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Kansas: to the stars.

In Kansas, we love fast cars and slow-cooked brisket. We touch the sky but stay grounded in the things that matter most. We live out loud and embrace the solace of silence. We conquer rocks and celebrate on the rocks. We ride like the wind and live for the water.

The Kansas experience is a salute to the real.

To the rowdy. to the wide-eyed wanderers. to the dreamers..

Planning your vacation to Kansas?

Find information about Kansas cities, things to do, restaurants, places to stay, events and travel tools.

Tourism is an Economic Development Driver

Every new resident is a visitor first and each new business investment begins with a trip. Tourism is the welcoming committee for capital investment. The marketing efforts of Kansas Tourism highlight the lifestyle and amenities of the state.

Tourism in Kansas

$33.7 Million

Total Visitors

$11.2 Billion

Total Economic Impact

Direct Visitor Spending

$700 Million

Tax Revenues for State and Local Governments

Total Jobs Supported

$3.1 Billion

Total Generated Labor Income

Kansas Tourism Team

Bridgette Jobe, Director

785-250-8253

[email protected]

Kelli Orender, Industry Relations Manager

785-213-7420

Jordan Roemerman, Tourism Marketing Assistant

785-338-6066

Colby Sharples-Terry, PR & Communications Manager

785-230-4888

Andrea Etzel, Publications Manager

785-213-0126

Jaimee Salalac, Administrative Specialist

(785) 296-8478

Mona Carver, Travel Information Centers Manager

(785) 899-6695

Hunter Feyerherm, Website and Database Manager

785-230-9952

Carrie Doud, Fiscal and Grant Manager

(785) 249-0182

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Road trip: Your guide to summer adventures across central Kansas

In part one of our road trip series, we explore a place that combines beautiful landscapes, folk art and a whole lot of personality: central Kansas.

This story was first published in KCUR's Creative Adventure newsletter. You can sign up to receive stories like this in your inbox every Tuesday.

While it may not be first in mind when you think of a road trip destination, the key to a good Kansas adventure is to get off the beaten track — and by track, we mean Interstate 70. The straight shot west makes the whole state seem like an endless track of asphalt and billboards, but that’s hardly the case.

Travel by state routes and back roads to get closer to the scenery. By moving at a slightly slower pace, you can better appreciate the changing environment on your journey.

You'll catch glimpses of wildlife — falcons, prairie chickens, bison and jackrabbits — against the backdrop of farms and wildflowers. And the state is peppered with mini-museums, scenic byways and nature preserves.

Abilene, Kansas — about 150 miles outside of Kansas City — has a handful of interesting sights, but the most prominent is the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home. At this time, only the museum is available to visitors, with limited hours and online programming.

But Abilene also shares a Wild West history, with events at the Old Abilene Town , which recently opened a new trail center.

Want to feel centered? Kansas offers a few options. About 130 miles northwest of Abilene lies the Geographic Center of the United States (if you don’t count Alaska and Hawaii) in Lebanon. Learn about what this designation means for the people of the town in this story by KCUR.

From there, the Geodetic Center of North America is about 45 minutes south, in Tipton. (Geodetic relates to the geometric shape of the globe, not a 2D map.)

Kansas has a long history of folk and outsider art, and nowhere is that more prominent than in Lucas: “Grassroots Art Capital of the World.” It’s the home of — among other sights — the United States' oldest intact art environment, Garden of Eden , and the World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things , which reopens “by chance or appointment” in July.

While you're in the area, why not do a little rock climbing? Located between Abilene and Lucas is Rock City , a field of huge concretions — sandstone spheres deposited 100 million years ago — ripe for exploring by all ages.

Kansas history reaches back millions of years. Once the bottom of a vast inland sea, this history was rediscovered by farmers, scientists and adventurers through the search for fossils. Many of those have made their way into the Sternberg Museum of Natural History in Hays. Hays is about an hour from Lucas and four hours from Kansas City.

