Kansas Road Trips

By Roxie Yonkey

The beautiful state of Kansas gets its nickname, the Sunflower State, from the wild sunflowers that highlight its open spaces, and nearly three million people call it home.

The battle over slavery marred Kansas’s early history. The undeclared Civil War started in Kansas when pro- and anti-slavery forces fought to decide whether Kansas would be a slave state or a free state. This unrest became known as “Bleeding Kansas.”

Map of Kansas Road Trips

Kansas Road Trips

  1. Land and Sky Scenic Byway
  2. Glacial Hills Scenic Byway
  3. Route 66 and Frontier Military Historic Byway
  4. Flint Hills and Native Stone Byways

Kansas Websites

Land and Sky

  • Land and Sky Scenic Byway, travelks.com/things-to-do/byways-and-highways/byways/land-and-sky
  • Goodland hotels, thetopsideofkansas.org/community/plan-your-visit/lodging
  • Mid-America Camp Inn, bit.ly/midamericacamp
  • Mount Sunflower Bed and Breakfast, mtsunflowerbedandbreakfast.com
  • Spencer House Bed & Breakfast, thespencerhousebandb.com
  • Cheyenne Valley Cemetery, army.mil/medalofhonor/valor24/recipients/weinstein/?f=recipient_list
  • Cheyenne County Museum, cncoks.us/museum
  • St. Francis Motorcycle Museum, stfrancismotorcyclemuseum.org
  • Hardt Gallery, facebook.com/CheyenneCenterForCreativity
  • After your indoor browsing, opt outside at Keller Pond, ]mtbproject.com/trail/7040796/kellers-pond-river-walk
  • Sawhill Park, stfranciskansas.com/directory/saw-hill-park
  • St. Francis Aquatic Park, bit.ly/sfaquatic 
  • Fresh Seven Coffee, freshsevencoffee.com 
  • Diamond R Bar, bit.ly/diamondrbar  
  • El Jalapeño Mexican Restaurant, bit.ly/eljalapenorestaurant
  • Arikaree Breaks map, bit.ly/arikareebreaksmap. 
  • Arikaree Breaks, bit.ly/breaks8wonders 
  • Bird City Golf Course, bit.ly/birdcitygolf
  • Tri-State Antique Engine & Threshers Association Annual Show, threshershow.org
  • Big Ed’s Steakhouse, bit.ly/bigedssteakhouse 
  • Kidder Battlefield map, bit.ly/kiddermap
  • Kidder Battlefield, travelks.com/listing/kidder-massacre-site/39933
  • Giant Grasshopper, getruralkansas.org/Goodland/210Explore/1802.shtml
  • Giant van Gogh Painting, travelks.com/listing/the-big-easel-giant-van-gogh-painting/37207
  • Pioneer Dog Park, gogoodland.org
  • High Plains Museum, highplainsmuseum.org 
  • Northwest Tech Mavericks, ntmavericks.com
  • Carnegie Arts Center, goodlandarts.org
  • United Telephone Building, kshs.org/natreg/natreg_listings/view/1783
  • The Goodland Churches Thrift Store, bit.ly/goodlandthriftstore
  • Goodland Post Office, getruralkansas.com/Goodland/210Explore/1824.shtml
  • Sherman County Courthouse, getruralkansas.org/Goodland/210Explore/1811.shtml
  • Goodland Public Library, goodlandlibrary.org
  • National Weather Service Forecast Office, weather.gov/gld
  • Olde Westport Spice, oldewestportspice.com
  • Terra Bona Hawai’ian Shaved Ice, terrabonagoodland.com
  • Good Grounds Café & Bistro, facebook.com/goodgroundsks 
  • L&T Family Restaurant, facebook.com/ltperla
  • Sherman Theatre, goodlandnet.com/movies 
  • Soldiers Memorial County Park map, bit.ly/soldiersmemorialmap. 
  • Soldiers Memorial County Park, facebook.com/soldiersmemorialpark 
  • Mount Sunflower map, bit.ly/mtsunflowermap
  • Mount Sunflower, bit.ly/mountsunflowerfb
  • 21st Century Bean, 21stcenturybean.com 
  • Town’s End Tavern, facebook.com/townsendtav
  • Penny’s Diner, facebook.com/pennysdinersharonsprings 
  • Fort Wallace Museum, ftwallace.com
  • Western Vistas Historic Byway, travelks.com/things-to-do/byways-and-highways/byways/western-vistas
  • Keystone Gallery, keystonegallery.com

