered one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas, it was built in 1936 to house show-worthy Hereford cattle. Catch the museum’s “Prairie Grasses to Golden Grains” exhibit, the one room school building, sod house and 1930s farmstead. Inside, the Kuska Collection comprises dolls, furniture, old coins, household ceramics, family clocks and silverware – the treasures of a 19th-century prairie farmer’s life.

Another must, stop at the Colby Aquatic Park if you’re traveling in the blazing hot summer between June and August. The town facility has a few swimming pools and some waterslides.

Westward to Goodland, I-70 at Exit 19

The beauty and ingenuity of Goodland , off Kansas I-70 at Exit 19, capped our brief tour of the state. Goodland connects to America’s first agriculture-themed designated road, the Land and Sky Scenic Byway at Exit 17. Pass by again during your travels to watch crops grow as the seasons change.

Drivers from either direction are hard-pressed to miss an 80-foot version of Vincent Van Gogh’s painting, “Three Sunflowers in a Vase.” The 30-foot-tall painting sits atop a huge easel towering over the small town of Goodland. It was reproduced from the original for the Rotary Club of Goodland by Canadian artist, Cameron Cross.

A placard posted by the proud people of Sherman County declare it to be the World’s Largest Painting on an Easel . Yes, sunflowers do grow in Kansas. This still life by the Dutch Impressionist Vincent Van Gogh has inspired many other, smaller art works in the town’s public parks. In fact, signs ask visitors to use the hashtag #goghgoodland in their social media posts.

The High Plains Museum is another highlight of the town. Like Colby’s Prairie Museum, the focus of the collections is agricultural with many exhibits about farming daily life. Founded in 1959, it also features several personal collections that document the life of Northwestern Kansas, as lived by ordinary teachers, farmers, doctors, bankers and soldiers.

Interestingly, a model of the world’s first patented helicopter is featured inside the main room. Watch as its blades slowly rotate.

The first helicopter is just another of the unexpected finds along Kansas I-70. For more ideas of what to do in Kansas, please visit TravelKS.com .

Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.

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RoadsideAmerica.com Your Online Guide to Offbeat Tourist Attractions

Attraction:

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• Kansas: Everything
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Find Kansas travel tips, stories, maps, videos and news for unusual tourist attractions and sights.

New Reports

Roadside Sideshow Expo

Lucas, Kansas

Artist Erika Nelson caught the roadside bug and has built her own museum of mostly miniature tourist landmark tributes.

Pizza Hut Museum

Wichita, Kansas

Pizza Hut was invented by two Wichita State University students. The first Hut was moved onto the campus as a hut-size museum.

Sights for Oddball Excursions

World's Largest Ball of Twine

Cawker City, Kansas

The late Frank Stoeber's giant twine ball continues to grow, added to by visitors with the help of Cawker City residents.

Cosmosphere

Hutchinson, Kansas

Second only to The Smithsonian in space artifacts -- see the USSR's Cosmonaut cast-offs, Nazi ballistics, and the capsule from Apollo 13.

The Garden of Eden

Weird home of folk art and political statements; the late Sam Dinsmoor can be viewed in the back yard.

Grassroots Art Center

The "visionary" artists of the U.S. have their own space in Lucas, with sculptures made from aluminum can pull-tabs and portraits made from wads of chewing gum.

Famous Gunfighters Wax Museum

Dodge City, Kansas

Wax versions of villains and lawmen from the Wild West along with the Wolfman, Dracula, LBJ and JFK. Unchanged since the mid-1960s.

The Strange Grave of John Milburn Davis

Hiawatha, Kansas

Ten life-size, Italian marble statues -- and one of granite -- depict John and Sarah Davis at various stages of their lives.

Strataca: Underground Salt Museum

Museum transports visitors 65 stories below ground to tour vast salt galleries.

Geographical Center of the 48 States

Lebanon, Kansas

The ultimate fallback position in case we're attacked by Canada, Mexico, and the Fish People from the Atlantic and Pacific. Featured as America's divide-healing center in Bruce Springsteen's 2021 Super Bowl commercial.

Dorothy's House and Land of Oz

Liberal, Kansas

Real-life Dorothys give tours. Plot points of the film are colorfully recreated and midget Munchkin mannequins are everywhere.

Johnny Kaw: Bigger Than Bunyan

Manhattan, Kansas

Instead of chopping trees, giant Johnny mows down acres of wheat with his super scythe.

Political Art of M.T. Liggett

Mullinville, Kansas

Sculptures blown by the winds of politics, this Kansas man's viewpoint is writ in metal and bile. But he's not mad.

Topeka, Kansas

A distorted Stonehenge, but also a playful poke at bureaucrats.

Evel Knievel Museum

World's largest collection of Evelabilia. See the iconic Skycycle X-2, and a display of Evel's x-rays.

Climb the Statehouse Dome

Climb nearly 300 stairs to the cupola of the Kansas Capitol dome, the second tallest in the U.S. Dizzying, occasionally scary, and memorable.

Wamego, Kansas

Thousands of Wizard of Oz artifacts help cement the everlasting association of over-the-rainbow and Kansas.

West Mineral, Kansas

Big Brutus, a humongous earth mover, stands where it died and is now a tourist attraction.

Dalton Defenders Museum

Coffeyville, Kansas

Coffeyville remembers the day that the Dalton Gang rode into town to rob two banks, and got shot full of holes by an irate citizenry.

Dalton Death Sidewalk

Unique sidewalk photo-op of four dead Dalton Gang members. Lie next to them and pretend to be a gunned-down Wild West bank robber.

He Killed Lincoln's Killer, Then Lived In A Hole

Concordia, Kansas

Soldier Boston Corbett shot John Wilkes Booth. Later, this hole was his home.

That "Grow a Beard, Abe!" Town

Delphos, Kansas

Abe Lincoln's insistent Grow-a-Beard girl lived here, but Delphos has greater claims to fame...

Boot Hill and Museum

Museum at famous Wild West town boneyard shows off its guns, buffalo, Indians, and outlaws. Summer daily gunfights.

La Salsa Muffler Man

Commissioned by movie star Dennis Hopper, La Salsa Man was a customized, caricatured Mexican based on a California Muffler Man.

World's Largest Easel

Goodland, Kansas

A giant replica painting on a giant steel easel -- Van Gogh sunflowers for the Sunflower State.

The Big Well

Greensburg, Kansas

World's Largest Hand-Dug Well, the World's Largest Pallasite Meteorite, and a museum about Greensburg's destruction in a 2007 mega-tornado.

Valeda The Talking Transparent Woman

Halstead, Kansas

A life-size see-through plastic model explains her anatomy and the mysteries of life.

Trunkations

Roadside America's blog, offering news, rants and ruminations on the state of Kansas

Previous: Iowa | Next: Kentucky

Offbeat Landmarks and Oddities

Choice field reports and tips. Or check out: Complete list of Kansas attractions .

• Abilene : World's Largest Belt Buckle
• Belleville : Boyer Museum of Animated Carvings [ tips ]
• Bonner Springs : Agricultural Hall of Fame: Truman's Plow [ tips ]
• Bonner Springs : Moon Marble Company [ tips ]
• Cawker City : World's Largest Ball of Twine
• Cawker City : Eyegore's Curiosities and Monster Museum
• Codell : Cyclone Day Memorial [ tips ]
• Coffeyville : Dalton Defenders Museum
• Coffeyville : Dalton Death Alley
• Coffeyville : Field of Weird College Wood Art [ tips ]
• Coffeyville : Dalton Death Sidewalk
• Collyer : Castle Rock [ tips ]
• Concordia : WWII German POW Camp
• Concordia : He Killed Lincoln's Killer, Then Lived In A Hole
• Concordia : Orphan Train Museum
• Delphos : That "Grow a Beard, Abe!" Town
• Dodge City : Famous Gunfighters Wax Museum
• Dodge City : Boot Hill and Museum
• Dodge City : La Salsa Muffler Man
• Ellinwood : The Underground [ tips ]
• Erie : Erie Dinosaur Park [ tips ]
• Galena : Bonnie And Clyde's Shotgun [ tips ]
• Garden City : World's Largest Hairball [ tips ]
• Goessel : Liberty Bell Made of Wheat
• Goodland : World's Largest Easel
• Great Bend : Inventor of the Microchip Monument
• Greensburg : The Big Well
• Grinnell : Monument Rocks [ tips ]
• Halstead : Valeda The Talking Transparent Woman
• Haysville : World's First Batwing Gas Station
• Hiawatha : The Strange Grave of John Milburn Davis
• Hoisington : Folk Art Headstones of Hoisington
• Howard : Hubble's Rubble [ tips ]
• Hutchinson : Strataca: Underground Salt Museum
• Hutchinson : Cosmosphere
• Hutchinson : Big Greaser Muffler Man, Half A Big John [ tips ]
• Junction City : Atomic Cannon
• Kinsley : Midway USA [ tips ]
• Lacrosse : Kansas Barbed Wired Museum [ tips ]
• Lawrence : Comanche, Little Bighorn Survivor
• Lawrence : 50-Foot-Tall Concrete Teepee
• Lawrence : Museum of the Odd
• Lebanon : Geographical Center of the 48 States
• Liberal : Dorothy's House and Land of Oz
• Lindsborg : Mini-Castle of Coronado Heights [ tips ]
• Longford : The Smithalo
• Lucas : The Garden of Eden
• Lucas : Roadside Sideshow Expo
• Lucas : Grassroots Art Center
• Lucas : Bowl Plaza: America's Most Artistic Giant Toilet
• Manhattan : Johnny Kaw: Bigger Than Bunyan
• McPherson : Happy Chef - Chimney Sweep [ tips ]
• Meade : Dalton Gang Hideout: Secret Escape Tunnel
• Minneapolis : Rock City
• Mullinville : Political Art of M.T. Liggett
• Norton : Station 15: Wild West Dummies
• Oakley : Buffalo Bill Kill Statue
• Pratt : Home of Beautiful Women, Hot and Cold Water Towers
• Rose Hill : Jurassic Art: Welded Dinosaurs [ tips ]
• Topeka : Locally-Famous Big Wren Statue [ tips ]
• Topeka : Truckhenge
• Topeka : Evel Knievel Museum
• Topeka : Climb the Statehouse Dome
• Wamego : Oz Museum
• Wamego : Old Dutch Windmill [ tips ]
• West Mineral : Big Brutus
• Wichita : Muffler Man [ tips ]
• Wichita : Pizza Hut Museum
• Wichita : Museum of World Treasures
• Wichita : WuShock: Fighting-Mad Wheat
• Wichita : Keeper of the Plains: Ring of Fire [ tips ]
• Wichita : Steampunk Yard Artist [ tips ]
• Wilson : World's Largest Hand-Painted Czech Egg [ tips ]

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12 Kansas Road Trips Featuring Painterly Landscapes, Charming Small Towns and Historic Sites

Towering rock formations, breathtaking prairie vistas and pristine lakes combine to make Kansas a natural choice for crowd-free (and crowd-pleasing!) family road trip adventures. 

Interstate highways are like hit singles—big sellers with successful formulas that appeal to mainstream audiences. The scenic byways of Kansas are like album cuts—deep tracks underappreciated by the masses yet treasured by connoisseurs. The Sunflower State offers 12 such routes for finding your Midwest summer road trip groove.

Flint Hills National Scenic Byway

Follow the paths of Native peoples who lived in the region and settlers who arrived via the Santa Fe Trail. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Strong City shows what Kansas looked like then. In Council Grove, dine at the historic Hays House. And in Cottonwood Falls, see the striking Chase County Courthouse.

Distance: 48 miles

Major towns: Cottonwood Falls, Strong City, Council Grove

Frontier Military Historic Byway

Ten-hut! Built to move soldiers and supplies, this once dusty trail connects Fort Leavenworth and Fort Scott National Historic Site. Several towns feature veterans memorials, including at Fort Scott National Cemetery. Dining options far outrank mess halls. (Don't miss the fried chicken in Pittsburg.)

Distance: 168 miles

Major towns: Baxter Springs, Fort Scott, Leavenworth, Pittsburg

Glacial Hills Scenic Byway

When ancient ice masses lost their grip on this region, they left behind rolling hills and rock-strewn valleys. You'll leave having checked off some cool boxes, including a four-state vista in White Cloud, a flavor-packed lineup of global cuisine in Leavenworth, and Amelia Earhart's birthplace, now an eye-opening museum in Atchison. To discover more Atchison treasures, take a trolley tour of the historic town.

Distance: 63 miles

Major tows: Atchison, Leavenworth

Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway

Outdoor rec options (including epic horseback riding ) abound on this drive, as do the spirits of pioneers, cattle ranchers and Native Americans. Swim, boat, fish, hike and camp at Coldwater Lake in Coldwater. And see the Medicine Lodge home where bar-bashing Carry Nation lived.

Distance: 42 miles

Major towns: Coldwater, Medicine Lodge

Kansas Historic Route 66 Byway

It's the shortest stretch of Mother Road in any state, but a drive long on landmarks and nostalgia. See the route's last original Marsh arch bridge, a nearly century-old general store and inspiration for the movie Cars. Stop by Cars on the Route to see the boom truck that inspired Tow Mater. Just down the street, Gearhead Curios (in a 1939 gas station) displays a replica of the film's Doc Hudson race car character.

Distance: 13 miles

Major towns: Baxter Springs, Galena, Riverton

Land and Sky Scenic Byway

Cross the Great Western Cattle Trail, "scale" the state's highest point at Mount Sunflower (in the middle of a pasture), and explore the deep canyons and rugged landscape of the Arikaree Breaks. The nation's first agriculture-theme byway also showcases crops and wildlife. Heads up for roadside art too, like a replica van Gogh on an 80-foot easel in Goodland.

Distance: 88 miles

Major towns: Goodland, St. Francis, Sharon Springs

Native Stone Scenic Byway

This route romances the limestone in natural formations and historical buildings, like those in Alma. Mount Mitchell Heritage Prairie Park in Wamego is hallowed cultural ground—the site was on the Underground Railroad. Wildwood Adventure Park in Manhattan provides zipline views of native limestone, while Alma Creamery promises a delightfully cheesy experience.

Distance: 75 miles

Major Towns: Alma, Eskridge, Manhattan

Post Rock Scenic Byway

Resourceful settlers on the treeless prairie subbed limestone for wood fence posts. That creative spirit lives on at quirky art spots like Bowl Plaza, a mosaic-covered public restroom resembling a giant toilet in Lucas. In Russell, the Deines Cultural Center houses the wood engravings of printmaker E. Hubert Deines. For lake-based fun with a side of mountain biking, head to Wilson State Park.