Much of Kansas’ story is one of perseverance and the search for a better place. That’s apparent in the history of Nicodemus , an African American community founded in 1877. Today, remnants of the town are part of the National Parks Service as a National Historic Site. The landmark is open 24 hours a day, though the buildings have limited hours.

While exploring Kansas, don’t hesitate to turn off for a town’s small museum or roadside attraction, like the World’s Largest Ball of Twine , in Cawker City. Visitors can add twine , too, and contribute to maintaining that world record.

Personal passions and unique perspectives are captured in these out-of-the-way curiosities and serve as testaments to the complex history of the land and people.

Although there are no coasts, no mountains, nor many forests in western Kansas, the landscape is nevertheless breathtaking. Strangely, the state isn’t well known for its geological wonders, but it boasts quite a few.

Opened in 2019, Little Jerusalem Badland State Park is a relative newcomer to the Kansas tourism scene — even though its chalk towers were formed approximately 85 million years ago. Hike the trails to overlook points, or sign up for a guided tour into the formations on select dates and times. A $5 vehicle park permit is required and can be paid at the self-service station, so have some cash on hand.

Nearby, a bit north of Scott City, the famous Monument Rocks (which are on private land, but with allowed public access) were declared a National Natural Landmark in 1968.

Another aspect of the Kansas landscape is human intervention, which converted the prairie and near-desert conditions into farmland. Remember those quirky museums we mentioned? Take a scenic byway to La Crosse and visit the Kansas Barbed Wire Museum , located next door to the Post Rock Museum , for more background into the resources and inventions used to subdue the wildlands.

Do some road trip research or learn more about these places in George Frazier’s “The Last Wild Places in Kansas,” which deftly combines the author’s explorations around the state and the history that shaped it to what we know today.

If you think Kansas is just hot, dry and flat, think again. The Wetlands & Wildlife National Scenic Byway takes you from Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area (the largest inland wetland in the United States) to the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (a bird watcher’s wonderland ). Before your trip, download this audio tour that explains the ecology and history of the area.

The city of Hutchinson — located three hours from Kansas City — offers activities from the stars to the subterranean. The Cosmosphere has artifacts from space exploration, an interactive kids’ area, space movies and more. If you really want to sink deep into Kansas, Strataca is an underground salt mine-turned-museum.

Lindsborg is another interesting town that honors its Swedish heritage with huge Dala horses along the main street.

Not too far away is Coronado Heights , a small castle-like structure built on a hill by the Works Progress Administration in 1936. It’s a great viewing and picnic spot with some surrounding trails (though the outhouse-style restrooms are not great). Coronado Heights was built to commemorate Francisco Vásquez de Coronado’s attempt to find the legendary city of gold in 1541.

Of course, Kansas is best known for its prairie. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is one of the last remaining intact prairie lands that used to run from Mexico to Canada. Only about 4% of the prairie remains, with most of it located just two hours from Kansas City.

There you'll find miles of hiking trails, a herd of bison (use caution when in the bison pasture), wildflowers, birds and a sunset you won't soon forget. The preserve is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Although there is no camping or overnight parking allowed in the preserve, it makes an excellent spot for stargazing, with a 360° view of the Milky Way. Ad Astra!

Driving through backroads and byways, you’ll be certain to spot barn quilts — large wooden quilt squares attached to barns, fences and homes. Learn more about these folk art treasures by following the Flint Hills Barn Quilt Trail , and learn how you can make your own, as a testament to your Kansas adventure. No barn necessary.

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EXPLORE KANSAS

EXPLORE THE AREA

HISTORIC ELGIN

Adventure itineraries.

Whether you’re looking to explore the past or blaze a trail for a new adventure, the Flint Hills has something for everyone. From lakes and waterfalls to historic courthouses and trails, you are sure to find something to pique your interest. Shop antiques till your heart’s content, hunt wild turkey and deer, zip around the lake with a speed boat, and enjoy a night under the stars on the prairie. All this awaits you in the Flint Hills of Kansas!

