7 Perfect Destinations for a Long Weekend in Kansas
Long weekends are an escape from the humdrum of daily life and the bustling pace of the 9-to-5 grind. When you get out on the prairies and Great Plains of Kansas, you get introduced to a different way of life. Hard work is still a central theme, but the pace slows, and history and heritage are preserved in downtown buildings and even in small chicken restaurants that sparked a Chicken War. Get a look into the Wild West on the streets and businesses of Dodge City, dipping into the Victorian age with towns like Abilene and Hays, and exploring the wonder of nature in spots like Garden City. The small towns that are found in every corner of Kansas tell their own story, one that requires more than a traditional weekend to fully read.
Dodge City
In southwest Kansas, about 150 miles west of Wichita, find Dodge City, a place many call the truest Wild West town on Earth. The action unfolds on Saturdays on Front Street, with street performers living out the drama of days gone by through high noon duels and saloons serving root beer from old-fashioned mugs, like on the wild frontier. Interestingly enough, beyond the insistence on preserving this Wild West exterior, the town is functioning in the background with real jobs, businesses, residences, and more existing alongside and in step with this theme. For a delicious bite that doesn’t break the immersion, take in a meal at The Cowboy Capital Saloon & Grill for expertly prepared steaks.
To experience the history of Dodge City as it pertained to its role in the untamed West years ago, start at the Boot Hill Museum for exhibits and artifacts that point to a time that never really left this part of Kansas. A preferred accommodation for a long weekend, right in the action, is the Wyatt Earp Hotel. For a look at some of the heroes and villains of this iconic era of American history, the next stop should be the Gunfighters Wax Museum (inside the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame).
Abilene
While places like Dodge City might be known for preserving the Wild West, look to Abilene as a project to preserve the state's Victorian-era architecture. Abilene is right alongside I-70 in northern Kansas and is best known as the birthplace of one of the nation’s most recognized presidents, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Learn more about this influential individual at the Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum, which features the house where he grew up and multiple exhibits.
To explore the preservation of Victorian architecture, begin at the Seelye Mansion, built in 1905. Visitors here take time to appreciate ornate features and amenities that were ahead of their time, such as polished woodwork, handcrafted furniture, and even an old-school bowling lane. For accommodations, there are the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Abilene and the Super 8 by Wyndham Abilene, both right off I-70.
Hays
Halfway along the stretch from Kansas City to Denver, find Hays. This is the home of Fort Hays State University, which means the whole community is ideal for a long weekend, with its lively, active heartbeat. The downtown area is nicknamed The Bricks, appropriately so for its red paver streets. The aging architecture here has been given second and third lives by modern businesses, ranging from jewelry stops like Simply Charmed to niche locations like Gamer’s Guild. There is plenty to keep occupied during a visit, such as the huge Victorian bed-and-breakfast called Bissing House, which stands out as an obvious local choice.
When you spot a property with a rather unique domed roof, you have found the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, with one-of-a-kind fossils like the ‘fish within a fish’ and a slew of animatronic dinosaurs. Naturally, you are bound to get hungry from a weekend worth of exploration, so try out one of the local favorite eateries, Gella’s Diner and LB Brewing, for deliciously memorable comfort foods like Short Rib Stroganoff or Dill Pickle Soup.
Emporia
Out where east central Kansas meets the rolling Flint Hills, right off of I-35 between Wichita and Kansas City, Emporia is a small yet interesting stop worth exploring for a few days. For a place with a quirky reason for checking it out, Emporia is known as the ‘Disc Golf Capital of the World,’ and also the home of one of the state’s biggest bike races called ‘Unbound Gravel.’ Even without these designations, the city shines with Emporia State University, allowing for a wide selection of eateries, niche stores, and entertainment. A good example of this is BobbyD’s Merchant Street BBQ, serving young and old “Emporia’s Best Barbeque.”
If music or films pull you in, step into the Emporia Granada Theatre, a place meticulously preserved and refurbished as needed since its original construction in 1929. Today, it is home to local art on display and a steady stream of live music and stage productions that keep residents and travelers coming back. For something less than two miles from the Flint Hills Mall and the College of Emporia Park, get accommodations near the action at the Eleven Boutique Hotel.
Great Bend
Right in the middle of the state, Great Bend is a spot made for those who love open spaces and exploring nature. Named after the broad bend in the Arkansas River, its shape carves out marshy areas alongside sandy grasslands, creating a unique natural wonder ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. For this reason, many chain accommodations have popped up near the epicenters of this activity, including the Travelers Budget Inn, a popular choice for its low prices and clean, simple rooms. Because of this mix, countless birds rest here during their long trips each year, filling the skies and edges of town with this colorful migration. To really get the most out of this annual event, check out the Cheyenne Bottoms and the Kansas Wetlands Education Center. One of North America’s key stopovers for migrating birds sits right here, complete with a drive-through route revealing countless feathered travelers.
Back in the city, there is plenty worth exploring here as well. Start with the admission-free Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo, to see many different animals, as well as a center where qualified teams help rehabilitate injured raptors to health and their eventual return to the wild. While there are many restaurants to discover on a several-day stay in Great Bend. Do not sleep on The Page an American Bistro. This eatery is all about comforting classics like a cheesy patty melt and stuffed mushrooms.
Garden City
Garden City is a small town in Southwest Kansas that people love to explore. While there is much in the way of industrial opportunity out here, like packing plants that offer stable employment for thousands, it’s the community's diversity that is a real draw. Enjoy an authentic plate of Vietnamese cuisine at Pho Hoa One Restaurant down the road from classic American fare at Traditions Soda & Sandwich, offering quick bites of delicious handheld sandwiches and a head-spinning selection of fizzy beverages.
Nature and wildlife are part of the community vibe as well, starting with the Lee Richardson Zoo and the massive, connected park, one of the largest wildlife areas in West Kansas. Best of all, get accommodations right near this activity at the Garden City Inn, making access easy and fast. In the warmer months, find the locals making the most of the weekend at Garden Rapids at The Big Pool, with waterslides, a lazy river, and a 50-meter pool.
Pittsburg
On the other side of Kansas, in the southeastern edge, find the history-rich town of Pittsburg, ready to be explored over a long weekend. One of the town's interesting stories stems from a Chicken War that has been brewing here for almost a century between two popular restaurants, both owned and operated by miners’ wives. Chicken Annie’s serves a thin-crusted chicken, while the rival, Chicken Mary’s, serves thicker, seasoned, crusted chicken only 300 feet away. To try them both to figure out who is right to claim the title of the best.
To support locally owned and operated accommodations for a long weekend, appreciate the simple, clean digs at The Regency Inn, which is conveniently located to reach most of the sights. Start the day by stepping into Big Brutus just outside West Mineral. This massive 16-story electric coal shovel stands still, waiting for visitors to walk through its metal frame, once hard at work digging out coal. Back in town, history takes shape nearby at the Crawford County Historical Museum, where old tools and stories bring to life what life felt like underground.
Kansas Is Full of Towns Worthy of a Long Weekend
Not everything flat is boring, especially when taking a dive into the small towns that Kansas has to offer. This selection of communities each offers a perfect mix of natural wonders, history, and entertainment to fill the weekend-long, no matter where in the state you are headed. To experience the prairies in a way to remember, slow down and find the heartbeat of the state in places like Hays, Abilene, and Dodge City.