Glacial Hills Scenic Byway

  • Overland trails, octa-trails.org/the-missouri-and-kansas-trails
  • Union Park Guest House, bit.ly/unionparkguesthouse
  • Red Door Cottage, facebook.com/RedDoorCottageinAtchison
  • Ma-Hush-Kah Museum, facebook.com/mahushkah
  • Four-State Lookout, bit.ly/4statelookout 
  • Sparks Flea Market, facebook.com/SparksFleaMarket
  • Doniphan County Courthouse, dpcountyks.com/doniphan-county-history
  • Feed Store Café, facebook.com/FeedStoreCafe
  • Byre and Bluff Barn Trail, bit.ly/byrebarntrail 
  • Lincoln in Elwood, kshs.org/kansapedia/abraham-lincoln-in-kansas/12132
  • Doniphan, bit.ly/doniphancemetery
  • Brenner Vineyards Historic District, bit.ly/brennerhistdistpdf
  • Benedictine Bottoms Wildlife Area, bit.ly/benedictinebottoms
  • Independence Creek Trail, bit.ly/independencecreektrail
  • St. Benedict Catholic Church, benedictine.edu 
  • St. Benedict’s Abbey, kansasmonks.org
  • Riverfront Park, cityofatchison.com/location/riverfront-park 
  • Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum, ameliaearhartmuseum.org
  • International Forest of Friendship, ifof.org
  • Amelia Earhart Earthwork, visitatchison.com/highlight/amelia-earhart-earthwork
  • Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum, ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org
  • Mount Vernon Cemetery, findagrave.com/cemetery/93155/mount-vernon-cemetery
  • Sallie House, visitatchison.com/highlight/sallie-house
  • Visitor Information Center, visitatchison.com/plan-your-visit
  • Atchison County Historical Society Museum, atchisonhistory.org
  • Muchnic Art Gallery, atchisonart.org/the-muchnic-gallery
  • Farmers Market Place, atchisonfarmers.market 
  • Snowball Ice Cream Shop, bit.ly/snowballicecreamshop
  • Paolucci’s Restaurant, facebook.com/paolucci.loungerestaurant
  • Outdoor pedestrian mall, visitatchison.com/biz_cat/shopping
  • World’s Largest Baseball, roadsideamerica.com/tip/38003
  • United States Federal Penitentiary, visitleavenworthks.com/visitors/page/united-states-federal-penitentiary
  • Fort Leavenworth, home.army.mil/leavenworth/index.php/my-fort/all-services/gate-information 
  • Wayside Tour extends into the City of Leavenworth, home.army.mil/leavenworth/index.php/about/visitor-information
  • Circle of Firsts, army.mil/article/74095/monument_circle_of_firsts_honor_black_soldiers
  • 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, womenofthe6888th.org/the-6888th-monument
  • The Lewis and Clark Center, visitleavenworthks.com/visitors/page/fort-leavenworth
  • Carroll Mansion, leavenworthhistory.org 
  • Leavenworth Historical Museum Association, firstcitymuseums.org
  • Richard Allen Cultural Center & Museum, jazzbytheriverleavenworth.com/museum
  • Leavenworth Landing Park, alltrails.com/us/kansas/leavenworth
  • Leavenworth National Cemetery,bit.ly/lvnatlcemetery 
  • Melissa Etheridge tour brochure, visitleavenworthks.com/visitors/page/melissa-etheridge-hometown-tour
  • Mido’s Halal Mediterranean Grill, facebook.com/MidosHalalMediterraneanGrill 
  • The Depot, thedepot1887.com 
  • Island Spice Jamaican Restaurant, bit.ly/islandspicejamaican
  • Z&M Twisted Vines Wines & Winery, zmtwistedwines.com
  • Downtown Leavenworth, visitleavenworthks.com/visitors/page/shopping