Northeast Kansas

Waterfalls Tour

Northwest Kansas

Southeast Kansas

Historic Kansas Tour

The Presidential Tour:

Exploring Eisenhower’s Hometown of Abilene

A Splash of a Good time:

Northeast Kansas Waterfalls Tour

Destination #1: Chase Lake Falls

Depart the Historic Elgin Hotel for your waterfall adventure!

From 3rd Street, take a left on Main St and travel east to Cedar. Turn left and travel north to Highway 56. Turn right and take 56 east to the roundabout. Take the 2nd exit and travel east on Highway150 to Highway 50. Turn left at 50 and travel .5 mile to Elmdale. Take a right on Main Street (also known as Lake Rd and Middle Creek Rd). Travel 3 miles until you see the entrance to Chase State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area on your right. Follow the gravel road .3 miles to the dam on the north side of Chase Fishing Lake. Park along the road and walk east the length of the dam. Turn left and follow the rough trail along the shallow spillway from the lake.

The walk and climb are moderately difficult and hiking shoes are recommended.

Destination #2: Cottonwood Falls

photo: ©kansastravel.org

From the Chase State Lake, turn right on Lake Rd. Travel 3.2 miles into Cottonwood Falls and take a left on Broadway to the bridge entrance.

Destination #3: Lake Kahola in Dunlap

From the Cottonwood Falls bridge, travel back to Main St and take a left. At 177, take a left and travel approximately 11 miles to Highway 50. Take a right and follow Highway 50 for 25.5 miles to YY Rd. Take a left and travel north to 290 Rd. Turn left and follow 290 Rd for 2 miles to Z Rd. After a couple of miles, Z Rd will turn into 400 Rd. Cross over the dam and take the first right at Kahola Rd. The waterfall will be on your right along the Kahola Creek.

Lake Kahola Waterfall is formed by the spillway, just north of the dam and east of the bridge & lake. Ideally, permission to access the falls should be obtained by contacting the  Kahola Homeowner's Association . A waiver of Liability form should be filled out by each visitor to the lake and filed with the Caretaker prior to accessing the property. We did not gain permission prior to visiting and were not bothered by anyone.

Destination #4: Pillsbury Crossing in Manhattan

Follow Kahola Rd east along the creek to S400 Rd.  Continue north on S400 Rd to DD Ave. Take a right on DD Rd and travel 2 miles to Dunlap Rd. Turn left on Dunlap Rd and travel north 11 miles, continuing on Walnut St into Council Grove. Turn right on 5th St and then left on Main. Take Main to Highway 177 and turn left. Follow 177 north for 35 miles. Just before entering Manhattan, turn right on Deep Creek Rd. Follow Deep Creek Rd (which turns into Pillsbury Crossing Rd) for 6 miles. Turn right at Pillsbury Crossing Lane and you will run into Pillsbury Crossing.

Destination #5: Geary Lake Falls in Junction City

Return to Highway 177 and turn left. Travel south for 6.5 miles to I-70 W. Follow I-70 W to exit 295, Highway 77 and turn left. Drive south 6 miles on Highway 77. Turn right (west) on State Lake Road. Drive about 2,000 feet to the sign that says "Geary State Lake" on your left. Turn into the park, drive over the top of the hill and off onto the unimproved road to your right. Park at the northeast end of the lake and walk about a quarter of a mile across the dam.

As you approach the far end of the dam, you may hear the water falling in the woods off to your right. Just across the dam, there is a narrow path to the right worn by other travelers. It is a short walk to the falls, but the footing is irregular with occasional steep spots. 

Return to the Historic Elgin Hotel by turning right and traveling south on Highway 77 for 39 miles. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit. After 1 mile, turn right on 190th and travel west for 3 miles. Turn right at 3rd St.