Distance: 18 miles

Major towns: Lucas, Wilson

Prairie Trail Scenic Byway

Famous figures (Coronado, Zebulon Pike, Buffalo Bill) and everyday folk have taken this route. Find buffalo at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge in Canton, cool formations at Mushroom Rock State Park in Marquette, and all things Swedish (except Ikea) in Lindsborg. While in town, admire the craftsmanship of Dala horses at Hemslöjd and grab a latte at Blacksmith Coffee Shop and Roastery.

Distance: 80 miles

Major towns: Ellsworth, Lindsborg

Smoky Valley Scenic Byway

The Smoky Hills kiss the sky with a purple haze, while wildflowers lay a kaleidoscopic carpet. Drive to overlooks at Cedar Bluff State Park, and marvel at Castle Rock, a bluff resembling a medieval fortress. Scenery comes with sips of reds, whites, and fruit and dessert wines at Shiloh Vineyard and Winery in WaKeeney.

Distance: 60 miles

Major towns: Ransom, WaKeeney

Western Vistas Historic Byway

No need for an amphibious vehicle, but you will be driving through a prehistoric ocean. Prepare to have Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park and Monument Rocks (both south of Oakley) rock your world with their formations. See the ruins of Native pueblo El Cuartelejo at Historic Lake Scott State Park. And give Wild West legends Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill their props.

Distance: 102 miles

Major towns: Oakley, Scott City, Sharon Springs

Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway

Two major air hubs for migrating birds — Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge —anchor this route. Get oriented at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center. Several historic buildings stand in Stafford, while the Barton County Historical Society Museum and Village in Great Bend features a rock home, 1898 church and other structures.

Distance: 77 miles

Major towns: Ellinwood, Great Bend, Hoisington

Extend your journey (and discover even more opportunities to explore) when you stay overnight in one of Kansas' state parks .

Kansas Road Trips & more! Top Cities & towns

Ready to take on Kansas road trips & more? Or are you just passing through Kansas? Don’t be a “flyover snob!” You know that every state has attractions worth seeing, right? Whether big city life in Kansas City or “large city” attractions in Wichita. Or haunted buildings in Atchison? Or Kansas mining history in Southeastern Kansas? And/or college campus-driven lifestyles in Manhattan or Lawrence? Or the World’s Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City!!?? Or the impressive rock formations near Scott City!

Let’s get into Kansas Road Trips & More.

This post is currently a work in progress, as not all posts to be referenced have been published yet. I wanted to provide readers with a tool to view and read about road trips in Kansas as I complete them. I’ll update this with links and the relevant sections referencing new posts, and I hope to add more posts later on subsequent visits to Kansas.

Let’s recap so you will find links to all The Driveby Tourist road trips in the Great State of Kansas! Remember, while Kansas is a “low visit” state, that doesn’t give you “permission” to skip it!😊😁 Looking at you, North Dakota and Nebraska as you are in the same category. (They both have slogans based on their “last on the list” status. Nebraska uses “Nebraska, It’s not for everybody!” and North Dakota uses “Best for Last!” The Visitor Center in Fargo has free t-shirts for those making it their 50th state and shirts that say “A Lot Can Happen in the Middle of Nowhere!”)

Here’s more about visiting all 50. Some of my research shows that the last three states visited by “50 Staters” are Alaska, Hawaii, and North Dakota! (Not for me; I grew up in northwestern Minnesota, so North Dakota was #2!)

Additionally, here’s a link to Visit Kansas (their website, not mine!) 😁😂

Want to include Kansas Road Trips while on a quest to visit all 50 states?

Again, Kansas joins Alaska and other midwestern states among the “least visited” states. But that doesn’t mean you should skip it! For example, there is a Kansas City, KS, and a Kansas City, MO. More of the population lives in Missouri, and much of what Kansas City is known for is also in Missouri. But you still don’t have “permission” to skip it!😊😁

Kansas City Barbeque places abound in both states. Kansas City, Kansas, is known for fountains and murals. They also exist on the other side of the border. So, follow along and stop here in Kansas when you cross the country or visit for business or pleasure.

Let’s go to the links and the summaries!

Places to eat

Big brutus & mining history, route 66 connections in kansas, wyandotte national burying ground along kansas road trips & more, side trip – atchison for the “hauntings” & leavenworth for the prisons, wichita – the wild west begins as a section of kansas road trips & more., dodge city & gunsmoke, scott city as part of kansas road trips & more & a state park, us-83 – the road to nowhere, wlcowsvowlt, s. p. dinsmoor’s garden of eden, world’s largest ball of twine, geographic center of the contiguous 48 states, abilene and eisenhower presidential center, conclusions about kansas road trips & more, crawford county & kansas road trips & more.

Here’s the link to the post about Crawford County in southeast Kansas. The county seat is Pittsburg, KS. (That’s without the “H”!) With Pittsburg as a base, you’ll see much of the mining history and the evolution to today’s world here. (Read more about “Drop the H” in the link.)

Ready for places to eat?

This post will be “out there” soon and linked from here, as I want to shine a bright light on all the fantastic eating places in and around Pittsburg, KS, that we visited on the trip!

We’ll cover the restaurant scene, including a brew pub.

(The link for this post will be published soon.)

The post of specifics about Big Brutus includes an inset into the rightmost picture showing the part in front of the tracks for Big Brutus, so you know I’m actually in the picture! By the way, there are hiking trails through these old mining areas. The recovered mining areas include lakes made from the leftover surface mines.

The link is pending for this one.

Some fantastic images about Galena, Kansas, and Route 66 are in the (upcoming) link. We enjoyed visiting and learning more about Route 66 while stopping here. The upcoming link includes a bit about the Gearhead Curio shop. The owner is a very enthusiastic promoter of Galena and Route 66!

Another link for this one is coming soon as well.

Kansas City Kansas

You can visit many places on the Kansas side. I believe we’ll all “forgive” you if you spend some time in KCMO!

The image is from an outdoor mall called “Legends Outlet Mall.” While there are many other things (of course) to see, I thought I’d add the statue of Dwight D. Eisenhower fishing.

Kansas decides to honor him here for his favorite pastime. There are so many other places that celebrate his many accomplishments, both as an Army General and US President!

Here’s the link to the post about Kansas City , KS. Although the post has links to the three additional posts below, links to them are included here for your ease of viewing whatever appeals to you.

Additionally, here’s an example of the murals found in Kansas City. Follow the link here .

The linked post includes seven images of murals. When you make it to Kansas City, Kansas, take the time to visit these in person, as well as others.

Although I’ve passed through several times and spent an overnight a few times, my trip here in 2023 for a travel blogger conference was the first time I spent more than that.

Kansas City hosts a cemetery with an interesting story. After years of developers seeking to relocate it for the use of valuable real estate, the Wyandotte Nation finally secured the cemetery for posterity.

It’s now a protected national site. Here’s the link to read “the rest of the story! ” And it’s an intriguing story!

Want to visit a haunted house? Or a bunch of them!?!

Of course, any side trip from KCK to Atchison must include the supposedly haunted places in this most haunted town in Kansas!

Here’s the link to an Atchison/Leavenworth post .

Several of us from the Midwest Travel Network attended a workshop in Wichita. In addition to 15 hours of classroom education, we visited many destinations as guests of #visitwichita. While western Kansas remains quite dry, we did have some rain one day while visiting. Yes, the other days were sunny! #mtnwichita #mwtravel

Blog posts about Wichita are on my schedule.

Please excuse the image condition! Due to travel delays, including late leaving Wichita and construction delays on the highway, I arrived late in Dodge City. While I knew I wouldn’t be able to spend quality time, I hoped to take some better pictures. The two on the right are from the outside. They were taken while I hung over a fence above the old, historic main street in Old Town Dodge City! I stopped here as another point on my Kansas Road Trips & More quest.

If you imagine it, you can see the old-time gunfighters milling around, itching for a gunfight! Fortunately, Wyatt Earp or Marshall Dillon will handle it! 😎🙌

Due to my schedule, I don’t have enough images for a post. I plan to go back another time. (My sister-in-law and her husband live in Kansas, so I likely will be back.)

By the way, Kansas tourism created a Gunsmoke Trail with stops in Abilene, Dodge City, Hays, and Wichita. About 20 other towns are named in the TV series, and some may have a stop on the trail at some future time. Here’s a link to more information about how to follow the Gunsmoke Trail . It’s a self-guided tour.

Two attractions north of Scott City on US-83 to stop and see. However, it’s only about 20 miles south of I-70. On the left, you’ll see badlands-type terrain called Little Jerusalem State Park. It’s about 300 acres carved out of agricultural land eons ago. On the right, you’ll see rocks rising from the plains around them. They’re called “Monument Rocks.”

More details and pictures for these stops are planned in the future.

US-83 starts at the Canadian border in North Dakota and runs to near Brownsville on the Mexican border in Texas. It’s called the Road to Nowhere because it doesn’t come close to any well-known tourist attractions. Until it reaches Abilene, TX, the largest city is Bismarck, ND. The largest city in Texas on US-83 is Laredo, with about 250,000 population.

In Kansas, the highway runs through Oakley and Scott City and enters Oklahoma just south of Liberal, KS. (The northernmost significant population is in Oberlin near McCook, Nebraska.) In Kansas, as in other states, the land is mainly agricultural. With the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, US-83 became a major truck route, shipping goods to all the small towns and cities on US-83 and both into and out of Canada and Mexico. Be careful of the 18-wheelers on this road!

By the way, as part of Kansas Road Trips & More, I’m looking for material on US-83. If you have material and want it published, please get in touch with me. I’ll include your information and give you credit for it!

Here’s a link for more about US-83, a subset of a post about visiting all 50 states .

Western Kansas to back east on I-70 (and sightseeing detours!)

My last two days on this trip involved driving from Scott City to Salina, KS, and then home with a stop in Abilene. While I mostly drove on I-70, I did go off-interstate to see several attractions north of the highway. Either quirky attractions or just plain “I was there” attractions. Here’s an accounting of them:

That’s “The World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things!” It’s in Lucas, KS. It’s a bit off I-70 but close enough to make the trip. The museum owner visits these large objects and then creates the miniature image. She also maintains a mobile version of this land-based museum. She’s an artist, educator, and one of America’s foremost experts and speakers on the World’s Largest Things. (Yes, that’s a “thing to do!”)

By the way, S. P. Dinsmoor’s Garden of Eden also found a home in Lucas. About 100 years ago, he presented his faith with this display. All of the displays are made of concrete. According to the person at the desk, they contain over 100 yards of concrete! Again, I’ll consider including more information here in the future. Let me know if you want me to make it or anything in this post a priority!

This one’s in Cawker City, KS.

If you show up here, and you can attract the attention of the person who, more or less, runs the attraction, you can add some of your twine to the ever-expanding ball! There’s a giant ball of twine in Darwin, Minnesota that previously held the record before this one outgrew it! Now that one calls itself “The Largest Ball of Twine Rolled by one Person.” While the one in Minnesota obviously doesn’t grow, this one continues to grow as visitors add twine.

Near Lebanon, Kansas lies the geographic center of the 48 contiguous states. The first picture shows the visitor center for the area. It’s in a former service station, and the pumps display a price from the long-forgotten past! The second picture marks the actual geographic center. It’s about 3 miles from the town of Lebanon. There are a couple of other markers on the site, but don’t plan to visit unless it’s a bucket list item or you are a travel blogger who wants to say she or he’s (or they) been there! Or something to “write home” about it! (Or, in today’s world, something to post on social media so robbers know you are out of town and they can break into your house!!)

The Eisenhower Presidential Museum and Library will be a post. This is always a great museum! That one will wait for a while. There are more posts scheduled before this one. Here’s a post about the Eisenhower Museum by a fellow blogger, Roadrunner Journeys .

And the World’s Largest Belt Buckle (So much excitement!!) also lies near a park and the Eisenhower Museum—maybe more detail here soon?

There’s a scaffolding set up in the rear to allow climbing and having your picture taken overlooking the buckle!

Again, more to visit in Abilene!

There’s much more to see in Kansas as well. The I-70 Association promotes tourism for 17 communities along I-70, from Kansas City, KS, in the east to Goodland in the west. Initially founded in 1989 with 12 communities participating, the association grew and continued to raise awareness about the communities.

The community’s goals include increasing tourism and visitors to the communities and generally increasing economic benefits.

The communities are Kansas City, Shawnee, Bonner Springs, Leavenworth, Lawrence, Lecompton, Topeka, Manhattan, Junction City, Abilene, Salina, Russell, Hays, WaKeeney, Oakley, Colby, and Goodland.

Next time you drive across on I-70, all of these communities welcome your visit, and all have visitor centers near I-70 for more information. And you likely want a break as it’s over 400 miles across Kansas! While the interstate system isn’t the most exciting, you must get off for Kansas Road Trips & More to see.

Here’s the link to the organization’s website I-70 association . #Ipulledoverforthisks #visitkansas And here’s another link !

Again, please remember this post is a work in progress, with more information being added as more visits occur. If you have anything you want publicized about Kansas, please let me know!

Classic Rock Recollection

“Dust in the Wind” by Kansas

I close my eyes Only for a moment, and the moment’s gone All my dreams Pass before my eyes, a curiosity

Dust in the wind All they are is dust in the wind

Written by: Kerry Livgren

#thedrivebytourist #crawfordcounty #pittsburgks #visitwichita #visitabilene #visitkansas @explorecrawfordcounty #Ipulledoverforthisks

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7 Most Scenic Road Trips To Take In Kansas

From pristine lakeside views to powerful rock structures and prairie preserves, there is a variety to see when taking a scenic road trip in Kansas, United States. Follow these top seven recommendations to create your ultimate road trip adventure in Kansas .

Flint Hills National Scenic Byway

Spanning 48 miles and passing through Cottonwood Falls , Strong City, and Council Grove , Flint Hills National Scenic Byway is a scenic road trip you will not want to miss. This byway has deep roots in Native history, and people follow the footsteps of settlers on the Santa Fe Trail, accessible from the highway. It covers 750 miles, with two-thirds of it being in Kansas, Missouri. As you walk along the trail, spot American bison, black-footed ferrets, whooping cranes, breadroot scurf-pea, and cane cholla. Two other attractions to see on this route are Hays House in Council Grove and the Chase County Courthouse in Cottonwood Falls. Hay’s House is a historic restaurant that serves 1800s-inspired cuisine, like ribs and fried chicken. The Chase Country Courthouse is still in use and was created during the French Renaissance era. Enjoy a tour and explore the 113 feet of the structure, from which you can see the Cottonwood River.

Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway

If you are looking for an ideal outdoor adventure with a sense of uniqueness and sandy prairie hills, then drive down Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway. It spans 42 miles and cuts through Coldwater and Medicine Lodge. The surrounding areas of this byway used to inhabit pioneers, Native Americans, and cattle ranchers. Now it is a hub for all sorts of recreation, like horseback riding and swimming, boating, and fishing in Coldwater Lake. Additionally, if you would like to learn about native roots, visit the Medicine Lodge Stockade Museum, where the Carry Nation once lived. Walk through the exhibits and learn what stockade life was like for settlers back in the 1800s.

Land And Sky Scenic Byway

The Land and Sky Scenic Byway in Kansas spans 88 miles, and its prominent towns include Goodland, St. Francis, and Sharon Springs. This route has views for days with deep canyons and rolling hills. A must-see attraction is Mount Sunflower, which sits in the pasture of the Great Western Cattle Trail. Mount Sunflower is Kansas’ highest peak. The area is known for its sunflowers, expansive prairies, and rich wildlife, like cattle. Near Mount Sunflower, you can also enjoy the landscape of Arikaree Breaks, a jagged terrain with swooping valleys and gullies, all made of rock. Make sure to bring your camera and snap a shot because it is a one-of-a-kind view you will not find anywhere else. For a more artistic vibe, see a replica of Van Gogh in Goodland. The painting sits on an 80-foot easel.

Native Stone Scenic Byway

Next up, drive along the Native Stone Scenic Byway. If you drive a total of 75 miles, you will pass through Alma, Eskridge, and Manhattan . This route is known for its gorgeous parks and authentic creamery. First, stop at Mount Mitchell Heritage Prairie Park, which houses an ancient underground railroad. Next, get an adrenaline rush at Wildwood Adventure Park by zip-lining between its limestone ledges. You can also partake in a 20-mile obstacle run that will challenge your dexterity and strength. Finally, finish off your road trip by indulging in a cheesy snack at Alma Creamery. Get entire bricks of aged cheddar or purchase their authentic white cheese curds.

Post Rock Scenic Byway

For lakeside fun, head to Post Rock Scenic Byway, where you can bike on dirt paths right along the Wilson Reservoir in Wilson State Park. You can also enjoy the rolling views of the Smoky Hills and partake in a challenging hike. The reservoir is open for water sports, like kayaking, and people can photograph the area’s plentiful wildlife like deer, pheasants, waterfowl, songbirds, and furbearers. For a leisure walk, take to the one-mile Cedar Trail Loop, and for lakeside biking, head to the 24.5-mile Switchgrass Bike Trail. The entire Post Rock Scenic Byway spans 18 miles and passes through Lucas and Wilson.

Prairie Trail Scenic Byway

One of the longest scenic byways on the list, Prairie Trail Scenic Byway covers 80 miles, winding through Ellsworth and Lindsborg. From wildlife conservation areas to picturesque state parks and coffee shops with the finest brews, there is something for everyone on this route. The Maxwell Wildlife Refuge in Canton preserves local wildlife and offers educational experiences to the public. Book a tour and see deer with hulking antlers and herds of robust bison. Next, visit Mushroom Rock State Park, which only 5 miles away from Kanopolis Reservoir. This park is such a hot attraction because it has unique rock structures throughout, with some resembling giant mushrooms. After you are done exploring, drive to Lindsborg and sip on the best latte you will ever have from Blacksmith Coffee Shop and Roastery. Using hand-forged beans, they serve a diverse array of bagged coffee and brews, like a cold rosemary brew with honey or a frosted cinnamon roll latte.

Smoky Valley Scenic Byway

Last but not least, visit Smoky Valley Scenic Byway. It spans 60 miles and crosses through Ransom and WaKeeney. This particular byway boasts Cedar Bluff State Park, Castle Rock, and Shiloh Vineyard and Winery. Cedar Bluff State Park’s shoreline branches into Cedar Bluff Reservoir, making for the perfect hiking scenery. The park is a hub for outdoor enthusiasts with boating maps, campsites, and shower houses. It also has a beach for people to swim in. Once you are done enjoying the outdoors, head to the rustic vineyard to relax and sip on a blackberry red wine or a classic white Riesling.

These scenic byways overpour with beauty and enticing experiences. Whether you tour old courthouses, ride on horseback on sandy hills, or bike by the lake, you will find fascination in history and nature. No matter which route you choose, it will make for a memorable vacation.

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11 Places to See on Your Next Drive Across Kansas (and Why You Should Stop)

Clinton state park, kaw river trail, tallgrass prairie national preserve, wildwood outdoor adventure park, milford state park, rock city and mushroom rock state park, kanopolis state park, wilson state park, castle rock, little jerusalem badlands, mount sunflower.

If you love spending time exploring nature, look no further than  Clinton State Park . Just a couple miles outside of Lawrence, the park has anything and everything you might want to do. You’ll find an 11-hole disc golf course, 25 miles of hiking and biking trails, including a five-mile cross-country ski trail, flatwater paddling and swimming at Clinton Lake and two ponds for fishing. There are nearly 400 campsites if you decide you need a couple days (or weeks) to see it all.

Clinton State Park, located just four miles from Lawrence, is a 1,425-acre park that rests on the north shore of Clinton Reservoir, known for its clear water and good fishing. The park is located next to a 9,200-acre…

Here’s a fun fact: Kansas is the  only  state to have two designated water trails, one of which is along the Kansas River (known as the ‘Kaw’ to locals). We suggest you launch into the river west of Topeka, in Wamego or Junction City, to paddle through the Sunflower State’s iconic prairieland for more than 100 miles. Bring a lunch and take a leisurely paddle out to one of the picnic-worthy sandbars. There are even a handful of riverside campsites if you want a multi-day paddle—just make sure you secure your boat and set up far away from the water line!

Kaw River State Park

Kaw River State Park is the only urban park in Kansas’ state park system, consisting of 76 acres of land along the south bank of the Kansas River in west Topeka. The area is mostly oak-hickory forest overlooking the…

Explore some of the planet’s remaining tallgrass prairie and watch for grazing bison on the 40 miles of trails at the almost 11,000-acre  Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve . When the bulk of America’s tallgrass prairie disappeared—carved up in the name of progress by plow-wielding pioneers in the 19th century—a small section of it was preserved here. Plan your visit in the fall, when the grass will be over your head.

Nearly 11,000 acres of wide open space, beautiful vistas, seasonal wildflowers, wildlife, a bison herd, and plenty of solitude. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit in the National Park Service…

Before continuing west to Milford State Park, head about 10 miles north of I-70 to the town of Manhattan, home of Kansas State University. For adventure-lovers, it’s also home to the  Wildwood Outdoor Adventure Park , with seven zip-lines and hiking trails. Zip through the trees and learn a little something about the Flint Hills from your guide at the same time. The park is open year round and safety is a top priority. All you have to worry about is enjoying the view!

Wildwood Adventure Park

Hike! Explore! Zip! 7 zips and free-fall finish, all in beautiful Flint Hills. Two tandem ziplines; race or enjoy the ride with partner zipping alongside. Stunning views! During between-zip-hikes, guides explain…

Just outside Junction City,  Milford State Park  clings to the shores of Kansas’s largest lake—the 15,709-acre Milford Reservoir. For land lovers, the park’s nearly eight-mile Eagle Ridge Trail rambles through airy, wildflower-tinged prairie landscape. But the park is really known for fishing—walleye, crappie, largemouth and smallmouth bass, white bass, and catfish can all be caught here. A huge wildlife area is on the west side and you can usually spot a bald eagle or two over there in the winter.

Milford State Park is a diverse 1,804-acre lake located on the southeast end of the 15,700 surface-acre Milford Lake. The park is a multipurpose recreation area that provides services to campers, boaters, fishermen…

Just north of I-70 and south of Minneapolis (Kansas), lies the appropriately named Rock City, where more than 200 Dakota Sandstone boulders dot the landscape. The spherical rocks are the result of millions of years of erosion, dating back to the Cretaceous period when the area was covered by an inland sea. Today, you are free to run around and climb these unique boulders. There are a few established boulder problems, but it’s mostly a create-your-own-line kind of place.

About an hour south of Rock City is another of Kansas’ geological oddities— Mushroom Rock State Park . The tiny park was once a landmark for pioneers and used as a meeting place by Native Americans. The mushroom-shaped formations are easy to spot and are fun to photograph.

Rock City Park

Rock City Park is a national natural landmark comprised of over 200 huge concretions. Rest in the shade of the gazebo, picnic under the…

Mushroom Rock State Park

Tucked into the Smoky Hills region in the north-central part of the state, the mushroom rocks are natural Dakota rocks, which are the…

Nestled in the Smoky Hills on the shores of the 3,500-acre Kanopolis Reservoir, the state’s oldest park is also one of Kansas’s most stunning locations. South of I-70 and west of Salina, the 12,500-acre  Kanopolis State Park  features more than 30 miles of rugged trails for hikers and mountain bikers. You’ll trek over rolling hills, through open prairie and woodlands filled with wildlife, past sandstone bluffs, and into Horsethief Canyon. Head over to the northwest section of the park’s wildlife area to see the Faris Caves, which were carved by early pioneers and used as a school house and living area.

Kanopolis State Park, the first in the Kansas State Park system, is in the rolling hills, bluffs, and woods of the scenic Smoky Hills Region. The 1,585-acre state park and surrounding area offer rugged beauty and…

Savor some of the best mountain biking single tracks in Kansas at  Wilson State Park , outside Sylvan Grove. The Switchgrass Bike Trail has been designated as an Epic trail by the International Mountain Biking  Association , consisting of 20+ miles of uninterrupted single track, snaking through a stunning backdrop. Aside from mountain biking, the state park also offers paddling access to the 9,000-acre Wilson Reservoir. Wilson Lake has beautiful, crystal blue waters that are unlike any other in the whole state, thanks to the high salt content from the Saline River, which feeds into the lake.

Set in the scenic Smoky Hills region of Kansas, Wilson State Park provides convenient access to one of the state’s prime water recreation areas. Lake Wilson Marina is a full-service marina, and anglers can gear up at…

Rising above western badlands, the freestanding spire known named  Castle Rock  is more than just a geological anomaly. This towering pillar of limestone and shale is also rich with historic lore. Named by a survey team in 1865, Castle Rock served as a landmark along the Smoky Hills Trail. The route was famously used by the Butterfield Overland Dispatch in the middle of the 19th century to ferry mail, freight, and passenger across the state to Colorado. It was also notoriously vulnerable, frequently attacked by Arapaho and Cheyenne defending their historic hunting grounds from encroaching pioneers, and ultimately made obsolete by the arrival of the railroad.  Note: Castle Rock is on private land, so be respectful of the property when you visit.

Thousands of years ago, this area was covered by a chalk ocean, which accounts for the chalk bluffs and beds. The chalk bluffs are still a fossil hunter's delight. This lofty calcareous limestone bluff has the appearance…

Kansas’s 28th state park has been open for a few years now and you must check it out! It may not be evident at a glance, but long before it was a US state (about 85 million years before), Kansas lay at the bottom of a vast ocean. Relics of this aquatic past can be found scattered throughout the plains, and now the largest Niobrara chalk formations in the state are available for the public to visit, thanks to a partnership between The  Nature Conservancy  and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism. Two permanent hiking trails allow visitors to explore the unique formations and view them from various outlook points, some of which tower more than 100 feet above the nearby Smoky Hill River. You can stretch your legs in the unexpected, natural beauty the state offers. Pictures do not do this park justice, it must be experienced!

Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park

Welcome to the "Badlands of Kansas" – 330 acres of land halfway between Oakley and Scott City that will transform your idea of what the shortgrass prairie should look like. This eruption of Niobrara chalk formations is…

In the far reaches of western Kansas, almost in Colorado, is  Mount Sunflower . With an elevation of 4,039 feet, it’s the highest point in the entire Sunflower State. The destination is more hill than mountain and more a homage to Kansas than a hike. Mount Sunflower is actually located on the Harold Family Ranch, homesteaded over a century ago by Edward and Elizabeth Harold in 1905, but is open to the public and all visitors are welcome. The pinnacle is appropriately adorned with a sunflower sculpture—crafted from metal railway scraps. It includes a standing invitation from the Harolds to swing by the ranch house and regale the family with the story of your "trials and tribulations to the lofty summit".

There’s really no wrong way to explore the outdoor adventures that Kansas has to offer, so the next time you are cruising along I-70, pick one of these spots to stretch, explore, or even spend the night. And who knows? Maybe you’ll end up extending your road trip by a week or two to make sure you see them all!

Originally written by RootsRated for Kansas Tourism.

Where the prairie and the sky meet your eye. The highest point in Kansas, Mt. Sunflower is on privately owned land, but all visitors are welcome.

Things To Do

Kansas is full of places to visit, fun attractions, outdoor adventure spots, and delightful kids’ activities.

Attractions

From Kansas' Tallgrass Prairie to Alcove Springs Park; Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City to chicken cuisine in Pittsburg; the Gypsum Hills…

State Parks

In a nation of natural treasures, Kansas’ state parks shine like diamonds.

Byways + Highways

Kansas has a network of highways and byways that are in excellent condition, convenient, and scenic. Explore all the places they can take…

Roots Rated

15 Best Kansas Road Trips: Weekend Getaways And Day Trips

We all love going on vacation, especially when our holiday destinations are beautiful countries known for their tropical beaches, clear blue oceans and historical landmarks.

But sometimes vacations can be very stressful and can cost much more than they are worth, which is why many people are now foregoing their vacations in favour of staying at home.

However, this does not mean that you still can’t have fun in your home state, as there is a whole world of culture and history waiting in your backyard.

A place that is known across the country for its beauty and historical significance is Kansas, which sits between the borders of Missouri and Nebraska. Known as the home of Dorothy Gale from ‘The Wizard of Oz’, Kansas is also a hub of culture and heritage and offers a wide range of getaway destinations and road trips .

So if you are interested in experiencing all this amazing state has to offer, then we have created a list of the 15 best Kansas road trips for you to choose from.

So why not take a look at our top choices and see which destinations take your interest…

Located approximately 27 miles east of Salina, Abilene is a historic city that was first established in 1858 and is known for its rich heritage and culture. Now considered one of the most popular destinations in Kansas, the small city often went overlooked by the American public until the Pacific Railroad reached Abilene in 1967.

