We know you’re probably thinking about how there’s no way there can be 22 awesome day trips in Kansas. Well, we’re here to tell you that you’re wrong (sorry)! In fact, there’s plenty more, too, but we figured “22” is a large enough serving of some of the best day trips in Kansas that fill our state from border to border. You’ll love these great ideas for your next epic Kansas day trip:

1. Historic Council Grove
Council Grove, KS 66846, USA
Ichabod/Wikimedia
This place is full of rich Kansas history, and that's why it's made it onto the list of Kansas' best day trips. Are you surprised? It's a popular place! More about Council Grove, KS can be found here.

Explore the charming historic town of Council Grove, Kansas in this video from WanderingWalksofWonder:
2. Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead (Overland Park)
Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead, 13800 Switzer Rd, Overland Park, KS 66221, USA
Management/Yelp
A great place to take all the kids, this farmstead remembers how things used to be at the turn of the century, as well as has a few farm animals and updated play equipment for the kids. Learn more about the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead.
3. Hays Happenings
Hays, KS 67601, USA
CityOfHays/Wikimedia
Hays is a town filled with great food and greater people. Our personal favorites are the Sternberg Museum, and the aquatic park, which also happens to be big hits with the kids.
4. Hutchinson Highlights
Hutchinson, KS, USA
Management/TripAdvisor
Hutchinson isn't a town for everyone, but you can't argue that it doesn't have a lot of fun things for you and your family to do. There's the Cosmosphere, Strataca, and plenty of places to catch a great bite to eat.
5. The Perfection Weekend trip (SC Kansas)
Butcher Falls, Summit, KS 67361, USA
Granger Meador/Flickr
Between two great waterfalls, smokin' barbecue, and a historic courthouse, this trip is a sure winner. Why not give this Kansas road trip a try?

One of the best things to do in Kansas is head to Butcher Falls to enjoy the sounds of rushing water in a peaceful setting. Enjoy a tour in this video from Love My Kansas, Inc.:

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6. Sweet Streams Lavender (Bucyrus)
Sweet Streams Lavender Co., p 21, Bucyrus, KS 66013, USA
Sweet Streams Lavender/Facebook
3,000 lavender plants make one heck of a great-smelling garden, and there are plenty of lavender-based products you can purchase directly from the source to help your home smell just like it. Check out Sweet Streams Lavender in our featured article.
7. Webster State Park
Webster State Park, 1140 10 Rd, Stockton, KS 67669, USA
Webster State Park - Kansas Wildlife & Parks/Facebook
Kansas has quite a few state parks, and they're all one of a kind, that's for sure. Webster State Park is a home run when it comes to scenery, which makes it a top getaway location for campers.
8-16. Nine more Kansas State Parks that need a little love
Sand Hills State Park - Kansas Wildlife & Parks/Facebook
There are nine more state parks here you should visit, though! They need some love and tourist attention, and what better way than to take a weekend to camp out at these gorgeous waterfront spots? Check out our list of a few Kansas state parks on this list!
17. Timber Ridge Adventure Center (Olathe)
12300 S Homestead Ln, Olathe, KS 66061, USA
Timber Ridge Adventure Center/Facebook
This place is amazing! You'll need a reservation, but they offer all sorts of outdoor activities for all ages to participate in. What a way to spend a day! You'll have to see it all for yourself.
18-21. Four different train trips
Carona Train Depot, 6769 NW 20th St, Scammon, KS 66773, USA
Heart of the Heartlands Train Club/Facebook
There are all sorts of train trips you can take right here in Kansas, including one where you'll get to meet Thomas himself. Why not take a day out with your favorite railfan? Check out more about these Kansas day trips by train in our featured article.

Check out the Heart of the Heartlands Museum in Corona, KS in this video from Easy Dave for more Kansas day trips ideas:
22. A 400-mile, 3-day antique sale stretching from East to West
KansasTourism/Flickr
This day trip sounds just crazy! Yes, it's really that long, and it stretches from the Missouri border to the Colorado border in one long line of thrift shops and antique sales. What isn't there to love about this giant sale in Kansas?

If you are looking for spontaneous day trips in Kansas this list is a good place to start. Have you been to any or all of these places yet? Tell us all about the best day trips in Kansas you have discovered! We love hearing from you.

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Tori Jane | September 16, 2021

Where are some must-visit places in Kansas?  

Some must-visit places in Kansas include:

 

People don’t give Kansas enough credit. Like everywhere else, Kansas is a state with interesting history, vibrant landscapes, and so much more to offer visitors than just being “flat”, as it’s often called. Some must-visit places in Kansas that we love include gems like the epic Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, in Hutchison, which is an incredible look at the cosmos and heavens above from a scientific perspective. We also love a lot of Kansas’s amazing natural wonders, like Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park and just about all of our incredible waterfalls. Really, any of Kansas’s 28 breathtaking state parks are worthy of a day trip all its own. You’ll learn to see Kansas in a totally different way, and you’ll fall in love with its beautiful landscapes, geology, and natural history. Oh, and while you’re here, you definitely can’t pass up some good old-fashioned Kansas City barbecue. Good luck choosing – there are hundreds of must-visit spots around. For a more complete list of our favorites, take a look at this article!  

Where are some interesting historic places in Kansas? 

Some interesting historic places in Kansas include:

 

History buffs will love spending time in Kansas. It’s a state full of history galore, and we love places like the first territorial capitol, which is in Fort Riley, and Fort Hays in Hays is as interesting as it is historic. If you’re near Republic, check out the Pawnee Indiana Museum; Hanover is home to the old Hollenberg Pony Express Station, and you can also find nature preserves, natural history museums, and more all over the state. There are so many places across the Sunflower State that are as educational as they are scenic or historical; we strongly encourage folks to explore as much of the state as possible. 

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