Hidden gems are often left behind on most road trip lists in Kansas. However, we know just how cool they can really be. Whether you’re looking to make trips from scratch or just add to preexisting ideas, we’re here with a few suggestions. Listed below are 10 hidden gems in Kansas that are great road trip destinations. You’ll want to stop and visit each one.

1. 1950s All-Electric Home - Overland Park
8788 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66212, USA
Candy DeSpain/Google
Decades ago, we thought that future houses would look like this one here. Fantastic electrical appliances, colorful modern design, and lots of shapes we don't even see these days. Our electronics are far superior to anything they predicted, but it's amazing to see how far they thought we'd get.
2. Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop - Olathe
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop-Farm, 1200 E Kansas City Rd, Olathe, KS 66061, USA
Leah Major/Google
Here, you can experience farm life and take care of the land or just visit to watch how everything operates. Take a stagecoach ride and experience what life was like during a time when most things were done by hand.
3. Moon Marble Company - Bonner Springs
Moon Marble Company, 600 E Front St, Bonner Springs, KS 66012, USA
Moon Marble Company Facebook
Speaking of doing things by hand, the Moon Marble Company makes marbles right before your very eyes. They also sell vintage toys that will take you back to the good ol' days when toys were much simpler.
4. C.W. Parker Carousel Museum - Leavenworth
C. W. Parker Carousel Museum, 320 S Esplanade St, Leavenworth, KS 66048, USA
Jeanine Wallace/Google
Have you ever wondered where old carousels are kept and what they looked like ages ago? The oldest, still-moving carousel is kept here, and they sometimes still run it for visitors, albeit with no riders.
5. Rock City Park - Minneapolis
Rock City Park, 1051 Ivy Rd, Minneapolis, KS 67467, USA
RubyT/Flickr
Rock City Park isn't a name many people know, but hopefully, you will start stopping by on family road trips. Here, you can climb on giant sandstone boulders that were left behind by a giant rock that eroded away over years and years.

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6. Bowl Plaza - Lucas
Bowl Plaza, 121 S Main St, Lucas, KS 67648, USA
Bill Matthews/Google
Have you ever wanted to see a building shaped like a toilet? Well, this is a public restroom shaped like a toilet. It's actually rated the #2 best public restroom in America and a great reason to visit Lucas.
7. Barbed Wire Museum - La Crosse
Barbed Wire Museum, 120 1st St, La Crosse, KS 67548, USA
Josh Overby/Google
For a unique addition to any trip and a calm way to enjoy some family time, something like a Barbed Wire museum might be just what you need. With a collection of over 2,000 sections of wire, you'll learn more about this material than you ever thought you would.
8. Santa Fe Trail - Dodge City
Dodge City, KS 67801, USA
Deborah Lee Soltesz/Flickr
Did you know you can still see the marks left behind by the covered wagons that made their way west? During the right times of the year, you can see the actual trails of settlers traveling this long, hard path to a new life.
9. Big Brutus - West Mineral
Big Brutus Inc, 6509 NW 60th St, West Mineral, KS 66782, USA
Michael Overton/Wikimedia Commons
Big Brutus is an electric shovel that is the second largest model of its type and it forever stands in one spot out in West Mineral, Kansas. If you don't think it's huge just by this photo, look closer to see the people standing near the tracks on the left.
10. Museum of World Treasures - Wichita
Museum of World Treasures, 835 E 1st St N, Wichita, KS 67202, USA
Museum of World Treasures Facebook
A world history museum in Kansas? In Wichita, there are dinosaurs, presidential signatures, and even a section of the Berlin Wall. Come see for yourself.

For road trip directions, you can view the full Google map.

Have you ever visited any of these hidden gems in Kansas? If so, please share your experience(s) with us in the comments. Also, if there are any other hidden gems in Kansas that belong on this road trip, let us know.

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hidden gems in kansas

Jennifer Young | May 13, 2022

What are three Kansas hidden gems that belong on everyone's bucket list?

There are several hidden gems in Kansas that are some of the most unique you'll ever experience including the three listed below. Each one of these hidden gems belongs on your bucket list.

1. Rock City Park

Rock City Park is a small five-acre park in Minneapolis. It features more than 200 concretion formations, which are much harder than most rock formations. Some of them are even as large as 27 feet in diameter. Amazing!

2. 1950s All-Electric Home

Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center in Overland Park is a museum with a model 1950s All-Electric Home on display. It was built in 1953 by a local electric company and is used to show us what life was like during that time era for most people.

3. C.W. Parker Carousel Museum

The C.W. Parker Carousel Museum in Leavenworth was founded in 2005. It features several carousels including one that guests can take a ride on that's more than 100 years old.

What is one of the best little-known places in Kansas that's perfect for a family day trip?

Kansas offers many great places for a family day trip. One of these places, in particular, is the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge. The Maxwell Wildlife Refuge is located in Canton and covers 2,650 acres. It's home to one of the world's only remaining herds of American Bison. During your visit, you might also see elk grazing on the land. Tours of Kansas' Maxwell Wildlife Refuge are available all year long by reservation. Animal lovers of all ages enjoy visiting this wildlife refuge.

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