Since then, the city has become a treasured getaway for many local families and offers a range of attractions such as the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, The Greyhound Hall of Fame and the impressive Seelye Mansion. However, no trip to Abilene would be complete without a ride on the historical Excursion Train, which runs exclusively on summer weekends.

Known as the county seat of Kansas, Atchison is a historic city that offers a variety of different attractions and activities to keep visitors entertained. If you are planning on visiting the city, then the best way you can survey it in all its glory is by jumping on board the Trolley Tour, which offers stunning views of the historical sites and the surrounding landscapes.

The city is also home to an array of museums and notable landmarks, such as the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum, the Atchison Rail Museum and the Eva Cray Historic Home Museum. However, if history is not your cup of tea, then the city also offers several art galleries, as well as beautiful hikes in Riverfront Park and first-class shopping along the idyllic Commercial Street.

Cottonwood Falls 

Considered the true embodiment of a Kansas ranching community, Cottonwood Falls is located in the heart of the breathtaking Flint Hills and can only be accessed via the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway, which makes getting to the destination part of the holiday experience. Known for its historic shops and rustic atmosphere, you can spend hours exploring all that this picturesque town has to offer and can even spend a night in one of its several bed and breakfasts.

Some notable attractions found in Cottonwood Falls include the Historical Museum, the Chase County Courthouse and the Cottonwood Falls Country Club, which offers golf and other activities to visiting Kansans. So if you want to immerse yourself in the spirit of Kansas, then this pleasant town is the perfect destination for you.

Council Grove

If you are the kind of person who adores history, then you will need to take a day trip to the historic city of Council Grove. First established in 1847, this beautiful location is known for its attractive scenery and can be found at the crossroads of the Sante Fe Trail and the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway. The town itself is famed for its historic downtown area, where you can enjoy a delicious meal at the 1857 Hays House or visit the impressive 1849 Terwilliger House.

However, if historical landmarks aren’t your thing, you can take a walk to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, a stunning location that is ideal for hikers and cyclists alike. The city is also home to several art galleries and offers a unique shopping experience for any tourist hoping to spend a day perusing the stores on Main Street.

When it comes to experiencing a slice of cowboy culture, there’s no better place to visit than the infamous Dodge City. If you are planning a visit and want to experience all that this Old Western town has to offer, then you can book a trip on the Dodge City Trolley and visit many of the town’s famous and historical sites. You can also pick up a map from the local Visitor’s Center and take an unguided walking tour to some of the city’s most notable attractions.

Home to a range of historic saloons and buildings, the city is also known for the Gunfighter’s Wax Museum and is where the legendary Boothill Cemetery is located. After you have left your mark on the town, you can pay a final visit to the local Dodge Hill distillery, where you can sample some of the best craft beers you have ever tasted.

Situated in the heart of Kansas City’s Metropolitan Area, Fairway remains a popular destination among visitors and can be easily reached by car. Home to a variety of unique attractions, Fairway is probably best known for the historic Shawnee Indian Mission State Historic Site, a key location in the civil war that can be found along the crossroads of Oregon and the Sante Fe Trails.

If you are interested in visiting this wonderful getaway, then we recommend going during the summer, as the warm weather will perfectly complement your day and will even provide you with the opportunity to take a dip in the Fairway Pool. The area is also home to a range of children’s playgrounds and is the perfect place to take a picnic while getting some fresh air.

Sometimes organizing can be a difficult task, especially when it comes to choosing a destination that the whole family will enjoy. Fortunately, that’s where places like Fort Scott come in handy. Located on the Marmaton River, Fort Scott is a historic city that offers a range of interactive attractions, from the narrated Trolley Tour to the Historic Downtown Walking Tour.

Other top attractions located in Fort Scott include the Fort Scott National Historic Site, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes and the Gordon Parks Museum, which explores African American history and Kansas’ role within it. However, if visiting museums sounds dull and boring, you can take a hike through the beautiful trails of Gunn Park or spend your day tasting delicious local brews at the Boiler Room Brewhaus.

Located in Ellis County, Hays is one of the largest cities in northwestern Kansas and is considered the economic and cultural center of the state. Offering a wide range of historic attractions, Hays is home to several fascinating museums such as the Ellis County Historical Museum and the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, where you can meet live animals and even encounter reptilian creatures from the long-forgotten past.

However, if you want to experience the city’s historical landmarks first hand, then you can take a walk to Downtown Hays, where many authentic buildings still stand and currently house a variety of local shops, restaurants and galleries. Beyond this, the city is also a hub of natural beauty and contains several local parks where you can explore some of Kansas’s most beautiful trails.

Hillsboro can be found on the edge of the Flint Hills, where it provides a useful gateway to the Marion Reservoir Lake, where you can spend your day on or around the water. Known for its amazing recreational facilities, the lake is surrounded by several campgrounds and is the perfect place to take a picnic on a warm summer’s day. The surrounding landscape is also home to a variety of local wildlife and is often visited by locals who enjoy observing nature and its many wonders.

The vast lake also features several boat ramps and offers excellent fishing opportunities for enthusiasts. However, if the idea of spending your day by a lake doesn’t excite you, then you can journey into the heart of Hillsboro to experience the local attractions, such as the Pioneer Adobe House Museum and the historical Schaeffler House. You can also finish your day by sipping on some beers from the local craft breweries.

Independence (Missouri)

Although this destination is not located in Kansas, it is still easily accessible from the state and is known for its wealth of pioneering history and recreational activities. Remembered as the home of former US president, Harry S Truman, this city is regularly visited by tourists to see the impressive Truman Presidential Library and remains a popular getaway among Kansans due to its boutique shopping district and range of other attractions.

If you ever find yourself in the position to admire this beautiful town, then you will also need to check out the National Frontier Trails Museum, as well as Historic Independence Square, the 14-mile Blue Trace Trail and Waterfall Park ( if you’re interested in the Frontier, check out our guide to Cheyenne, Wyoming and their Old West Museum ). Although, if you like to keep things simple, then you can also pay a visit to one of the town’s many historic shopping areas.

Lake Atwood 

If you ever pay a visit to the picturesque town of Atwood, then you will also have to take a look at the stunning lake from which the town takes its name. Home to a variety of recreational attractions, Lake Atwood is known for its beautiful scenery and is often visited by fishers from across the country. However, you do need a valid Kansas Fishing License if you want to partake in the lake’s bountiful fishing stock.

Surrounded by camping grounds and picnic areas, you can also enjoy the surrounding wilderness by taking a walk along the Hayden Nature trail, which takes you to the western side of the lake. Perfect for family day trips, the location also features a basketball court, as well as a volleyball sandpit and playground for smaller children.

Known as the Little Sweden of the United States, Lindborg is a city located in McPherson County that fully embraces its Swedish heritage. As a city, Lindborg is home to a variety of unique museums and historical landmarks and is the best place to take a walk if you want to immerse yourself in early Colonial and Scandinavian architecture.

Beyond this, the pretty town is also home to several art galleries and is the ideal location for visitors with a creative side. Other notable attractions found in Lindsborg include McPherson County Old Mill Museum, Heritage Square and the Hoglund Dugout – which is where the first Swedish settlers made their home.

Mushroom Rock State Park

Located on the borders of Salina, Mushroom Rock State Park is the smallest park in Kansas and encompasses only five acres of land. However, what it lacks in size it makes up for in beauty and uniqueness. Named for the mushroom-shaped rocks that are prevalent in Kansas, this park is home to a variety of the weird and wonderful shapes and has been admired by locals for generations.

Perfect for family photo opportunities, the park also features a small picnic area and some basic restrooms.

Situated 27 miles north of Wichita, Newton is a historic city that is a beautiful place to explore on a lazy day with your family. Known for its range of attractions, the town is home to the famous Warkentin House, a historical landmark that offers visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the culture of the Victorian era. The city is also known for the Kauffman Museum, which celebrates the history and culture of the Tallgrass Prairies.

As a Kansan getaway, Newton also prides itself on its emphasis on arts and culture, with the local theatre often hosting a range of live performances and the downtown shopping district featuring a range of galleries and studios. Visitors who like to shop will also not be disappointed, as the town is also known for its bustling high street, where you can find boutique stores and general retailers.

Powell Gardens

Known as Kansas City’s botanical garden, Powell Gardens is located just across the Missouri border and is a must-see attraction for locals and visitors alike. The stunning garden spans over 100 acres of land and is home to some of the most impressive themed gardens in the United States, with many visitors enjoying the gardens for their tranquil atmosphere and beautiful flowers.

Perfect for summer days, the gardens offer a range of different settings and layouts from the ornamental Fountain Garden to the impressive Heartland Harvest Garden, which houses a variety of edible plants. Beyond this, the gardens are also home to a cafe and gift shop and have something that everyone can enjoy, making it the perfect place to take your family for a day out.

Honorable Mention

If the destinations we have previously mentioned do not excite you, then we have a final honorable mention for you to consider:

Prairiefire 

Located only half an hour away from Kansas City, Prairiefire is an entertainment complex situated in Overland Park, where it houses a range of attractions such as hosting museums, restaurants, bars, a cinema and a bowling alley. Known for its unique modern design, the complex has something for everyone and offers urban locals the chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy a relaxing environment meant to stimulate the mind.

Also be sure to check out these road trip guides:

• Pittsburgh Road Trip Guide
• Road Tripping Through Illinois

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Road Trip: The Wild West, Kansas

From National Geographic's Drives of a Lifetime Series

For more of the world's greatest driving tours, get National Geographic's new book Drives of a Lifetime .

Two towns virtually synonymous with the Wild West are the highlights of this drive through Kansas wheat and cattle country.

The names Wichita and Dodge City conjure visions of frontier-day cattle drives and rough-and-tumble cowboy life in the southern plains of Kansas. Our route encompasses both towns and sights in between. Wichita has emerged from its bustling cow-town era as a progressive, attractive community touting some nationally significant sights, including the Old Cowtown Museum, where 19th-century Wichita is re-created, and the Wichita Art Museum, with its important collection of works by Charles M. Russell. Legendary Dodge City, television home of Marshal Matt Dillon, has metamorphosed at least twice—from bison-hunter outpost to wild cattle-trail terminus to sedate agricultural community. The route between these towns features such hometown attractions as the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area—notable stopover for North American shorebirds—and sites related to the old Santa Fe Trail.

Overview This 240-mile (386-kilometer) drive leaves from Wichita, travels north to Newton, then cuts west and north to Hutchinson, Lyons, and Great Bend before dipping back south to Kinsley and Dodge City. Highlights: Old Cowtown Museum, Mid-America All-Indian Center, Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, Fort Larned National Historic Site, Boot Hill Museum and Front Street.

Start in Wocjota Your first stop in this Old West town on the 19th-century Chisholm Trail—which made it a destination for cattle drives headed north to railroads to eastern markets—is the Old Cowtown Museum. Located in Sim Park, this 17-acre (7-hectare) living history museum re-creates the Wichita of the 1870s, right down to plank sidewalks. The time frame follows the arrival of trader Jesse Chisolm, who in 1864 brought some 3,000 cattle north from Texas, establishing the Chisolm Trail and Wichita as a major shipping point. Today, visitors can tour a five-acre (two-hectare) living history farm featuring animals and period farm machinery, and watch demonstrations of such daily activities as gardening, milking the cow, and harvesting corn; ride in a horse-drawn wagon; and quaff a glass of sarsparilla in the museum's saloon. Native American culture, art, and technology are the focus of the nearby Indian Center Museum at the Mid-America All-Indian Center. Traditional artifacts and contemporary art are combined with information on the history and culture of the Wichita, who guided Coronado into Kansas in 1541 and gave this city its name. The Wichita called themselves Kirikirish, "real people," and lived here only a short time. Across the street, the Wichita Art Museum houses an excellent collection of 18th-, 19th-, and 20th-century American art. The M.C. Naftzger Collection of Charles M. Russell's works includes Russell paintings of Western scenes and some of the handwritten and illustrated letters he sent to friends. Around the corner lies Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, where you can wander through a formal Elizabethan garden, tracts of sunflowers (the Kansas state flower), and a wildflower plot with prairie grasses. Downtown, the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum presents Wichita's history from the days of bison hunts to the modern era. Joan Miró's huge mosaic mural "Personnages Oiseaux" greets visitors at the entrance to the Ulrich Museum of Art. This museum features changing exhibits of contemporary artists and an absorbing collection of 20th-century and modern (mostly American) art.

Hutchinson Leaving Wichita, head north on I-135 to North Newton. Here the Kauffman Museum tells the story of the Mennonite settlers who came to the area from Europe in the 1870s. Also here: a period homestead and a prairie restoration. Next, take U.S. 50 west to Hutchinson and perhaps the best air and space museum outside Washington, D.C.: the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center. You're greeted by a full-size model of the space shuttle, complete with a clear explanation of how the heat shield works. Hanging from the ceiling is a glamorous black SR-71 Blackbird, a U.S. spy plane that endured flying temperatures greater than 1000°F (538°C). The museum also offers a live rocket science demonstration, a planetarium, a space museum with lots of space suits, and the Apollo 13 command module. For a more earthbound attraction, head south on Plum Street to the small but attractive (and free) Hutchinson Zoo. Displays here focus on Kansas wildlife, such as American kestrels, red-tailed hawks, bobcats, and coyotes. Particularly entertaining: the prairie dog town, which kids can crawl through.

Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area From Hutchinson, head west on Route 96 then north on Route 14. At Lyons, bear west on U.S. 56 and keep an eye out for a roadside marker for the largest village of the fabled Quivira. In 1541 a Pawnee Indian known as "the Turk" told Francisco Vásquez de Coronado that in Quivira "there was so much gold . . . that they could load not only horses with it, but wagons." With 30 horsemen and Father Juan de Padilla, Coronado came looking for the golden city. He found instead the large Indian settlement of Quivira. The Turk, who admitted to lying about the gold, was strangled for his trouble. Father de Padilla returned to Quivira as a missionary and eventually gained dubious distinction as the first martyr within the boundaries of the present United States. Continue west on U.S. 56—which follows the old Santa Fe Trail—to Kans. Route 156. Proceed north on 156 to the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area. This large natural sink is a critical migratory-bird stopover where some 45 percent of the North American shorebird population lands each spring. Climb the observation tower for an overview of the area, then drive the nine-mile loop through the refuge's wetlands and pools. Nearby is the town of Great Bend, home to the Barton County Historical Society, which presents a nine-building pioneer village and displays from the Victorian period.

