Travel Destinations Kansas 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. By Gary Thompson Gary Thompson Gary Thompson is senior staff writer at Midwest Living and Dotdash Meredith Travel, where he gets paid to play with words while writing about all sorts of interesting people, places and things in the Midwest and beyond. Not bad for a shy kid who was born in Kansas and grew up in Davenport, Iowa, reading his Dad's newspapers and his Mom's "women's" magazines. He holds a B.A. and M.A. in journalism from Drake University and been writing professionally for more than 30 years. When he's not wordsmithing, he's running or walking, watching sports or Jeopardy, and doing the New York Times crossword puzzle (or Spelling Bee). Midwest Living's Editorial Guidelines Published on April 8, 2022 Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park. Photo: Blaine Moats 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. The Best Midwest Family Vacations Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Blaine Moats 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 Michael Snell 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 Starboard & Port 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 Doug Stremel 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 Zach Bauman 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 Doug Stremel 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 Zach Bauman 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 Per Breiehagen 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 C2 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 Jason Lindsey 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 Doug Stremel 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 Doug Stremel 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. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit