7 Best Kansas Towns For A Weekend Trip
Kansas includes many small towns with preserved downtowns, historic buildings, and direct access to prairie and Flint Hills landscapes. Several also offer established attractions such as the David Traylor Zoo of Emporia, scenic routes like the Flint Hills Scenic Byway, and historic lodging including the Grand Central Hotel & Grill. Towns such as Lindsborg add notable landmarks, including Coronado Heights, while maintaining compact, walkable centers. The following communities are well suited for Kansans looking for an easy, low-key weekend without leaving the state.
Council Grove
Council Grove sits in the heart of the Flint Hills, a landscape defined by rolling tallgrass prairie, limestone hills, and river corridors lined with cottonwoods. The town is closely tied to Kansas pioneer history and served as a key stop along the Santa Fe Trail, giving visitors both scenic and historical reasons to linger for a weekend.
The Kaw Mission State Historic Site, established in 1851 as a school for the Kaw Nation, is one of the most important historic locations. It has since served various civic functions. Today, the site functions as a museum that offers insights into early settlement life, Native history, and the town’s part in westward expansion, featuring interpretive exhibits and walking paths on its grounds.
Outdoor recreation is easily accessible thanks to the Flint Hills Nature Trail, a long-distance rail trail that passes directly through Council Grove. The trail offers flat, well-maintained terrain for walking and biking, with uninterrupted views of native prairie and shaded stretches near the Neosho River.
For dining, the Trail Days Cafe and Museum blends casual comfort food with exhibits tied to the town’s Santa Fe Trail past, making it a fitting stop after a day outdoors. Overnight visitors often choose the Prairie Lodge Motel, a quiet, locally owned option known for its convenient location and relaxed setting just outside the historic downtown
Wamego
Along the banks of the Kansas River, Wamego has built a reputation around its playful connection to The Wizard of Oz. While the town has no direct historical ties to the story beyond its Kansas setting, it fully embraces the theme with the motto “There’s No Place Like Wamego” and the nationally known Oz Museum. Located along Lincoln Avenue, the museum stands out immediately with its bright green and yellow exterior, a sharp contrast to the surrounding brick storefronts. Inside, the experience goes beyond static displays. Visitors pass through Auntie Em’s sepia-toned farmhouse setting before entering colorful Oz-themed galleries inspired by the film.
While many travelers come specifically for the Oz Museum, Wamego offers more to explore. The Wamego Dutch Windmill is a local highlight, surrounded by manicured gardens and walking paths. Each spring, the area hosts the town’s Tulip Festival, drawing visitors for seasonal blooms and community events. For overnight stays, Wamego Inn and Suites provides convenient accommodations close to downtown, along with amenities like an outdoor pool and complimentary breakfast.
Emporia
As the gateway to the Flint Hills, Emporia offers a well-rounded weekend destination that blends outdoor recreation, family attractions, and local history. Larger and more active than many nearby small towns, Emporia still retains a relaxed pace while providing enough attractions to fill a short stay.
A visit often begins at the David Traylor Zoo of Emporia, a compact, well-maintained zoo covering roughly 30 acres. The zoo offers free admission and features paved walking paths, ponds, and thoughtfully designed enclosures housing birds, mammals, and reptiles. Its manageable size and clean layout make it an easy stop for visitors of all ages. Nearby, Peter Pan Park provides additional outdoor options, including a large playground, walking trails leading to a small lake, and an 18-hole disc golf course set among open green space.
For travelers interested in local history, the William Allen White House State Historic Site offers a look into the life of one of Kansas’s most influential journalists. White, longtime editor of The Emporia Gazette, lived in the home from the late 19th century into the early 20th century. The house is preserved with period furnishings and exhibits that reflect both his personal life and his role in American journalism.
Those seeking a distinctive place to stay can consider the Gufler Mansion, a restored historic property that combines classic architecture with modern guest rooms. The mansion features landscaped grounds and shared interior spaces that reflect its original design, making it a fitting complement to Emporia’s historic character.
Oakley
Oakley is a small, remote community in western Kansas, set within the Great Plains, where open farmland meets expansive skies and long, quiet highways. The town functions largely as a service stop for travelers crossing the High Plains, with a compact downtown that reflects its roadside roots rather than a preserved historic district.
Among the town’s local fixtures is Buffalo Bill’s Bar & Grill, a casual spot known for hearty meals and a relaxed, no frills atmosphere. For overnight stays, the Annie Oakley Motel is a popular choice. While modest in scale, the motel is well maintained and appreciated for its clean, updated rooms, friendly staff, and classic mid century roadside design that appeals to road trippers crossing western Kansas.