Fort Larned National Historic Site Continue on U.S. 56 to Larned, taking Kans. Route 156 west to the Santa Fe Trail Center to learn more about the trail and its history. Unlike the other major western trails, the Santa Fe Trail was a two-way route, taking goods from U.S. territory into Mexico and bringing back gold, silver, and other trade wares. Farther down Kans. Route 156 lies Fort Larned National Historic Site. Established in 1859, Fort Larned was important in the protection of the Santa Fe Trail. Nine original stone buildings remain, along with a reconstructed blockhouse and a barracks. Interesting exhibits at the museum offer an overview of the fort's history. Back in Larned, the Central States Scout Museum claims the world's largest collection of scouting memorabilia.

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End at Dodge City Follow U.S. 56 southwest to Dodge City, at one time the baddest town in the West and home of Matt Dillon, Wyatt Earp, William "Bat" Masterson, and a host of other Western good and bad guys, real and imagined. The main venue here, Boot Hill Museum and Front Street, presents Dodge in its legendary boomtown era. At one corner lie the remains of a famous Boot Hill Cemetery, where both miscreants and victims were buried in shallow graves. The museum clears up the confusion between a sheriff and marshal, and discusses the careers of Assistant Marshal Wyatt Earp and undersheriff and sheriff Bat Masterson. In summer, shootouts and other entertainments are on tap, or catch the Dodge City Trolley for an overview of the town's western heritage. Across the street, characters from the long-running Gunsmoke TV series and a few U.S. presidents live on at the Gunfighters Wax Museum.

Road Kit Allow three to four days for this drive, which is best enjoyed May-September. For more information, log on to www.travelks.com , www.gowichita.com , and www.visitdodgecity.org

—Text by Dan Whipple, adapted from National Geographic's Driving Guides to America: The Heartland

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The perfect I-70 road trip through Kansas

The 424-mile stretch from Kansas City to the state’s western border boasts rich history, beautiful natural wonders, and a plethora of “World's Largest” items

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Created by Roadtrippers - November 10th 2020

Written by Jessica Johnson Webb

I f you’re only focused on your destination, you might not initially realize how lucky you are to be zipping along I-70 through Kansas. But the journey along this 424-mile stretch east from Kansas City to the state’s western border boasts rich history, beautiful natural wonders, a plethora of “World's Largest” items, and so many other fascinating stops.

President Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act in 1956 and the first section of interstate highway in the country opened that November in Ike’s home state just west of Topeka. Detour through Abilene and visit Eisenhower’s boyhood home, make a pit stop in Oz to visit Dorothy Gale and her friends in Wamego, or gawk at the World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things in the Grassroots Art Capital of Lucas.

While I-70 is a great way to get from Kansas City to Denver, it’s also the pathway to some of the coolest things Kansas has to offer. Here are some of our favorites.

Kaw Point Park

The peaceful strength at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers has drawn visitors for centuries. The 150-mile Kansas River (or the Kaw to locals) ends here, pouring runoff into the Missouri River’s strong waters. Both rivers were important transportation avenues for early settlers. In 1804, Lewis and Clark camped at Kaw Point for three days before heading up the Missouri. Today, Kaw Point Park offers spectacular views of the two rivers and the Kansas City skyline. The park includes easy walking paths and monuments to Indigenous Kansas peoples, and hosts occasional events and performances.

Haskell Cultural Center And Museum

Lawrence, KS

One of more than 30 Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) in the United States, Haskell Indian Nations University has since become the country’s premier TCU. Stop by the Cultural Center to learn more about Haskell’s past, present, and future. Permanent exhibits include “Honoring Our Native Veterans,” featuring paintings by Chester Nez, a Navajo Code Talker and Distinguished Haskell Alumni. In September, the Haskell Indian Arts Market draws Native artists and craftspeople from across the country. Pick up some beautiful artwork and an Indian taco.

2 Evel Knievel Museum

If one of your secret wishes is to jump through a flaming hoop on your motorcycle, you have to make a stop at the Evel Knievel Museum in Topeka. Check out some of Evel’s actual motorcycles on display, walk inside his 1974 Mack truck and trailer "Big Red," and indulge your inner daredevil. One of the coolest features is a virtual reality experience where visitors can “jump” 16 cars. The museum’s website promises, “You can’t look away. And he wouldn’t want you to.”

Equality House

This rainbow-colored house was painted as a response to the Westboro Baptist Church’s anti-LGBTQ agenda. Aaron Jackson and his nonprofit Planting Peace purchased the house across the street from the church and painted it in the colors of the LGBTQ pride flag. Since its inception in 2013, Equality House has served as a center for LGBTQ support and activism. In 2016, the house next door was purchased and painted in the colors of the transgender flag (pink, white, and blue). It has since become known as the Mott House in honor of Stephanie Mott, a prominent transgender Kansan. Neither house is open to visitors, but you’re welcome to take photos in the front yard.

4 Oz Museum

Non-Kansans are likely to immediately associate the state with Dorothy, Toto, and other beloved characters from The Wizard of Oz —and if you take a short detour to Wamego, you can visit them. The OZ Museum offers displays and ephemera from L. Frank Baum’s original books and the iconic 1939 MGM musical, as well as other film versions (including The Wiz with Michael Jackson and The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz ). Take a selfie with the Tin Man or next to the ruby slippers peeking out beneath Dorothy’s house. If you’re hungry afterwards, stop by Toto’s TacOZ next door for lunch.

Konza Prairie Natural Area

Manhattan, KS

Take a short detour through the Flint Hills and you’ll find the Konza Prairie Nature Trails. Weaving through a working field research station, the trails offer visitors a chance to explore the gorgeous tallgrass prairie that used to cover much of the Great Plains. Three trails start in the same location and range from 2.6- to 6.2-mile loops. Or you can do a shorter out-and-back if you just need to stretch your legs. At its highest points, the trails offer remarkable views of both the rolling hills of the Konza Prairie and the Kansas River Valley.

6 Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum

President Eisenhower once said, “The proudest thing I can claim is that I am from Abilene.” Spend some time on the peaceful grounds of his presidential library and boyhood home and you may understand why. Ike and his wife Mamie are buried in the Place of Meditation, a chapel-like structure built of native limestone. Ike hoped visitors would spend time contemplating and re-dedicating themselves to the ideals of this great nation.

"Dancers in Lindsborg"

Founded by Swedish immigrants in the mid-1800s, Lindsborg has built on its Swedish heritage to create a rich culture in a picturesque small town. Shop at Hemslöjd downtown for Swedish gifts and iconic dala horses, eat at the Blacksmith Coffee Shop (snuggled into an old blacksmith workshop), or search for the “Wild Dala” art sculptures as you wander along mainstreet. Lindsborg also has a thriving arts community and you can find compelling works at a variety of venues, including the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery and The Red Barn Studio.

Lindsborg, Kansas, United States

World's largest things.

Want to maximize your kitsch and see a whole collection of World’s Largest Things in one stop? Veer off I-70 into Lucas to stop by the Roadside Sideshow Expo which houses some of World’s Smallest Version of the World’s Largest Things. Founder Erika Nelson started making her own miniature versions when she couldn’t find a souvenir to take home from the World’s Largest Ball of Twine located in Cawker City. Since then, she’s amassed a collection of more than 200 miniatures. Lucas is known as the Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas, so you’ll find all sorts of other strange and wonderful things in this small community of just 400 people.

10 St. Fidelis Catholic Church

One of the Eight Wonders of Kansas, the Basilica of St. Fidelis in Victoria is a Romanesque-style church that was the largest west of the Mississippi River when it was built in 1911. Still an active basilica, the soaring bell towers stand out starkly against the flat Kansas plains. Inside, the high vaults, rose window, and spectacular altar may inspire awe in even the most jaded visitor.

11 Fick Fossil and History Museum

As you motor through the High Plains of Western Kansas, you might be surprised to learn this area was once part of the Western Interior Seaway which covered the middle of North America millions of years ago. Oakley residents Ernest and Vi Fick collected many fossils of ancient sea creatures and gave them to the City of Oakley in 1972, forming the Fick Museum. On display is the world's oldest known mosasaur fossil—a 15-foot-long Xiphactinus Audax—and some of Vi Fick’s quirky folk art, including an American flag made from shark’s teeth.

Giant van Gogh Painting

Goodland, KS

About 20 miles from the Colorado border, you’ll find one of the World’s Largest Van Gogh paintings. An 80-foot- tall easel displays a replica of Van Gogh’s Three Sunflowers in a Vase by artist Cameron Cross. The sunflower is Kansas’ state flower and a lovely way to welcome visitors traveling east as they enter the state, or wish them farewell as they exit.

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Unique Northern Kansas Road Trip Itinerary: Rocks, Ruins, Raids

Purchases made through some links on this page may provide The Detour Effect with commissions (at no extra cost to you). Thank you!

Let’s be honest, most people think of Kansas as a no-man’s land. If you find yourself road tripping across the state, you’re likely on your way to somewhere else. Travelers brace themselves for miles upon miles of nothing and commit to gunning it across vast swaths of flat, windy prairie as quickly as possible, eyes and mind fixed on the opposite border so they can make a grateful “we’re not in Kansas anymore” joke.

I’ve taken reluctant journeys like this across the Plains myself, but on my latest road trip from Colorado towards Cahokia in St. Louis and then down the Natchez Trace Parkway , I was determined to make more of an effort to experience what Kansas has to offer. Of course, it turns out I’d been doing the state a disservice all these years.

You’ve likely heard of Little Italy and Chinatown locations across the States, but did you know Kansas is home to “Little Sweden”? What about towering rock formations not unlike those you’d expect to find in Utah or Arizona? How about roadside oddities, including a strange found-art palace in the vein of Bishop Castle in Colorado or Nitt Witt Ridge in California ?

Buckle up and head for I-70 or US-40, because this time we’re looking past Kansas City and giving the rest of northern Kansas its due on this west-to-east itinerary. It turns out there are plenty of reasons to take a Kansas road trip – on purpose!

There are additional suggestions sprinkled throughout the post that are not given their own headings in the Table of Contents.

Click the icon in the top left corner of the map to choose additional map layers, such as bison viewing locations in Kansas, free campsites in Kansas, and more road trip stop suggestions in far north or southern Kansas.

Mount Sunflower

Peakbaggers who make an effort to summit the highest natural points in every state will be relieved to find that they can simply drive to Mount Sunflower in Kansas. It sits at 4,039ft, which may sound significant, but the surrounding flatlands look to be about 4,038.5ft in every direction. The state of Kansas gradually rises in elevation from east to west, and sitting at the border with Colorado, “Mount” Sunflower is as far west as you can get.

Mount Sunflower is on private land, but the owners allow visitors. From the Welcome to Kansas sign on US-40 E, you’ll drive on dirt roads for about 13 miles to reach it. In winter, these rutted roads may be slushy from snow; four wheel drive could be useful. You’ll know you’ve arrived at the monument by the tall metal sunflower sculpture surrounded by a fence. There’s also a signpost showing the mileage to faraway places like Stockholm, Sweden, and Bigfork, Montana, and closer destinations like Holcomb, Kansas. Open the mailbox onsite to find a guest logbook where you can write your name and the date, and trade books via the honor system at the “little library” on the picnic table. 

Wheat Jesus Billboard and Giant Van Gogh Easel

I’m sure the artist who painted the Wheat Jesus billboard in Colby, Kansas did so with sincerity, but it’s made its way onto Roadside America’s list of oddities because it’s endearingly arbitrary. Jesus is pictured emerging from a field of wheat, his expressionless head popping up from the crops as he clutches a single wheat frond in his hand. There is nothing written or advertised on the billboard, and Jesus looks like a ‘70s hippy, or Jared Leto. The intended takeaway is that Jesus says “eat wheat-based products,” I guess? ‘Merica!

If giant paintings are your thing, there is also a reproduction of one of Van Gogh’s sunflower paintings in a giant easel in Goodland, Kansas, part of Cameron Cross’s Big Easel Project . If you venture this way, you might check out the High Plains Museum in Goodland, too.

Monument Rocks and Other “Chalk Pyramids”

Together, the duo of Monument Rocks and the Castle Rock Badlands make up one entry on the 8 Wonders of Kansas list. I figure Little Jerusalem Badlands , a new Kansas State Park as of 2020, ought to be added to this category for a triple threat.

About 28 miles south of Oakley, Kansas, Monument Rocks flips our commonly held impression of the Great Plains on its head. Erupting out of the ground are towering and unusual arches, buttes, and spires formed of fossil-rich Niobrara Chalk. This location is a photographer’s dream; as you walk around the rock formations, new angles twist into view with every step. 

The chalk beds first became famous in the 19th century for fossils of giant swimming reptiles called mosasaurs and plesiosaurs, gliding pterosaurs, aquatic birds with teeth, 20-foot-long fish, clams up to six feet in diameter, and many types of smaller marine animals. University of Kansas Geological Survey

Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park is only 20 minutes from Monument Rocks, so it’s worth combining both in one trip. It has two designated hiking trails, or you can join a guided tour to get off-trail. The Keystone Gallery museum showcasing local Kansas fossil finds is near both Monument Rock and Little Jerusalem.

Castle Rock is about an hour east of Monument Rocks, or 30 minutes south of Quinter, Kansas. Like at Monument Rocks, exploration is always self-guided. Do not climb on or touch the fragile rock formations! It’s such a shame when something survives millions of years, only to be damaged by one careless tourist.

Monument Rocks and Castle Rock are both on private land, but visitation is free and allowed from sunrise to sunset. Little Jerusalem is a State Park. If you don’t have an annual Kansas State Parks pass , a day pass is $5.

Interested in seeing bison in Kansas ? Try Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Lake Scott State Park, or the Big Basin Prairie Preserve Wildlife Area (where nearly 300 Cheyenne camped during the Northern Cheyenne Exodus). Don’t forget to check out the legendary, possibly haunted St. Jacob’s Well in the Little Basin while you’re at it.

El Quartelejo Museum, Pueblo Ruins, and Battle of Punished Woman’s Fork

The El Quartelejo Museum and Jerry Thomas Gallery and Collection in Scott City, Kansas tells the story of local history through fossil discoveries and Native American, pioneer, and cavalry artifacts. This is a good informational primer before visiting the El Cuartelejo (or Quartelejo) Pueblo Ruins at Scott Lake State Park and the Battle of Punished Woman’s Fork National Historic Site just south of the park.