Northwest Kansas Waterfalls Tour

Destination #1: Brown Park Waterfall in Abilene

Travel north on 360th to Diamond Rd and take a left. Continue onto Deer Rd for 5 miles. Turn right on KS-4 E and travel east for 4 miles. At KS-15 N, take a left and head north for 16 miles. Just before you enter Abilene, turn east (right) on 2000 Avenue, then south a few hundred yards on Hawk Road to 1935 Lane. Turn left onto 1935 Lane and follow this across a wooden, one lane bridge. Park to the left of this bridge.

Destination #2: Smoky River Falls at Indian Rock Park in Salina

Destination #3: Markley Dam Waterfall in Minneapolis

The Solomon River in Minneapolis was dammed for the Jackman Roller Mills in the 1800s. Markley Dam can be seen to the west from the K-106 (Mill Street) Bridge. While in the area, visit Rock City State Park.

Southeast Kansas Waterfalls

Destination #1: Eureka Lake Falls

During high water, the waterfall at Eureka Lake, north of Eureka, is one of the most impressive in the state. So far, I have only been able to visit the falls when there was just a trickle of water. 

Eureka Lake Falls is a few hundred feet down Bachelor Creek, which is fed by the spillway from 259 acre Eureka City Lake.

Destination #2: Fall River Falls

Fall River Falls is just north of US Highway 54 on the west side of

Eureka. This photo was taken in September when the water going over the falls was about a low as it gets. During high water in the spring, the drop can largely disappear.

Destination #3: Wildcat Creek Waterfalls

Destination #4: Butcher Falls in Sedan

Destination #5: Flint Road Falls in Longton

Flint Road Falls is a lovely natural falls located on Hitchen Creek just

north of Flint Road (County 366 Road), 2.6 miles west of Longton Cemetery. This photo was taken from the bridge over Hitchen Creek.

Destination #5: Longton Dam Falls  in Longton

Longton Dam Falls is located on the south side of Longton on the Elk River. To visit the falls, drive to the water plant at the south end of Delaware Street and walk south to the river. The two rut leading to the water is very muddy in wet weather. It is hard to get down to the river edge.

Tour the Historic Elgin Hotel

Tour the Father Kapaun Museum & St. Nepomucene Church in Pilsen, KS

Visit the Marion Historical Museum in Marion, KS

Check out the Marion County Courthouse in Marion, KS

Eat at Chef's Plate at Parlour 1886 in Marion, KS

Tour the Chase County Courthouse & Jail in Cottonwood Falls, KS

Visit the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve to learn about the history of the prairie and take a hike or tram ride to see the free-roaming buffalo

Tour the Adobe Museum in Hillsboro, KS

Tour the William F. Schaeffler House in Hillsboro, KS

Depart the Historic Elgin Hotel

Heritage Center Museum Tour

Lunch at Amanda’s Bakery & Bistro

Eisenhower Library & Museum 

Seelye Mansion Tour

Smoky Valley Train Ride

Dinner Train or Dinner at Mr. K's Farmhouse Restaurant

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El Dorado is Kansas’s Budget-Friendly Spring Break Destination

Finding the perfect spring break location can be tricky for families with elementary-aged children. Long car rides, expensive hotels, and packed tourist attractions are not ideal for parents of young children on a budget. Don’t let the kids spend their few precious days out of school indoors playing video games and watching Netflix. Get outside and make memories as a family!

El Dorado is the perfect family-friendly (and budget-friendly) destination not too far from home! Whether you’re looking to enjoy the great outdoors or relax for an afternoon in a museum, we’ve planned the perfect overnight trip your family will love! 

Arrive in El Dorado around noon and enjoy lunch from one of our local favorites, the  Black Gold Grill . This unpretentious, quaint burger shop on the edge of town has kids’ meals for only $5.99 (including the drink). For you parents, we suggest ordering an El Dorado classic - the Stapleton. This fried pork veal sandwich is served open faced and stacked with chili, cheese and relish. The sandwich’s name honors El Dorado’s history and is named after the Stapleton Oil Well No. 1 - the site of the El Dorado Oil Field Discovery in 1915. 