Oakley also offers a surprising historical stop at the Fick Fossil and History Museum, which houses an impressive private collection of fossils, minerals, Native artifacts, and regional history. The museum highlights the area’s paleontological significance and provides context for the landscapes surrounding town.
Most visitors, however, come to Oakley for nearby Monument Rocks, one of Kansas’s first National Natural Landmarks. These towering chalk formations were shaped more than 80 million years ago when the region lay beneath the Western Interior Seaway. As the ancient sea receded, erosion carved the limestone into the dramatic spires and walls that rise unexpectedly from the flat prairie today, making Monument Rocks one of the most striking natural sights in the state.
Cottonwood Falls
Cottonwood Falls is a small Chase County community that lends itself naturally to a slower paced weekend. Set within the Flint Hills, the town is surrounded by rolling tallgrass prairie, limestone hills, and some of the most scenic two lane drives in Kansas. Traveling along the Flint Hills Scenic Byway offers wide open views of native grasslands, with occasional pullouts that allow visitors to take in the scale and quiet beauty of the region.
One of the town’s most recognizable natural features is Cottonwood Falls, located just a short walk from downtown along the Cottonwood River. The waterfall sits within a small public park and is reached by walking paths that pass beneath limestone bluffs, making it one of the most accessible and photographed waterfalls in the state.
For overnight stays, the Grand Central Hotel & Grill is a local landmark. Built in 1884, the restored hotel retains much of its original woodwork and historic character while offering modern guest rooms. The on site dining room is a popular choice for an evening meal, especially for couples looking for a quieter, refined setting.
Much of Cottonwood Falls is easily explored on foot. From the hotel, visitors can walk to local shops and galleries, including Tallgrass Antiques, making it easy to spend an unhurried morning browsing downtown before heading back out into the Flint Hills.
Lindsborg
Lindsborg, often called Little Sweden, USA, is a distinctive community in central Kansas known for its strong Swedish heritage, colorful streetscapes, and relaxed pace. The town’s identity is shaped by Scandinavian architecture, public art, and long standing cultural traditions that make it one of the most recognizable small towns in the state.
A stay at the Drom Sott Inn offers an immersive introduction to that heritage. The inn features individually decorated rooms inspired by Scandinavian design, along with a traditional Swedish-style breakfast served each morning. Its central location also makes it easy to explore downtown on foot. Just outside town, Coronado Heights provides sweeping views of the Smoky Hills. Built in 1936 as a Works Progress Administration project, the stone structure commemorates early Spanish exploration in the region and remains one of the area’s most photographed landmarks.
Outdoor recreation is available on the Meadowlark Trail North Trailhead, which passes through open prairie and seasonal wildflowers along the edge of town. Back in Lindsborg, simply walking the downtown streets is part of the appeal. Visitors can browse independent shops, coffeehouses, and art spaces such as the Red Barn Studio Museum, which showcases regional artists and reflects the town’s strong creative culture.
Wilson
Wilson is a small community in central Kansas with fewer than 1,000 residents, known for its distinctive Czech heritage and a collection of roadside attractions that set it apart from most towns of its size. The drive to Wilson is part of the appeal, with long stretches of open prairie giving way to a town that leans into its cultural identity rather than trying to blend in.
Many visitors begin their stay at the Midland Railroad Hotel & Restaurant, a brick hotel built in 1899 to serve rail travelers passing through the region. Today, the restored property offers comfortable rooms and a casual dining room, while maintaining much of its historic character. From the hotel, it is an easy walk to one of Wilson’s most recognizable landmarks, the World’s Largest Czech Egg, a brightly painted tribute to the town’s Czech roots.
Another unusual stop is the Wilson Old City Jail, a circular limestone structure that began life as a water tower in the early 20th century before being converted into a jail in the 1950s. Its unconventional design makes it one of the more curious historic buildings in the state.
The town’s cultural center is the Kansas Originals Market, a large marketplace dedicated to Kansas made art, crafts, and food products. The market showcases work from local producers across the state and regularly hosts events such as tastings and art exhibitions, making it a focal point for both visitors and the surrounding community.
Discover Your Next Perfect Kansas Getaway
Sometimes, the best weekend getaways are in places you’d least expect. These small communities are designed for weekend getaways. They are free of traffic and crowds, and there’s just enough to see that things will never be boring. From rustic retreats in the prairies at the Annie Oakley Motel to following the yellow brick road in Wamego, these Kansas towns are the perfect place to make new memories. So, when you’re ready for a weekend getaway, pack up the car and hit the road!