The reconstructed 1600s seven-room pueblo is the northernmost pueblo in the United States. A historical marker notes that “According to Spanish records, Indians from Taos and Picuris Pueblos, fleeing Spanish rule, joined their Apache allies at a place the Spanish called El Cuartelejo…Later Herbert and Eliza Steele owned this property and in 1898 invited scientists to investigate a low mound where they had found artifacts and burned corn.” While you’re in Scott Lake State Park, you can also visit the Steele Homestead Museum .

The Battle of Punished Woman’s Fork National Historic Site is where the last skirmish between Native Americans (the Northern Cheyenne) and the United States Army in the state of Kansas took place. Hundreds of Cheyenne, mostly women and children, had escaped the Oklahoma reservation and tried to flee back to their homelands. This push is referred to as the Northern Cheyenne Exodus. They were confronted here at Punished Woman’s Fork by soldiers following Colonel William H. Lewis, who was wounded in the battle and died en route to Fort Wallace (the Fort Wallace Museum is another Kansas road trip stop). 

The Cheyenne were able to slip away into Nebraska after the battle. Some were later captured and imprisoned, but most were able to join up with relatives in Montana. 

Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas

When I set out to visit the World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things in Lucas, Kansas (which is sadly only open April-October “most days”), I thought I was going out of my way to see one weird, random museum in the middle of nowhere. Then, on social media one person after another kept DMing me to ask if I had seen the other roadside oddities in Lucas. It turns out there are tons of random weird things in the same middle of nowhere! I wonder why Lucas became a folk art hotbed, often referred to as the Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas?

I actually drove past the Garden of Eden by chance and thought about pulling over when I saw the outdoor sculptures, but I was too confused and a bit creeped out. It’s a giant art project built in and around the artist Samuel Perry Dinsmoor’s early 20th century home, and without knowing about it in advance, I wasn’t sure if it was open for tours. It turns out the exterior sculptures are always open to viewing, and interior spaces, including the home and the mausoleum containing the artist’s on-display remains, can be viewed via $9 guided tours with different hours seasonally.

Bowl Plaza is a public restroom in Lucas that local artists elaborately decorated with mosaic patterns made of shells, beads, toys, hubcaps, and other found objects. The door to the restroom looks like a giant open toilet lid, and visitors have to walk across the “toilet bowl” to get inside. The paved walkway is the unspooled bit of a giant toilet paper roll. Check out Scott Jones’ pictures ; he’s the one that gave me the heads up about Bowl Plaza when all I knew about Lucas was the World’s Largest Things museum.

Other attractions in Lucas include the Grassroots Art Center , Miller’s Park , Florence Deeble Rock Garden , the World’s Largest Travel Plate , and Switchgrass Art Co-Op . 

Historic Wolf Hotel Underground Tunnels

The 1894 Historic Wolf Hotel in Ellinwood, Kansas is a unique bed & breakfast and events center that hosts murder mystery dinners and comedy shows, but the main draw is the underground prohibition era bar and tunnel tours. 

“Downstairs, which was part of the underground tunnel system that ran through Ellinwood, was the Drummer’s room and Joe’s Snack Counter. The downstairs changed many times over the years, becoming Weber’s Sample Room, the local library, a gym, and an underground bar and card room.” Historic Wolf Hotel and Events Center

Tours are $12 and must be reserved in advance. They do not run on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, or most Sundays. Unfortunately, I arrived in the area on a Tuesday and was leaving on a Wednesday, so I didn’t plan well – don’t make the same mistake!

Kansas Motorcycle Museum

The small Kansas Motorcycle Museum near Lindsborg is packed full of bikes from dozens of collectors. I thought it was more informative than other motorcycle museums I’ve visited. Did you know tire rubber is actually white, and they just dye it black so it won’t look so dirty, and because the carbon makes it heavier? How about that the big headlights on the front of vintage motorcycles and cars used to explode because the heat of the lamp combined with the type of metal used basically made it into a torch? That’s why old car garages were built so far from the house.

There is also the St. Francis Motorcycle Museum in the far northwest corner of Kansas, but it would be quite the detour off of the main route we’re taking for this itinerary. On my Google Map above, checkmark the “FAR north Kansas” or “Southern Kansas” layers for more road trip stop suggestions that are off-route.

Lindsborg aka “Little Sweden”

Lindsborg, Kansas was settled by Swedish immigrants in 1869 and their heritage is still celebrated there today. Some of the most prominent markers of Swedish influence in Lindsborg are the many wooden craft Dala horses that decorate the main shopping street and local porches. Tourists can purchase them as souvenirs and watch them being made at Hemslöjd Swedish Gifts. 

Lindsborg’s main street is lined with other Swedish gift shops like Anderson Butik Scandinavian, art galleries like Small World Gallery (where I found jewelry made out of Swedish coins from the 1630s), and restaurants like Happy Swede Restaurant, Öl Stuga, or Crown and Rye (where the menu features Swedish meatballs!). There are two highly-rated coffee shops, which I found impressive for such a small town – get your caffeine fix at White Peacock or Blacksmith Coffee Shop and Roastery. Blacksmith is located inside an actual restored blacksmith shop, where an antique wagon has been converted into an espresso bar and patrons can still see the original forge and anvil. The adorable Rosberg House Bed & Breakfast is just off main street, but there are a lot of hotels to choose from in Lindsborg .

My favorite sights in Lindsborg were the Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum and Coronado Heights Castle . 

The Heritage Museum has four separate attractions, including an artifact museum with information about Swedish immigrants in America, the restored old mill that highlights the importance of flour production for this pioneering community in the late 1800s and early 1900s, an 1870 homestead cabin, and “Heritage Park,” a collection of historic buildings including the 1904 World’s Fair Swedish Pavilion. A $10 general admission ticket gets you into all four.

While driving around Lindsborg I saw a Cantilever Barn similar to the one I’d seen in Cade’s Cove in the Smoky Mountains . This stood out to me because I remember learning that this architectural style came from German, Irish, and Swedish settlers.

In 1936, Coronado Heights “Castle” was built atop a 300 foot peak outside of Lindsborg after evidence of early Spanish exploration was found there, including chain mail from Spanish armor. It’s thought that Francisco Vasquez de Coronado looked out over the prairie from this elevated natural point. There is no fee to visit the peaceful picnic area or to go inside the castle to climb the steps up to the viewing platform.

If you can, try to time your visit to Lindsborg with Våffeldagen , their celebration of waffles! Lindsborg Våffeldagen is held every March. Lindsborg also hosts a Midsummer’s Festival in June, a Smoky Valley Classic Car Show in August, Svensk Hyllningsfest every other October (odd years only), and other events year-around. 

Rock City Park and Mushroom Rock State Park

Rock City Park in Minneapolis, Kansas features over 200 massive spherical boulders that oddly rest atop a grassy plain as if accidentally dropped there. They remind me of the “cracked eggs” at Bisti Badlands in New Mexico .

Visitors are allowed to climb and jump all over the rocks, unlike at Monument Rocks, Castle Rock, or Little Jerusalem. Entrance is $3/adult at the gift shop.

Mushroom Rock State Park is another similar, but smaller 5 acre park in Marquette, Kansas near Kanopolis Lake that also has interesting spherical Dakota formations. Entrance to Mushroom Park is free.

The Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas is an easy detour on the way to Topeka, so it’s a bit of a “why not?” stop. That said, unless you’re really a huge Wizard of Oz fan, you may not find it worth the $10 admission. A lot of the exhibits are about the success and marketing of the books and the film, looking at the cultural impact of the Wizard of Oz. There are first editions of books, vintage toys and posters, and costumes worn by some of the side characters on display, but there are not many artifacts or costumes related to Judy Garland or the other lead actors from the 1939 movie. I did enjoy a hand painted storyboard created by the MGM team and a prop weapon from the film that was loaded with flowers instead of bullets. 

While you’re in Wamego, don’t forget to walk down the Yellow Brick Road across the street from the Oz Museum to check out some murals and statues related to the movie.

The Lessman Farm and Truckhenge

“If you see a guy in a knit cap wandering around setting fires, that’s the artist.”

That was how Linda described her husband Ron Lessman when she gave me the rundown on what to expect while exploring the grounds of their home in Topeka, Kansas. I was sold on the site long before that, though. Upon entering their driveway, visitors are instructed by a stop sign to wait and honk in order to beckon the owner to come out and greet you. While I waited, two peacocks ambled across the driveway in front of me.

Linda appeared on a raised platform porch above my head and explained how the Lessmans stuck it to the man by turning their vintage trucks into art instead of getting rid of what the county considered to be junk. Over the years they’ve expanded their art park by adding a “boathenge” and other curiosities. The property also has a shooting range, a 30 acre fishing pond, and, based on the giant plywood signs with arrows pointing to “Hip-Hop” this way and “EDM” that way, has functioned as a festival ground.

You can either drive the path or park and walk; I opted to walk so I could better take in all the little details. Entrance to Truckhenge is free, but an ice cream carton hanging down from the porch on a string serves as a receptacle for donations.

If you haven’t gotten “strange and unusual” out of your system yet at Truckhenge, as you arrive in Lawrence keep an eye out for The Museum of Odd .

Watkins Community Museum

Thirty minutes east of Topeka is Lawrence, Kansas, best known as the massacre site of Quantrill’s Raid. On August 21, 1863 during the Civil War, a Confederate guerrilla group led by William Quantrill rode into Lawrence and killed over 150 unarmed men and boys while burning the town to the ground. This was the culmination of ongoing conflicts related to “Bleeding Kansas” or the “Border War” between free-staters in Kansas and pro-slavery Missourians.

My great-great-great grandfather was murdered in Quantrill’s Raid. His name is listed amongst the victims in this newspaper clipping from 1863. His widow wrote an eyewitness account of the raid for The Westport Historical Quarterly , Volume 1, Number 1 in 1965, which my family has a copy of. Read her story in the photos above. If her young children had not been saved, particularly little Eddie, I wouldn’t be here today.

The Watkins Community Museum in Lawrence, Kansas has a lot of information about Quantrill’s Raiders and the Civil War, as well as the Territorial days and the struggle for equality during Reconstruction and the Civil Rights movement. Admission is free and the museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

If you continue just over the state border into Missouri, you can visit the Jesse James Birthplace Museum as well as Jesse James’ gravesite in Kearney, MO. It’s possible the notorious outlaw’s brother and fellow James-Younger gang member Frank James was one of Quantrill’s guerillas on the day of the Lawrence Massacre.

Bonus: Southern Kansas and Northern Oklahoma

The big well museum.

If you find yourself routing southward at any point during your Kansas road trip, you probably have your heart set on visiting Dodge City in honor of Gunsmoke and Wyatt Earp. If that’s the case, be sure to check out The Big Well Museum in Greensburg, Kansas too! It’s such a cool stop that I can’t help but throw in the suggestion, despite it not quite fitting with the rest of the itinerary geographically.

Other road trip stops in Southern Kansas, such as the Dalton Gang bank robbery site, are listed on the Google map above .

If you need more Kansas road trip ideas, research stops along the Western Vistas Historic Byway, Smoky Hill Trail, Butterfield Overland Trail, Post Rock Scenic Byway, Land and Sky Scenic Byway, and Prairie Trail Scenic Byway.

Upended Truck

About an hour south of Wichita, Kansas and just over the state border in Tonkawa, Oklahoma is one of my favorite roadside attractions in the country, the Upended Truck . This 18-wheeler was somehow turned vertically upwards to stand on its nose as an advertisement for Wilkins Oklahoma Truck Supply. There’s not much to do here besides look at it, but for some reason this spot really captures my heart and imagination. Maybe it’s my tenuous grasp on the concept of gravity?

Across the street is a must-stop:  Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies . I remember it fondly because many years ago when I was sporting a full vagabond look, I sat in the car for a second before I went in. When I finally stepped inside the cashiers told me the prior customer had paid for my pie! They said they noticed my license plate and that I looked like a traveler (translation: I looked dirty and homeless). The pie was great and then as I went to leave, the cashier offered me $20. I tried to politely refuse but she insisted. Southern hospitality isn’t dead, but maybe they thought my future was.

If you’re headed into Tulsa from here (and thus through Stillwater – do you think the fake band from Almost Famous is named after this town?), my favorite thing to do in Tulsa is visit The Gathering Place and its Cabinet of Wonder .

Considering my ancestors are from Kansas, I really should have given it a fair shake from the outset. A northern Kansas road trip is full of strange and unusual roadside attractions, gorgeous geological wonders, important Native American history, pristine wildlife preservation areas, and countless cultural heritage sites.

Even the desolate miles of seemingly untouched prairie begin to grow on you the longer you spend in Kansas. I couldn’t help but pull over to photograph lonely ruins, or admire distant windmills illuminated by the sunset. Sometimes the things we think we’ll dislike about a place end up making the biggest impression.

If you’re headed into Missouri from here, I’ve written about Mark Twain’s hometown of Hannibal, MO and the Native American earth mound city of Cahokia near St. Louis. If you’re headed south, check out my road trip itinerary for the Natchez Trace Parkway in Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. If you completed my Kansas itinerary backwards and ended up Colorado, you might enjoy my guides to Colorado Springs , Twin Lakes , or Leadville .

Found Object Palaces: A Uniquely American Roadside Oddity

Natchez trace parkway highlights: 4-day road trip itinerary, archaeology travel: ancient mound city of cahokia near st. louis, historic sites in hannibal, missouri: mark twain’s hometown, unique things to do near colorado springs, northern new mexico road trip: bisti badlands, ancestral ruins, subscribe to newsletter.

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20 Road Trip Stops In Southeastern Kansas

A Civil War battlefield. Museums featuring inspiring stories of strong women. Ginormous attractions. Route 66 kitsch. Yes, I’ve found a region in Kansas that has a good mix of road trip stops to keep a family entertained for a few days. Check out this quirky and insightful road trip through Southeastern Kansas and discover some of the best stops along the way.

Disclosure: A portion of this trip was hosted by the Southeast Kansas Tourism Region and Chanute Chamber of Commerce . Some experiences I covered myself. This post may contain affiliate links. All thoughts, opinions and typos are my own.

Why explore Southeastern Kansas?

My husband can attest to this: I pick seemingly random places for trips. But, they’re not random in my mind. I like venturing off to places no one seems to talk about. I like finding something that gets me inspired and excited to tell you all about it. It’s like a treasure hunt, looking for these hidden travel gems.

Southeastern Kansas was one such area of Kansas that remained a bit of a mystery to me. I’ve been to some of the state’s biggest cities, and I’ve ventured into some of the smaller towns in central Kansas . There were things to love in all those places. But the gems? I found those in the smaller towns.

