Holidays to Kansas
Top destinations in Kansas
Wichita
Surrounded by prairie land, Kansas’ largest city has emerged from cattle ranching roots into an exciting metropolis. Soak it all in from the brick-lined streets of Old Town.
Garden City
From its international dining scene to local heritage museums and art galleries, Garden City balances big-city thrills with the simple charms of a small town.
Manhattan
Take a bite out of Kansas’ ‘Little Apple’. This lively city boasts a growing arts scene, bountiful farmers markets and plenty of outdoor adventures in the Great Plains.
Kansas: fast facts
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Currency | United States dollar ($) |
| Time zone | Wichita - UTC−6 (CST) and UTC−5 (CDT) |
| High season | May – September |
| Low season | December – February |
Kansas holiday highlights
Prairie hikes
Prairies once covered 70 million hectares of North America. Today, the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is one of the only places you can experience this fascinating ecosystem. Explore a sprawling landscape of pristine tall grasses (some up to 1.5 metres high) as it stretches into grand vistas. The park is also home to an authentic ranch house and herds of bison.
Civil Rights history
The Topeka school board’s refusal to enrol a Black student in 1951 resulted in the landmark Supreme Court ruling that legally ended segregation in public schools in the US. Explore this monumental Civil Rights victory within the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka. Its rooms have been converted into galleries chronicling the history and legacy of the case.
Old West vibes
Reliving the Old West is a top thing to do in Kansas. Check out the log cabin where the lyrics to ‘Home on the Range’ were penned. Live re-enactments demonstrate life in an 1860s army outpost at Fort Larned National Historic Site. And at the Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita, you can wander the streets of a preserved 19th-century pioneer village.
Things to do in Kansas
Top attractions
Discover one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, nestled in the Flint Hills. Explore an important Civil Rights milestone at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka. And travel back in time at the Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita, where costumed interpreters transport you to the Old West.
Beaches
Looking for beaches in landlocked Kansas? Head to the state parks. Kayak past dramatic rock formations in Wilson State Park, set in the Smoky Hills. After hiking limestone bluffs, cool off with a dip in the lake at Cedar Bluff State Park. There’s swimming and boating in the lake at Elk City State Park, which is surrounded by forest and prairie.
Nature
Some of the most spectacular natural sites in Kansas rise above its famously flat topography. Wander past 15-metre-high limestone pillars and rocky arches at the Monument Rocks, a collection of ancient formations in Gove County. At Coronado Heights Park in the Smoky Valley, you can watch the sunset over sandstone bluffs from a castle-like shelter built in the 1930s.
Cuisine
Some of the best restaurants in Kansas honour the region’s famously tangy, slow-cooked barbecue. Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que is a local favourite. The state’s other speciality is perfectly crispy fried chicken. Have your fill at Chicken Annie’s and Chicken Mary’s, two restaurants in Pittsburgh that have been competing for the top spot since the 1940s.
Culture and museums
Visit the stars in more ways than one at the museums in Kansas. See a Blackbird Spyplane and artefacts from the Sputnik satellite and Apollo missions at the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, a comprehensive space museum. Explore over 2,000 items related to the state’s most famous Hollywood connection, the 1939 classic ‘The Wizard of Oz’, at the Oz Museum in Wamego.
Nightlife
Find some of the best nightlife in Kansas in Wichita, where Old Town’s historic streets are lined with jazz clubs, brewpubs and late-night spots. In Kansas City, the Strawberry Hill neighbourhood offers cosy dive bars and a monthly art walk. Topeka’s NOTO Arts District blends colourful murals with outdoor summer concerts and a lively bar scene.
Find the best time to visit Kansas
Weather in Kansas through the year
March – May: Spring is a great time to visit Kansas, with mild temperatures ideal for city exploring and outdoor hikes. Rain is common, so pack accordingly. Be aware that April marks the start of tornado season.
June – August: Expect a mix of warm, sunny days and hot, humid stretches, along with the occasional thunderstorm. Plan for some air-conditioned breaks.
September – November: Autumn brings cooler temperatures, lighter crowds and more overcast days. The weather becomes noticeably colder by November.
December – February: Winters are cold, windy and occasionally snowy. Blizzard-like conditions with strong gusts aren’t unusual. Still, it’s a cosy time to enjoy festive Christmas events.
Events in Kansas
Lovegrass Music Festival (August): This bluegrass celebration takes over Wilson State Park for three days of outdoor concerts and campsite jam sessions. You can also attend workshops on yoga, watercolour painting and more.
Kansas City Renaissance Festival (August to October): Just outside of Kansas City, Bonner Springs is home to one of the largest Renaissance fairs in the country. Expect jousting competitions, an artisan market and themed weekends like the Haunted Huzzah.
Neewollah (October): Neewollah (Halloween spelt backwards) started as a children’s parade in 1919. Held in Independence, this spooky celebration also hosts cook-offs, foot races and a musical.
Know before you go
Budget
This state has one of the lowest costs of living in the country, making cheap holidays to Kansas very possible. And if you’re willing to travel in the shoulder seasons, you can stretch your budget even further. An inexpensive meal costs about 15 US dollars ($), while a domestic beer comes in at about $5. Need a lift? Short taxi rides start at around $8.
Health and safety
Kansas sits within Tornado Alley, with the highest risk of storms in May and June. If you’re visiting during this time, keep an eye on the weather. A tornado watch means conditions are right for one to form, while a warning means one has been spotted, and you should take shelter immediately. In summer, avoid swimming in lakes with algal blooms, which can be harmful.
Free things to do
Many of Kansas’ top attractions are free, including the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka. In Lawrence, the Spencer Museum of Art spans 5,000 years of art and never charges admission. Visiting Kansas City? Check out the Third Friday Art Walk for art, music and food pop-ups downtown.
Family friendly
Kids can run free at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center in Topeka, which features outdoor exhibits such as a treehouse and a giant sandpit. See displays devoted to everything from dinosaurs to the Old West at the Museum of World Treasures in Wichita. And explore the sprawling gardens at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, which includes a children’s farmstead.
Getting around Kansas
Public transport
Buses: Greyhound serves several cities in Kansas, including Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita. Buses are equipped with Wi-Fi, power outlets and toilets, making them a perfect choice for longer trips. Beeline Express runs routes between Wichita and Abilene and from Newton to Oklahoma City. Tickets for both services can be booked online.
Trains: Amtrak’s Southwest Chief line connects eastern and western Kansas with six stops, including Dodge City, Lawrence and Hutchinson. The train offers sleeper cars, a dining car and an observation car with floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s a relaxed way to enjoy the region’s wide-open landscapes.
Domestic flights
While Kansas has several regional airports, many flights require stopovers, which can add to your travel time. And once you factor in airport commutes and connections, flying between cities is often less efficient than driving.
Driving and car hire
Hiring a car is a great way to experience Kansas, a classic road trip destination. Major routes include I-70, running east to west, and I-35, which connects Kansas City and Wichita. You’ll likely be navigating rural roads during your trip, so keep an eye out for wildlife, especially deer.