Route 66 and Frontier Military

  • Historic Route 66, travelks.com/things-to-do/byways-and-highways/byways/route-66
  • Courtland Hotel & Spa, courtlandhotel.com
  • Route 66 Visitor Center, bit.ly/baxterspringsstation 
  • Van’s Steakhouse, facebook.com/vansbaxter
  • Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma Tri-Point, roadsideamerica.com/story/50144 
  • Baxter Springs Heritage Center & Museum, baxterspringsmuseum.org
  • Fort Blair Historic Site, civilwaronthewesternborder.org/map/fort-blair
  • Baxter Springs Cemetery Soldiers’ Lot, bit.ly/soldierslot 
  • North Baxter Springs Historic District, kshs.org/natreg/natreg_listings/view/1707
  • Show Me Birds, showmebirds.com
  • Eisler Bros.’ Old Riverton Store, eislerbros.com 
  • Cars on the Route, facebook.com/CarsOnTheRoute 
  • Ghost Bike, route66news.com/2018/05/21/ghost-bike-erected-in-memory-of-two-killed-cyclists
  • Galena Mining & Historical Museum, facebook.com/GalenaMuseum
  • Schermerhorn Park, geokansas.ku.edu/schermerhorn-park-and-cave
  • Southeast Kansas Nature Center, facebook.com/SEKNatureCenter

Frontier Military Historic Byway

  • Columbus Museum, columbusks.gov/community/columbus-museum-and-genealogy-library
  • Columbus driving tour, chamberofcolumbus.com
  • Hot Air Balloon Regatta, columbusdayballoons.com 
  • Columbus City Cemetery, khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=021-369
  • Saint Bridget Church, ckcocatholics.org/saint-bridget-scammon-kansas 
  • Big Brutus, bigbrutus.org
  • Mined Land Wildlife Area, ksoutdoors.com/KDWP-Info/Locations/Wildlife-Areas/Southeast/Mined-Land
  • Hudgeon Bridge, bridgehunter.com/ks/crawford/hudgeon
  • Little Balkans Festival, littlebalkansfestival.com 
  • Amazon Army, amazonarmy.com 
  • Miner’s Memorial and Immigrant Park, minersmemorialpittks.org
  • Frontenac Mine Disaster, frontenac249.org/history/frontenac-mine-disaster-1888
  • Pittsburg Public Library, facebook.com/PPLonline
  • Kiddieland Amusement Park, facebook.com/kiddieland.park
  • Pittsburg State University Veterans Memorial Amphitheater, psuvetmemorial.org 
  • Pittsburg fried chicken, kansassampler.org/8wondersofkansas-cuisine/crawford-county-fried-chicken
  • Typhoon Restaurant, typhoonthai.com 
  • Miners Hall Museum, minershallmuseum.com
  • Longest Sidewalk Between Two Towns, kshs.org/kansapedia/franklin-arma-sidewalk/18986
  • Fort Scott, visitfortscott.com
  • Fort Scott National Historic Site, nps.gov/fosc 
  • Dolly the Trolley, visitfortscott.com/transportation-accomodations
  • Fort Scott Downtown Historic District, fscity.org/372/Historic-District
  • Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, lowellmilkencenter.org
  • Gordon Parks Museum, gordonparkscenter.org 
  • Sharky’s Pub & Grub. facebook.com/sharkyspub
  • Luther’s BBQ, luthersbbqfs.com
  • Viñedo del Alamo Winery, facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063548324675
  • Riverfront Park, visitfortscott.com/see-and-do/riverfront-park 
  • Kansas Rocks Recreation Park, ksrockspark.com 
  • Mine Creek Civil War Battlefield, kshs.org/p/mine-creek-civil-war-battlefield/19567
  • Linn County Historical Museum in Pleasanton. linncountykansas.com/html/historical.html
  • Cookee’s Drive-In, facebook.com/cookeesdrivein
  • Mound City Historical Park, moundcity.org/historical-park
  • Sugar Mound Arts & Crafts Festival, sugarmoundartscrafts.com
  • Marais des Cygnes Massacre, kshs.org/p/marais-des-cygnes-massacre/19576
  • Trading Post Museum. facebook.com/tradingpostmuseum
  • Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge, fws.gov/refuge/marais-des-cygnes 