So, I planned a three-day road trip through Southeastern Kansas and here’s what we encountered.

Quirky and historic attractions 

To explain this section simply: I love goofy photos so anything deemed “quirky” or “weird” is going to be a must-stop for me. And more seriously, I like to learn a little something while traveling. Therefore, I plan stops to get a good mix of fun and education (and sometimes both). 

Big Brutus in West Mineral, Kansas

Big Brutus , the world’s largest electric shovel, is one of those things that sounds underwhelming because your brain can’t compute just how big it is. You just have to see if for yourself, and only then do you appreciate how ridiculously cool it is, and you’re glad you stopped.

I knew very little (OK, actually I knew nothing) about Kansas’s mining history before the visit. Thanks to the small museum and intro video, as well as the YouTube interviews of individuals who worked on Big Brutus that you can access through QR codes throughout Big Brutus, I feel a bit more knowledgeable and appreciate what the people in this region grew up with.

Highlight : Climbing up Big Brutus. You don’t actually go to the very tip top (thank god), but you can climb up to the operator’s nest, and that’s high enough. 

Admission : Yes

Hours : Open year-round, but I can only imagine how crazy hot it gets inside Brutus in the summer.

Erie Dinosaur Park in Erie, Kansas

Kansas has a long history of self-taught artists creating magnificent (and sometimes weird) art. I love it. The Erie Dinosaur Park is a collection of dinosaurs made out of scrap metal and farm implements by one man, a retired aerospace engineer. They lived on his property for years before they were gifted to the town of Erie and the park was born. 

Highlight : Like all art, it’s an individual call. I loved Sherman, the red and green ankylosaurus that has a lot of personality (and lichen). I think others might like the gray dinosaur that you’re permitted to climb (everything else is strictly off-limits). Or maybe the giant brachiosaurus, which interestingly enough, was the very first dinosaur created by the artist as well as the largest.

Admission : FREE (and kids receive a coloring book and little dinosaur keepsake)

Hours : Open two days a month from April to September, the second Saturday and third Sunday. Otherwise, the dinosaurs are kept behind a locked fence. There is a sign outside the park with a phone number, though, and you can call it and a volunteer may be able to come meet you and let you in.

Fort Scott National Historic Site & Fort Scott Downtown Historic District in Fort Scott, Kansas

I have a feeling that most people first seek out Fort Scott National Historic Site and then are completely surprised by the picturesque Downtown Historic District nearby. I’d read that the downtown area was nice, but “nice” does not do it justice. Lovingly restored buildings in late Victorian, Italianate, Queen Anne and Romanesque architecture line brick streets.

It puts Omaha’s beautiful Old Market to shame.

When I visited Fort Scott, it was March and so not the best time to visit the Fort Scott National Historic Site. In the summer, there are re-enactments and all sorts of cool things going on. Visit any other time, and you can still walk the grounds. You just don’t get that extra bit of interaction.

Highlight : My whole family was drawn to the 1863 Block House and the cannon next to it. 

Admission : FREE

Hours : Varies

Humboldt Town Square in Humboldt, Kansas

Humboldt is a town you’ll want to remember and visit once now and once in a year or two because this place is growing and getting cooler by the minute. There’s a reason the New York Times named it a travel destination in 2022.

Our road trip was not well-timed for visiting the town, though. We passed through on a Monday when nearly everything was closed. We peeked into the windows of other shops and businesses like pathetic street urchins. A delightful-looking, but definitely closed for the day, candy shop definitely was taunting us. We did get a drink from the Octagon City Coffee Co. and shopped the gift shop connected to it (definitely go see it — fun and quirky gifts for you and your loved ones). 

Highlight : Neosho Valley Woodworks stands out, even though we only got to peek inside the windows to gawk at the operation. It’s a fully-functional 1880s workshop where old-school cabinets and furniture is being crafted! I wish we could’ve gone inside.

Hours : Check individual store hours

Lowell Milken Center Museum for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas

Lowell Milken Center Museum for Unsung Heroes was born from a high school project by girls from the nearby town of Uniontown. They uncovered the story of Irene Sendler, a Polish woman who saved hundreds (some save 2,500) Jewish children during WWII. It’s an incredible and moving story that became a play, book and movie, and now, the cornerstone exhibit of this museum. Megan, one of the four girls, is now the program director at the museum, and I hope you too are lucky enough to meet her and hear her story first-hand. 

The museum highlights individuals who often are overlooked in history books, the everyday people who’ve done remarkably heroic things. You can’t help but be inspired when you visit. Omaha friends, you’ll want to read the story of Andrew Jackson Higgins, who was born in Omaha in 1886. And it’s not just people highlighted in the museum, a dog named Stubby and a plucky pigeon are also included. 

Highlight : The museum displays some items connected with Sendler, including one of the jars she had used to store and hide all the names and identifying information about all the kids saved. She buried the jars by a tree in Warsaw, and dug them back up after the war to start reuniting children with their families. The tree still stands in Warsaw.

Hours : Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum in Chanute, Kansas

When the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum was first described to me, Osa had been called a badass and that was enough to make me want to visit and learn more. The Kansas natives were celebrities of their time, essentially, for traveling the world as pioneers of travel film and travel photography in the early 1900s. The museum tells their story, from their modest start (Osa is a Chanute native) and onto their adventures around the globe and their encounters with royalty and celebrities and wild animals that had never really been captured on film until then.

It’s hard not to get swept up in the couple’s adventurous spirit when walking through the two-story museum, and it’s especially difficult not to become an Osa fan girl. She was a particular dynamo, an utterly charming fashionista and talented markswoman. 

Highlight : Housed in an old Santa Fe train station, the museum has a surprisingly large natural history collection that highlights the people and cultures the Johnsons encountered on their travels. For the size of Chanute, it’s an incredible museum.

Admission : Adults, $6; Seniors & Students ages 13-College, $4; Kids ages 6-12, $3; and Children under 6, FREE with an adult

Hours : Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Mine Creek Battlefield State Historic Site in Pleasanton, Kansas

The largest Civil War battle in Kansas as well as one of the largest calvary battles in the Civil War, Mine Creek is significant in U.S. history. This prairie battlefield is where a vastly outnumbered Union Army defeated the Confederates, helping defeat the 1864 Confederate invasion of Missouri and Kansas. There are trails at the site, as well as a visitor’s center.

Highlight : I think the highlight is the significance of the place. It’s the only major Civil War battlefield in Kansas. Pictures don’t really capture the heaviness of the place, though.

Admission : Adults, $6; Seniors 65+, active military, college students with ID, $5; Children ages 5-17, $3

Hours : Exterior is open year-round from dusk to dawn. Visitor center is open from mid-April through mid-October from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Wednesday through Saturday

Memorable food and drinks

Hungry on the road? Of course you are. Here’s where we stopped for meals and snacks and coffee and a beer.

Common Ground Coffee Co. in Fort Scott, Kansas

When we were in Fort Scott, we had a very short time to take in a lot of sights…which meant a very limited amount of time for a meal, too. Common Ground Coffee Co. was recommended to us for their desserts (peanut butter pie, per Megan from the Lowell Center), but as it turned out, the coffee shop had tasty sandwiches for lunch, too. The cafe had exposed brick walls, white chandeliers and a modern cozy feel to it. The chai was great, too.

Drop the H Brewing Co. in Pittsburg, Kansas

Don’t be surprised if the owner of Drop the H Brewing Co. starts chatting with you. He does that with anyone he doesn’t recognize, and it’s a great welcome to the craft brewery. It’s a fairly family-friendly place, serving up delicious wood-fired pizza (try the Crazy Cow with house-made garlic sauce, steak, mushrooms, bacon, red onion, and mozzarella topped with arugula and seasoned garlic drizzle) along with their beers. We were traveling with kids, and did not feel out of place there; they were, in fact, invited to join us on the brewery tour.

Do not leave without trying the lone dessert in the brewery, the cinnamon sticks. Thank me later. Also, if you want a beer recommendation, try the Dunkel.

El Rincon Azteca in Chanute, Kansas

I cannot believe it has taken me this long to try barría, because the birría quesadilla I had at El Rincón Azteca was pound-the-table good. Birría is essentially a stewed meat from the Jalisco region of Mexico, and perhaps you’ll recognize it as the Mexican entree that usually has some sort of broth to dip your food in. And since we were there with kids, the fried ice cream sundae was in order for dessert.

Fillmore Coffee House in Iola, Kansas

Small town coffee shops are starting to be my favorite things about traveling. Fillmore Coffee House is a unique coffee shop in Iola that’s brimming with green plants and a good vibe. The coffee’s good, yes, but then there are salads and bagels with their homemade schmears and pastries. It’s all good. And just try not to buy a plant or gardening themed item while you’re there. I dare you.

The Grain Bin in Chanute, Kansas

We went where the locals go for breakfast during our short stay in Chanute. The Grain Bin is everything you’d want in a small town diner: Friendly service and good food served up fast. It seems a little silly just to point out the sausage links, but they were so good, I was a little sad when I had eaten them all before I’d finished my pancakes.

Octagon City Coffee Shop in Humboldt, Kansas

Thank goodness Octagon City was open while we were in Humboldt. This is a cool spot to relax in, but alas, we were on a road trip itinerary that didn’t allow for much dawdling. Well, I mean, there was enough time to shop around the store connected to the coffee shop, sure, but we didn’t get to kick back and sip our coffee and kombucha (I even annoyed myself with that last sentence). 

While you’re in the coffee shop, be sure to read up the story on the cafe’s wall telling the history of the Octagon City. It just proves truth is stranger than fiction and you just can’t make up this Kansas history lesson.

Kansas Route 66 stops

The historic Route 66 is the stuff of legends, and for the most part, I’ve never once purposely sought out a drive on it. I know! But, I couldn’t resist the call of the Mother Road this time. Kansas is known for having the smallest section of Route 66 — all of 13 miles — so I figured this was an attainable distance to do with kids. Here’s where we stopped:

Fans of Route 66, don’t hate on me. We did not dine at any of the kitschy diners or soda fountains. For one thing, they were either closed or looked closed (curse you off-season travel!). Bricks & Brews is Baxter Springs was open, though. They serve up wood-fire pizza and salads, and for lunch, they had a pizza buffet (perfect for hungry teenagers). It has a modern pub vibe to it, and the women’s restroom is pretty cool and I kick myself for not having my camera on me to take a picture. Anyway, it’s not your traditional old-school Route 66 place, but it’s on the route and I liked it.

Cars on the Route embraces the city of Galena’s connection to the Pixar movie, “Cars.” The inspiration for Mater, the lovable tow truck voiced by Larry the Cable Guy, was discovered on the side of the road on Route 66 when producers were on a scouting mission. You’ll find the likes of Tow Mater, along with other “Cars” characters, both at Cars on the Route and a little farther down Route 66.

Renee Charles, President of the Kansas Historic Route 66 Association and co-owner of Cars on the Route, met us in Galena to tell us a bit of history about how Cars on the Route came to be. It’s in the middle of renovations, and the old filling station isn’t quite ready for its close-up…but the cars out front are. It’s already worth a stop now, but just wait for what’s next.

Not far from Cars on the Route is Gearhead Curios in another retro gas station-turned shop and photo opp. Here, you’ll find Doc from “Cars,” as well as a cute, updated Big Boy that now looks like a Texaco spokesman with a stack of tires instead of a burger. You’ll also meet Aaron who owns the place, and he’s a character himself. Stop for a bit to shoot the breeze with him and buy a Route 66 soda while there.

While most of our stops on Route 66 were shiny, updated versions of what the highway is known for, Nelson’s Old Riverton Store in Riverton seems to have frozen in time. The store was the place to stop for deli sandwiches, groceries and odds & ends, and it still is. It’s packed to the gills with items. There is a second room to the store that has Route 66 memorabilia, though, so if you are looking for that souvenir, you’ll find plenty of options there.

Curse my luck. The Route 66 Visitors Center in Baxter Springs was not open when we stopped there, but that didn’t stop me from taking photos in front of it. The visitors center is in an old filling station (because of course it is), and the old-fashioned pumps remain in front. 

Incidentally, I may have overdone it with iconic stops on Route 66. My teen loudly questioned why we were stopping at so many gas stations. He had a point. Maybe one old-fashioned pump would be enough.

The road trip route we drove

Want to recreate this trip? Want to pick a stop or too? Here’s the route we drove through Kansas.

Day 1 : Iola, Humboldt, Chanute

Day 2 : Erie, West Mineral, Baxter Springs, Riverton, Galena, Pittsburg

Day 3 : Fort Scott, Pleasanton 

Day 1: Iola, Humboldt, Chanute

In Iola, we stopped at Fillmore Coffee House for lunch, and then walked around the town square. Fun fact: Iola’s town square is the largest town square in the country. It’s true.

In Humboldt, we stopped at Octagon City Coffee Shop, the Go Get ‘E Tigers shop, and the boutique, Jae & Co. Things I wished we could’ve visited: Bijou Confectionary, the cute kids shop Wild Poppy, and Honeybee Bruncherie.

In Chanute, we toured Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum with the executive director and had meals at El Rincon Azteca and The Grain Bin. We stayed overnight at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, where my kids splashed around in their heated pool.

Fun fac t: Chanute is the center of the world, according to Google Earth. 

Day 2: Erie, West Mineral, Baxter Springs, Riverton, Galena, Pittsburg

In Erie, we visited Erie Dinosaur Park. It was off-season for the park, but we did arrange a tour of the park ahead of time. Otherwise, the dinosaurs are behind a fenced-in area when it’s not open.

In Baxter Springs, we drove along Route 66 in our super cool Honda while blaring Chuck Berry. We ate lunch at Bricks & Brews and stopped for a photo in front of the Route 66 Visitors Center.

In Riverton, we browsed the crowded shelves of Nelson’s Old Riverton Store. There is a small eating space if you decide to get a sandwich with some of their famed cold cuts.

In Galena, we took a ton of photos at Gearhead Curios, Cars on the Route, and the city park that had an old-timey jail. We also bought sodas and a T-shirt at Gearhead Curios. If you’re looking for the cool American flag made out of license plates, it’s on the side of Gearhead Curios. Aaron will likely include himself in a selfie. Go with it.

In Pittsburg, we had dinner and a beer flight at Drop the H Brewing Co., and we also toured the brewery with the owner. We stayed overnight at the Hampton Inn & Suites, which is connected to the Kansas Crossing Casino. No we didn’t throw any money down, but we did swim at the pool.

