Wichita
The Air Capital, with a lively riverfront.
Points of interest
- Keeper of the Plains
- Old Town
- Botanica
- Cosmosphere nearby
State guide
Things to do in Kansas
The tallgrass prairie of the Flint Hills, Wichita's riverfront and aviation history, college-town Lawrence, Kansas City barbecue, the chalk spires of Monument Rocks and the Wild West legends of Dodge City.
4%
Of the original tallgrass prairie survives
Prairie, big skies and the Old West
Kansas sits at the geographic centre of the lower 48 states, a land of wheat fields, open prairie and enormous skies. It is often driven through rather than visited, but it rewards travellers who slow down.
The Flint Hills, in the east, protect the largest remaining area of tallgrass prairie in North America, once covering much of the continent. At the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, you can hike through grass taller than you in late summer and see bison. Wichita, the biggest city, is the Air Capital of the World, with an aviation history, a riverfront marked by the Keeper of the Plains sculpture and the bars of Old Town. Lawrence is a lively university town, and the Kansas side of Kansas City shares the region's famous barbecue.
Out west, the chalk formations of Monument Rocks and Little Jerusalem rise from the plains, and Dodge City recalls the cattle drives and gunfighters of the Old West. Give Kansas three or four days, by car. Spring and autumn are best.
Where to base yourself
Wichita for the south and the Flint Hills, Lawrence and Kansas City for the east.
Lawrence
A lively college town with a famous main street.
Points of interest
- Massachusetts Street
- University of Kansas
- Live music
Kansas City, Kansas
The Kansas side of the barbecue capital.
Points of interest
- Barbecue
- Strawberry Hill
- Kansas City, Missouri nearby
Regions of Kansas
Cities and prairie hills in the east, Wichita in the south, and high plains and chalk formations in the west.
Kansas City and Lawrence
Barbecue, college townThe Kansas side of Kansas City and Lawrence.
Flint Hills
Tallgrass prairie, bisonThe last great tallgrass prairie.
Wichita and south-central
City, aviation, spaceWichita, Hutchinson and Lindsborg.
Western Kansas
Chalk formations, Old WestMonument Rocks, Little Jerusalem and Dodge City.
Things to do
Things to do in Kansas
Hike the trails of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in the Flint Hills, where a bison herd roams, and drive the Flint Hills Scenic Byway. In Wichita, see the Keeper of the Plains at the meeting of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers, especially at night when its fire pots are lit, and explore the brick warehouses of Old Town.
In Hutchinson, visit the Cosmosphere, a space museum with real spacecraft, and Strataca, a salt mine museum 200 metres underground. Spend an evening on Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, and eat barbecue in Kansas City, Kansas.
In the west, see Monument Rocks and Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park, and visit Dodge City's Boot Hill Museum. Lindsborg is known as Little Sweden, and Abilene has the Eisenhower Presidential Library.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve has no entry fee, and its trails are free. In Wichita, the Keeper of the Plains and the riverfront paths are free, and so is Old Town.
Monument Rocks is on private land but free to visit from the road.
Massachusetts Street in Lawrence costs nothing to stroll.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Kansas City barbecue, smoked meats with a thick sweet sauce, is just as good on the Kansas side of the city. Bierocks, bread pockets filled with beef and cabbage, came with German-Russian settlers, and the Runza chain serves a similar version.
Wichita has a strong Vietnamese food scene and is the birthplace of Pizza Hut. Steaks are excellent across the state.
Kansas has a growing craft beer scene. Tip 18 to 22 per cent in restaurants.
Nightlife
Going out
Lawrence has the liveliest nightlife, with bars and live music along Massachusetts Street. Wichita's Old Town has bars, breweries and clubs.
In the Flint Hills and the west, nights are for stargazing under very dark skies.
Bars close at 2am.
Getting around
Getting around
Wichita Eisenhower Airport is the main airport in Kansas, and Kansas City International in Missouri serves the east of the state. Amtrak's Southwest Chief crosses Kansas, mostly at night.
Public transport is very limited, so a car is essential. Distances are long but roads are straight and quiet.
Most of Kansas is on Central Time; a small area in the west is on Mountain Time.
Costs
What Kansas costs
Kansas is one of the cheapest states to travel in. Food, fuel and motels are good value.
Sales tax is 6.5 per cent statewide, plus local taxes. Groceries are exempt. Tip 18 to 22 per cent in restaurants.
Many of the best sights, including the Tallgrass Prairie, are free.
Safety
Safety and scams
Kansas is generally safe. Take normal city care at night in Wichita and Kansas City.
Kansas is in Tornado Alley: spring and early summer bring severe storms, hail and tornadoes, so follow local warnings and know where to shelter. Summers are hot.
On long rural drives, keep fuel topped up, as towns can be far apart. In an emergency, call 911.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Prairie concerts, river festivals and the State Fair.
June
Symphony in the Flint Hills
Flint Hills
An orchestra concert out on the open prairie.
June
Riverfest
Wichita
Wichita's big river festival.
September
Kansas State Fair
Hutchinson
Rides, music and farm shows.
When to go
April to June and September to October are the best times. Spring brings wildflowers and storms, and late summer the tallest prairie grass. Summers are hot, and winters are cold and windy.
Jan
Cold, windy
Feb
Cold
Mar
Cool
Apr
Wildflowers, storms
May
Storm season
Jun
Symphony in the Flint Hills
Jul
Hot
Aug
Tall prairie grass
Sep
State Fair
Oct
Pleasant
Nov
Cool
Dec
Cold
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs for Wichita, rounded.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Wichita prices.
Treat these as a guide. Car hire costs extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Kansas questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Kansas worth visiting?
Yes, for the tallgrass prairie, Wichita, Lawrence, barbecue and the chalk formations of the west.
Where can I see the tallgrass prairie?
At the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in the Flint Hills, which has no entry fee.
When is tornado season in Kansas?
Mainly in spring and early summer. Follow local warnings.
Do I need a car in Kansas?
Yes. Public transport is very limited.
How many days do you need in Kansas?
Three or four days.
When is the best time to visit Kansas?
Spring and autumn, avoiding the hottest summer weeks.
Is Kansas City in Kansas or Missouri?
Both. The city straddles the state line; the bigger part is in Missouri.
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