We know that Kansans like to have things planned out, whether that’s how long a drive will take or when they’re going to be in the neighborhood of a certain antique store next. The best day trips in Kansas will keep you plenty busy and entertained all year; now we just need to plan them out! Get out those bucket lists, because we’ve got work to do and places to see. You’ll explore some of the most beautiful places in Kansas, as well as some wonderful small towns, and loads of fun. Let’s go!

1. January - Ice Skating at Chicken N Pickle

1761 Burlington St, North Kansas City, MO 64116, USA
Jo Povall/Google Local
Whether it's January already or nearing the end, it's probably plenty cold outside for ice skating or a pickup game of hockey. Chicken N Pickle is always a blast, but the ice skating it offers during the winter is EXTRA awesome. This is one of the best day trips from Kansas City!

2. February - Prehistoric Kansas Road Trip

Clarisa A/OnlyInYourState
As long as the ice doesn't hold you back, traveling across the state can bring great wonder to you, especially when you're learning about the first creatures that roamed the area Kansas was back when a sea covered most of our state. We're pretty sure the natural history of Kansas doesn't get more fun and fascinating than this! This is one of the most fascinating "day trips for kids near me."

3. March - Kansas's Largest Antique Mall

13200 US-54, Wichita, KS 67235, USA
Paramount Antique Mall/Google Local
Antique malls are always a great way to pass the time and the largest one in Kansas, the Paramount Antique Mall, is the best at doing just that. It also has two other locations, just in case you're the quickest antique browser in the West.

4. April - A Thrifting Trip To Remember

Clarisa A/OnlyInYourState
If hanging around for a day in a thrift shop isn't your ideal traveling plan, you'll want to check out this road trip - and the one before it - for all the finds you'll need this spring. That's what spring cleaning is for, right? Do this awesome thrift store road trip and see what treasures you can find.

5. May - A Trip To Monument Rocks

Monument Rocks Natural Landmark, Scott City, KS 67871, USA
Laura Gilchrist/Flickr
Western Kansas doesn't really have a lot of forested areas or large rolling hills, but what we do have is Niobrara chalk badlands in the form of Monument Rocks. They're a lot taller than they look!

6. June - The Gorgeous Konza Prairie

100 Konza Prairie Ln, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
Lucas Strittmatter/Google Local
We love our Flint Hills and endless skies, but the Konza Prairie area just has a little extra something to it. It is easily Kansas at its most beautiful, and we are thrilled that it's our own.

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7. July - History museums across Kansas

Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum/Facebook
Our history is important to us, and these beautiful museums are a great place to travel to when you're feeling like you want to connect to your state. Do this Kansas history road trip and learn everything there is to know about the Sunflower State.

8. August - The Shorebird Migration

USFWS Mountain-Prairie/Flickr
Almost half of all of America's migrating shorebirds come through Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira NWR so we get a little excited when they start to fill the skies around our wetlands. Peak season starts in August, and the annual shorebird migration in Kansas is something you won't forget seeing.

9. September - Fall foliage at Fall River

Fall River State Park, Fall River, KS 67047, USA
Kansas Wildlife, Parks & Tourism - Fall River State Park/Facebook
Fall River, much like its name, is a state park you really should see when the leaves start to turn. Red, yellow, and orange trees reflected in the water on a cool fall day are a beautiful sight worth seeing.

10. October - Above and Below Kansas

1100 N Plum St, Hutchinson, KS 67501, USA
brent flanders/Flickr
Adventure at the Cosmosphere will take you through the stars and into the world of rocket science, but you can also head deep below ground into the local salt mine to see the opposite of the stars above.

11. November - BBQ Heaven Road Trip

Slap's BBQ/Facebook
Kansas is big into barbecue, and we think these spots are still savory safe houses for some of the best meats around the state. Why not take a trip to try them all? Learn more about the best barbecue in Kansas on this epic delicious adventure! This is the most delicious of all the Kansas day trips you could take.

12. December - Christmas City of the High Plains: Wakeeney

WaKeeney, KS 67672, USA
Get Wakeeney/Facebook
The Christmas City of Wakeeney is really beautiful all year round, but as soon as these lights are lit for the year, you'll want to make this a destination you visit this Christmas season for that special feeling.

Are you ready to embark on any of these day trips in Kansas this year? Which one are you most excited about? Let us know! If you’re driving far, make sure to check out our Ultimate Road Trip Packing List to see what you need for a road trip.

If you’re more about food than you are about road trips in general, we urge you to try out some of these Kansas restaurants you should visit. Truly – you won’t want to miss ’em!

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More to Explore

Day Trips in Kansas

Tori Jane | July 09, 2022

What are some wonderfully unique things to do around Kansas?  

Kansas doesn’t get enough credit. There, we said it. And it’s true: Kansas is home to some truly wonderful places and things to experience, be they natural or man-made, and it’s a shame more folks don’t know just how beautiful this state is.

  • Some of the most unique things to do around Kansas – as in you won’t find these places anywhere else – including trips to the “Eight Wonders of Kansas”, which include gems like the Monument Rocks near Oakley (a must-see for lovers of geology everywhere).
  • The Kansas Prairie is stunning and unique, and you can celebrate it at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, which is among the largest untouched natural tallgrass prairies in the world. We’re pretty sure it doesn’t get a lot more Kansas than that.  

 

Where can I go on some epic day trips near me?  

No matter what part of Kansas you come from, you’re certain to have lots of options in terms of epic day trips to do ASAP!

  • Some of our favorite day trip destinations in Kansas include our amazing state parks, like Webster State Park in Stockton, which has some of the best hiking in the state (and some of the best fall colors in Kansas, too).
  • If you’re in or nearby Olathe, check out the adventures that await at the Timber Ridge Adventure Center, and then check out some museums (if you still have time, anyway).
  • In Bennington, there are lavender farms worth exploring, and
  • In Hutchinson, you’ll find enough fun stuff to do that you might even want to stay longer!  

 

What are some beautiful getaway spots near me?  

Kansas doesn’t get enough credit for its beauty if you ask us. It’s a gorgeous place full of stunning locations for the perfect getaway.

  • Some of the most beautiful getaway spots in Kansas include heading to some of the cutest small towns in Kansas, like Hays, Overland Park, Pratt, and Pittsburg.
  • We also think wandering off to see some of the most beautiful scenery in Kansas makes for a great getaway, too, like Cheney State Park and the above-mentioned Flint Hills Prairie. The possibilities are endless, much like the Kansas plains: your getaway is up to you! 

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