Flint Hills and Native Stone 

  • Flint Hills National Scenic Byway, travelks.com/ksbyways/flint-hills 
  • Native Stone Scenic Byway, travelks.com/ksbyways/native-stone 
  • Grand Central Hotel, grandcentralhotel.com 
  • Millstream Resort Motel, facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035054565777
  • The Cottage House, cottagehousecgks.com
  • Council Grove Lake, recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233599
  • Manhattan hotels, manhattancvb.org/hotels
  • Teter Rock, travelks.com/blog/stories/post/time-at-teter-rock 
  • Texaco Hill, mickeyshannon.com/kansas/landmark/texaco-hill
  • Cassoday Bike Run, cassodaybikerun.org
  • Bank Art Space, matfieldgreen.org/thebank
  • Pioneer Bluffs Center, pioneerbluffs.org
  • Schrumpf Hill Scenic Overlook, travelks.com/listing/schrumpf-hill-scenic-overlook/12131
  • Chase Lake Falls, chasecountychamber.org/chase-county-lake
  • Elmdale, ghosttowns.com/states/ks/elmdale.html
  • Clements Stone Arch Bridge, chasecountychamber.org/stone-bridges-and-waterfalls
  • Drinkwater & Schriver Mill, cedarpointmill.com 
  • Chase County Courthouse, cwfks.org/chase-county-courthouse 
  • Downtown Cottonwood Falls, chasecountychamber.org /shopping
  • Prairie PastTimes, prairiepasttimes.org
  • Symphony in the Flint Hills, symphonyintheflinthills.org
  • Keller Feed and Wine Co., facebook.com/KellerFeedAndWine
  • Community Connection Trail, getoutdoorskansas.org/trails/chase-county-community-connection-trail
  • Bottomland Trail, nps.gov/tapr/planyourvisit/nature-trails.htm
  • Flint Hills Rodeo, flinthillsrodeo.org 
  • Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, nps.gov/tapr
  • Lake Kahola Waterfall, geospectra.net/kahola/kahola.htm
  • Dunlap, core.ac.uk/download/pdf/188060403.pdf
  • Allegawaho Memorial Heritage Park, kawnation.com/?page_id=7508 
  • Washunga Days Festival, washungadays.com 
  • Flint Hills Trail State Park, ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Locations/Flint-Hills-Trail
  • Council Grove Historic Sites, councilgrove.com/historicsites 
  • Hays House Restaurant, hayshouse.com
  • Alma Creamery, almacheese.com
  • Wabaunsee County Historical Society and Museum, wabaunseecomuseum.org
  • Grandma Hoerner’s Natural & Organic, grandmahoerners.com
  • Prairie Fire Winery, prairiefirewinery.com
  • Wyldewood Cellars Winery, wyldewoodcellars.com
  • Oz Winery, ozwinerykansas.com
  • 456 Wineries, 456wineries.com
  • Liquid Art Winery and Estate, liquidartwinery.com
  • Mill Creek Antiques, millcreekantiques.com 
  • Paxico Blues Festival, paxicobluesfest.com 
  • Oz Museum, ozmuseum.com 
  • Beecher Bible and Rifle Church, visitwamego.com/see-and-do/beecher-bible-rifle-church
  • Pillsbury Crossing, manhattancvb.org/listing/pillsbury-crossing-wildlife-area/532
  • Kansas River Trail, kansasriver.org
  • Konza Prairie, keep.konza.k-state.edu/visit
  • Tuttle Creek State Park, ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Locations/Tuttle-Creek Tuttle Creek ORV Area, nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations/District-Lakes/Tuttle-Creek-Lake/Trails/Off-Road-Vehicle-Areas
  • Kansas State University, events.k-state.edu
  • Call Hall Dairy Bar, facebook.com/ksudairybar
  • K-State athletics, kstatesports.com
  • Game Day Guide, manhattancvb.org/events/kansas-state-gameday
  • Flint Hills Discovery Center, flinthillsdiscovery.org
  • Blue Earth Plaza, mhkprd.com/172/Blue-Earth-Plaza 
  • Manhattan Festival of Lights, mhkfestivaloflights.com
  • Bourbon & Baker, bourbonandbakermanhattan.com
  • LABCo. Market and Restaurant, littleapplebrewery.com
  • Aggieville, aggieville.org
  • Manhattan Brewing Company, mhkbeer.com
  • Tallgrass Tap House, tallgrasstaphouse.com
  • Varsity Donuts, varsitydonuts.com
  • The Fridge Wholesale Liquor, fridgeliquor.com
  • Kansas Byways, travelks.com/ksbyways