Curious where the Stapleton No. 1 well once stood? You can still visit the original location, which is commemorated with a marker and modern oil derrick. The location is just north of El Dorado, less than one mile outside of city limits. You can find more info here:  http://www.kansastravel.org/stapletonoilwell.htm  

No trip to El Dorado is complete without visiting the  Kansas Oil Museum ! The museum highlights early Kansas oil history and has interactive exhibits educating visitors on the rich oil history of Butler County and the world-wide impact our region had during World War 1. Another exhibit, “Boomtown”, is an outdoor replica of a 1920s oil town. Walk along the boardwalk and browse the General Store, take a look inside the Doctor’s Office and learn about early printing in the Print Shop! 

The Kansas Oil Museum is located next to El Dorado’s oldest public park -  East Park ! Let the kiddos burn their energy at the playground or exploring the duck pond.  

 Head to Downtown El Dorado and check out El Dorado’s  Coutts Museum of Art . This historic building once housed the Butler County State Bank, but is now home to three floors of art from artists like Makk, Walton and Remington! Admission is free for all. 

Walk less than a block to the corner of Central & Main to snap a selfie in front of the  Greetings from El Dorado Mural !   

Finish the day practicing your bowling skills at the  El Dorado Fun Center . Recently remodeled, this bowling alley is also home to  Van’s Bar & Grill . I recommend enjoying dinner at the restaurant (the Philly Cheesesteak is a must-try). Parents, take some time for yourself and enjoy a drink and dessert on the patio while watching the kids play a round of mini-golf. 

Swanson Park

Swanson Park is 93 acres and has been designated a Wichita Wild Habitat area. It was developed using Land and Water Conservation Funds that were provided by the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks and the National…

Start your Sunday morning at  BrewCo. & Dilly Deli  in Downtown El Dorado. Wake up with a fresh espresso drink and one of their famous Yoder Cinnamon Rolls. I recommend ordering sandwiches to go and enjoying a picnic lunch at El Dorado State Park. You can’t go wrong with your sandwich selection (but our personal favorites are the Kettle Chicken Sandwich and the Adult Grilled Cheese). Make sure to order the pasta salad as your side -  trust me  - you won’t regret it.

Take a drive down Main Street on your way to  El Dorado State Park  - Kansas’s largest and most visited outdoor attraction. Our state park has it all - boating, fishing, hiking, swimming, playgrounds, and archery. For younger children, I suggest exploring one of the easier hiking trails such as the Teter Nature Trail. This path winds along the base of the dam in a heavily wooded area with creeks and is filled with wildlife. You’ll often see deer, rabbits, and a wide variety of birds along the trail. 

 If you’re up for more adventure, head over to the Walnut River Camping Area at the base of the dam. This campground is open to non-campers (with a State Park day pass) and has two additional trails (one trail being a paved pathway), a swimming beach, and two playground areas. Let the kids explore the shore and enjoy your lunch in the great outdoors at one of the many picnic areas!

Not sure where to stay? 

Days Inn | $$

Amenities: Indoor Pool, Complimentary Breakfast, Indoor Gym, Business Center, Laundry 

Baymont Inn | $$

Amenities: Indoor Pool, Complimentary Breakfast, Pet Friendly, Wifi, Indoor Gym, Restaurant 

Holiday Inn | $$

Amenities: Indoor Pool, Complimentary Breakfast, Indoor Gym, Laundry, Business Center 

Want to learn more about the adventures you can have in South Central Kansas? Click here .

Not Sure Where to Stay?

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Sedgwick County Park

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Santa Fe Lake & Campground

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South Central

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South Central Kansas

Open skies are for exploring. The earth is for sustaining. The water is for refreshing. We use them all to their fullest. That’s how we live and who we are. Living aloft in the dreams that come by touching the sky, while digging deep into the bounty provided by the earth. Seek to uplift your heart with lofty pursuits and sophisticated, cultured settings. Life here is  For The Seekers .