Day 3: Fort Scott, Pleasanton 

In Fort Scott, we visited Lowell Milken Center Museum for Unsung Heroes, and briefly toured the grounds of Fort Scott National Historic Site. We also strolled along the Historic Downtown District and got lunch at Common Grounds Coffee. 

In Pleasanton (or rather in a field outside of Pleasanton), we made a quick visit to the Mine Creek Battlefield State Historic Site. It was sprinkling and the visitors center was closed so it was a very brief stop.

Where to stay in southeastern Kansas

We stayed at two family-friendly hotels during our road trip. They both had pools, complimentary breakfast, and coffee in the lobby.  

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Chanute on Day 1. The only drawback I can think of this hotel was that it had an unusual pool hours. My daughter loves getting up early to swim when we’re on road trips and we had to leave the hotel long before the pool would open. Minor quibble, really. The hotel is highly rated on Booking.com.

On our second night, we stayed at Hampton Inn & Suites in Pittsburg . I loved the space of the suites, and the room also had a kitchen. As mentioned before, it’s connected to a casino.

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Wednesday 22nd of March 2023

Kind of surprised there was no mention of all the fried chicken restaurants around Pittsburg. It's one of the things they're known for. Gebhardt's (in Mulberry) is my wife's favorite, although not as famous as Chicken Mary's or Chicken Annie's.

Thursday 23rd of March 2023

I 100% don't blame you for being surprised. I tried my hardest to fit at least one of the famed restaurants into the itinerary, but the best day for a visit to work was Monday and most near our route weren't open.

Arnold Swink

Tuesday 21st of March 2023

I enjoyed your se Kansas story. I grew up in Uniontown and Bronson. You mention Unionville (Uniontown) in the Unsung Heroes portion at the museum at Ft. Scott. I found things I didn't know about so a road trip is looming.

Thanks for the catch -- I've edited the correct town name. :) I'm glad you enjoyed the story and I hope you hit the road soon to find some nearby hidden gems!

Take This Road Trip Through Kansas’s Most Picturesque Small Towns For An Unforgettable Experience

Annie is a freelance writer, content editor, and marketing whiz with a background in broadcasting and a passion for chicken nachos.

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We have said it before and we feel confident enough to say it again: Kansas has by far the most picturesque small towns (with a population of less than 5,000) in the entire country! In order to take in as many of these places as possible, we have researched and mapped out a memorable road trip through a few of Kansas’s most beautiful small towns! (Link to original map can be found here .)

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Not ready for the road trip fun to end? We dare you to try the Ultimate Terrifying Kansas Road Trip !

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15 Awesome Road Trip Stops From Kansas City to Branson

A re you planning a road trip from Kansas City to Branson and wondering how to make the journey as memorable as the destination? Look no further! The drive from KCMO to Branson is filled with plenty of quirky roadside attractions and must-visit stops that will make your trip unforgettable.

This scenic drive is filled with plenty of unique points of interest, including wineries, cheese shops, historic sites, hidden gems and other fascinating stops that are sure to make your Missouri journey just as exciting as your destination.

This is one of many Missouri road trips we have on the site. If you are into wild west history you will also love our Jesse James road trip and if you love presidential history we also have a Harry Truman road trip !

My favorite road trip route from Kansas City to Branson. The 210 mile route for this trip from Kansas City to Branson starts on the I-70 and then to the I-49, MO-7, MO-13 and to US-65.

• Travel time without stops: About 3 hours and 15 minutes
• Driving distance without stops: 210 Miles

Some of the towns you'll pass through on your way to Branson include Grandview, Peculiar, Clinton, Oseola, Springfield and Ozark.

About 3/4 of the drive is on smaller highways that take you through rural Missouri, farmland, small towns and into the Ozarks.

Best stops From Kansas City to Branson

The below roadside attractions and must-visit stops are in order from Kansas City to Branson.

Don't forget to check days and times before planning your visit to any of the below locations to ensure that your desired attractions and stops are open and available during your trip.

1. The Truman Family Farm in Grandview

The Truman Farm Home is a Missouri National Historic Site and run by the National Park Service.

The Harry S Truman National Historic Site is a must-visit destination for history buffs and presidential enthusiasts alike. This site encompasses the Truman Farm home, where President Truman spent 11 years of his early life. Originally a sprawling 600-acre farm, today, the Truman Farm home and the surrounding 10 acres have been carefully preserved to honor Truman's legacy.

Visitors to the site can step back in time and experience what life was like on the farm in the early 20th century. The farmhouse, where Truman lived with his family, had no electricity or indoor plumbing, and the family worked long, grueling days from 5 am until well after dusk. Truman left the farm to serve in the National Guard during World War I, returning only after the war ended to marry his beloved Bess Wallace.

The grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset. There are free ranger-led tours on Fridays and Saturdays from May 5, 2023-October 21,2023.

Address: 12301 Blue Ridge Blvd, Grandview, MO 64030

2. The Peculiar Winery

Photo Credit: Peculiar Winery

If you're looking for a unique and charming winery experience, look no further than the Peculiar Winery. Tucked away off the highway in Peculiar, Missouri (yes, that's its real name!), this unassuming building in the rural countryside might surprise you when you step inside.

The winery boasts high vaulted ceilings and rustic decor that transports you back in time. Antique accents and a cozy stone fireplace make it the perfect spot to relax with a glass of wine or try one of their famous wine slushes. The inside is cozy and inviting, but the winery also offers a patio space outside where you can enjoy your drinks and even bring your own chairs to relax on the lawn.

If it works into your schedule, The Peculiar Winery also offers live music and food trucks on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Hours: Wednesday and Thursday 12pm-7pm, Friday and Saturday 12pm-8:30pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm. Closed Monday & Tuesday.

Address: 20709 Harper Rd, Peculiar, MO 64078

3. Red Fox Winery & Vineyards in Urich

Photo Credit: Red Fox Winery & Vineyards

A pit stop at Red Fox Winery is perfect if you are in the mood for lunch and a wine tasting. Nestled in the picturesque hills of Urich, Missouri, this winery offers not only excellent wines from their own vineyards, but also delectable dishes inspired by their expert chefs.

Start your meal off right with their mouthwatering spanakopita appetizer, then move on to their delectable entrees like juicy chicken skewers or savory gyros. And of course, don't forget to indulge in a glass (or bottle!) of their signature blackberry wine, perfect for those with a sweet tooth.

If you have room for dessert, their baklava is a must-try, with layers of flaky pastry, chopped nuts, and sweet syrup.

Hours: Friday and Saturday 12pm - 9pm, Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Address: 1422 NW 800 Rd, Urich, MO 64788

4. The Katy Trail in Clinton

If you're looking for a great place to stretch your legs, check out Katy Trail State Park in Clinton. This sprawling 240-mile trail runs all the way to Machens, Missouri, and is the largest rails-to-trails project in the United States.

You can walk a portion of the trail, or simply stop by to admire this historic and popular Missouri attraction.

Address: 799-601 E Sedalia Ave, Clinton, MO 64735

5. Truman Lake in Deepwater/Warsaw

As you drive south on Hwy 52 from Clinton, you'll come to Truman Lake. The bridge across the lake is quite a beautiful site. The lake spans both sides of highway with a lot of standing timber. Cooper Creek Public Use Area is a good place to exit and get a better view of the lake.

If you packed a picnic lunch, this is a great exit (weather permitting) for a pit stop with some beautiful lake views. This area is a popular spot for birding and home to hundreds of species. You are very likely to see some combination of eagles, kittiwakes, goshawk, kestrel, woodpeckers, swallows, hummingbirds, egrets, cardinals, orioles, robins, owls, martins and yellowthroats.

The rest stop open for public use from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.

Address: Deepwater, MO 64740

6. Osceola Cheese Co

Looking for a tasty and unique pit stop on your road trip from Kansas City to Branson? Look no further than Osceola Cheese Co! Established in 1944, this charming little cheese shop is located right off Highway 13 and is the perfect place to take a break and sample some delicious cheese.

With a selection of 275 types of cheese from the Midwest, you can try as many as you like before purchasing your favorites to take with you. They also offer a variety of summer sausages, jerky, and Missouri wines.

Address: 3700 NE Highway 13, Osceola, MO 64776-6218

7. Amish Trading Post in Osceola

Looking for a unique and authentic shopping experience during your road trip from Kansas City to Branson? Look no further than the Amish Trading Post in Osceola, Missouri. This family-owned store is full of handmade Amish merchandise, from furniture and gardening tools to natural remedies and homemade pies. You'll also find local honey, Amish rugs and handmade baskets.

But the real standout is the small restaurant counter that serves up delicious burgers and home-cut fries as well as biscuits and gravy, chili and more. And don't pass up their thick and creamy milkshakes made from real ice cream.

Address: 3649 MO-13, Osceola, MO 64776

8. Boone's BBQ Barn in Bolivar

Boone's BBQ Barn is a must-stop destination for anyone craving authentic, slow-smoked barbecue on their way from Kansas City to Branson. The family-owned joint boasts an old country store atmosphere and serves up mouthwatering burnt ends brisket and pulled pork, along with a variety of homemade sides and cold beer.

It's always a good sign when you see lot's of locals in a restaurant and this seems to be a local favorite for sure!

Address: 5260 S Scenic Ave, Bolivar, MO 65613

9. Hummingbird Berry Farm in Brighton

Photo Credit: Hummingbird Berry Farm

If you're traveling to Branson from Kansas City in June or July, make sure to stop by and grab some freshly picked blackberries or try your hand at picking them yourself.

This family-owned farm has three varieties of thornless blackberry plants trellised on an area of 2.5 acres. In addition to berry picking, visitors can enjoy watching hummingbirds visiting the feeders located throughout the farm. It's the perfect pitstop for a taste of summer and a chance to connect with nature.

Address: 5581 S 140th Rd, Brighton, MO 65617

10. Fantastic Caverns in Springfield

Missouri is known as the Cave State, and a must-visit attraction on this route is Fantastic Caverns. This unique cave is one of the 13 caves in Missouri that offer tours, but it's the only one in North America where visitors can ride through the caverns in a Jeep-drawn tram.

The hour-long tour takes visitors through the fascinating history of the caverns, from how they were discovered and originally explored to how the stunning stalactites and stalagmites continue to grow and change over time. You'll also learn about the different colors and shapes of the formations, which vary depending on the minerals present.

In addition to the geological wonders, you'll hear about the cave's history during the Civil War and Prohibition era, and how it was once a popular gambling and dance hall. Fantastic Caverns offers a unique and educational experience that blends history, science, and natural beauty.

Open daily from 8am-8pm.

Address: 4872 N Farm Rd 125, Springfield, MO 65803

11. Route 66 in Springfield

If you're a fan of Route 66, a stop in Springfield is a must. This town is known as the birthplace of the famous highway, and there are plenty of spots to explore. Make sure to visit the Route 66 Visitors Center to learn about the history of the road and pick up some souvenirs.

The Route 66 Car Museum is also worth a visit, with a collection of classic cars from the heyday of the highway. Don't miss the colorful Route 66 mural at 701 West College Street or the quirky hubcap sculpture further down the road. And be sure to snap a photo at the original location of the Red's Giant Hamburg plaque at the Route 66 Roadside Park.

12. Lambert's Cafe in Ozark

Lambert's Café is a must-visit for any foodie passing through Ozark, Missouri. This iconic restaurant has been serving up authentic Americana dishes since 1942. Once you step inside, you'll be greeted with quirky decor and an energetic atmosphere.

And of course, there's the famous "throwed rolls" - fresh, warm rolls are tossed across the dining room for customers to catch. But it's not just the rolls that make Lambert's special. The pass-around dishes, including fried okra, macaroni and tomatoes, and black-eyed peas, are all included in every meal and served family-style. You won't leave hungry, and you'll have a unique dining experience you won't forget.

Address: 1800 W State Hwy J, Ozark, MO 65721

13. Smallin Civil War Cave in Ozark

Smallin Cave is a historically significant cave in the Ozarks, and is actually the first documented cave in the region. With its entrance towering at 55-feet tall and 100-feet wide, Smallin Cave is an impressive sight to behold.

The cave is rich in Ozark history, and offers a range of tours for visitors, including wheelchair-accessible tours that feature great storytelling. During the tour, visitors will learn about the local Osage Tribe and the Civil War regiment associated with the cave. Additionally, Smallin Cave is listed on the national register as a historic district, further highlighting its importance to the area.

One-hour guided tours travel one-half mile. Civil War Lantern Tours are offered in the fall.

Address: 3575 N Smallin Rd, Ozark, MO 65721

14. J and J Cheese Factory in Highlandville

Photo Credit: J and J Cheese Factory

Love cheese? A stop at J and J Cheese Factory (just 17 miles from Branson) is a great place to stop and stock up! They are known for their selection of cheese from Wisconsin. And if you're a fan of cheese curds, the fresh squeaky curds shipped weekly are a must-try.

They also offer other items like snacks, local honey, jams and jellies, pickled items and candy. And if you are so inclined, you can sample Sugarlands Moonshine during your visit.

Address: 330 Burk Rd, Highlandville, MO 65669

15. National Tiger Sanctuary in Saddlebrooke

Photo Credit: National Tiger Sanctuary

The National Tiger Sanctuary is a nonprofit organization, dedicated to providing a safe and healthy sanctuary for tigers, lions, and other animals.

They offer a variety of different types of tours, including the awareness tour, feeding tour, riding safari tour, and behind the scenes tour, which allow visitors to learn more about the animals and their individual stories.

It's important to note that these animals are rescues, which makes supporting the sanctuary even more meaningful. It's always valuable to gain knowledge about animals and their environments, and the National Tiger Sanctuary is a great opportunity to do so.

Open Wednesday-Monday 8:45am- 5pm. Closed Tuesday.

Address: 518 State Hwy BB, Saddlebrooke, MO 65630

Where to Stay When you Arrive in Branson

If you're looking for a comfortable place to stay in the heart of Branson and prefer the amenities of a hotel, the Thousand Hills Resort is a great option. This resort features a hotel with an indoor swimming pool and restaurant.

Check Thousand Hills Resort reviews on TripAdvisor and find the best rates on Hotels.com or Booking.com .

Thousand Hills also has luxury cabins that are just a few blocks away from the main strip in Branson. The 2- or 3-bedroom Cabins at Grand Mountain offer a home-away-from-home experience with a cozy cabin feel, while still providing easy access to all the attractions in town.

Check Cabins at Grand Mountain reviews on TripAdvisor and find the best rates on Hotels.com or Booking.com as well as VRBO .