The Best Small Towns in Kansas to Chill Out
Big on hospitality and one-of-a-kind attractions, the Sunflower State’s small towns know how to win hearts and earn repeat visitors. Cowboy history, yellow brick roads, and Scandinavian-themed main streets are just some of the quirks and charms you can find throughout Kansas. Coupled with cute cafes, beautiful waterfronts, and museums galore, these small towns are all about hanging out and letting loose. Whether planning a road trip layover or stopping by for a full day’s fun, these are the best small towns in Kansas to chill out for a while.
Wamego
“There’s no place like home” is a cinematic phrase Wamego residents take to heart. Paying homage to the Kansas-based Wizard of Oz, Wamego is a cute and whimsical place to spend a day exploring. The OZ Museum is its anchor attraction, situated in the heart of downtown. Lined with yellow brick trim, the emerald-green building invites guests inside to browse Oz artifacts, spanning its book origins, movie adaptation, and Broadway days.
Back outside, an actual Yellow Brick Road trail leads through 2 blocks of Wamego, ending at the sweet Friendship House bakery. As for the rest of Lincoln Ave, countless Oz-themed locales add to downtown Wamego’s whimsy. Of-age visitors can sample film-themed drinks at the Oz Winery, from a Squished Witch-Ives Noir to a Flying Monkey-Syrah. For a witchy souvenir, visitors can also stop at shops like The Good Witch Apothecary and Glistening Glinda’s.
Lindsborg
Centered around its Swedish roots, Lindsborg is equally colorful, quaint, and quirky. Named after the Swedish immigrants who helped settle the town, Lindsborg’s downtown showcases its heritage with Swedish-themed businesses and Scandinavian-inspired architecture. Main Street is the best place to see the best of both at locales like Indigo Moo'd Ice Cream. Traditional Swedish cuisine can also be savored on Main Street at restaurants like Crown and Rye.
Smoky Hill River views are another charm of Lindsborg, whether strolling the Välkommen Bridge or touring the Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum. Nearby, Riverside Park is equally tranquil and scenic, although the space gets busy each June during Lindsborg’s annual Midsummer’s Festival. The next celebration will take place June 20, 2026, spotlighting Swedish folk dancing, food, a maypole, and other time-honored traditions.
Abilene
Abilene’s atmosphere has calmed down since its Wild West days, but this former “Cow Town” is anything but dull. Located along the Smoky Hill River, Abilene gained prominence as a cattle drive terminus, attracting famous Wild West figures such as Wild Bill Hickok. Today, summer travelers can experience its frontier history at Old Abilene Town. The living history attraction features historic reenactors, live cattle drive events, and replica Old West buildings, including a saloon, jail, and general store.
For year-round attractions, Abilene’s other claim to fame is its ties to Dwight D. Eisenhower. The US president spent most of his childhood in Abilene, which the town commemorates with historic landmarks like the Dwight D Eisenhower Boyhood Home. The attached Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum is another must, while spring and summer are the best times to stroll the Eisenhower Park Rose Garden.
Council Grove
Situated in the Flint Hills of Eastern Kansas, Council Grove is another captivating place for history lovers. The town was once a stop on the Santa Fe Trail, a famous pioneer route connecting Missouri to New Mexico. Today, Council Grove’s charming Main Street offers a preserved look at this era. The strip is lined with historic sites dating to its Santa Fe Trail days, such as the Last Chance Store. Other historic buildings house modern locales, like the Hays House 1857 Restaurant & Tavern.
Continuing down Main Street, the Trail Days Cafe and Museum is another cool spot to explore. Housed in the 1861 Rawlinson-Terwilliger Stone Home, the museum showcases artifacts and photographs from the Santa Fe Trail era. As for the cafe, unique cuisine is part of the museum experience. Designed with history lovers in mind, much of the menu is modelled after historic recipes, allowing guests to taste the past.
Cottonwood Falls
Around 22 miles south of Council Grove, Cottonwood Falls is a serene place to chase waterfalls and step back in time. Located along the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway, this small Kansas town is a breathtaking road trip waypoint. Bounded by the Cottonwood River, Public Park is a picturesque first stop, granting entry to the Cottonwood Falls River Walking Bridge. From there, downtown Cottonwood is a short walk away, following Broadway Street to the Chase County Courthouse. Built in 1873, the stunning French Renaissance-style structure is the state’s oldest courthouse still in use.
As for waterfall chasing, this requires hopping back in your car for a spell. Around 3 miles west of the Chase County Courthouse, Chase State Fishing Lake is a recreation haven. Visitors can cast a line from its 8 fishing piers, camp along its northern shore, or simply sit back and enjoy waterfront views. However, most sightseers seek out its highly sought-after landmark, Prather Creek Falls. The three-tiered beauty, also called Chase Lake Falls, is one of the most majestic cascades in Kansas.
Dodge City
Over in southwest Kansas, Dodge City is another frontier town rich in Wild West charms. Settled in 1872, the Arkansas River community was another prominent layover on the Santa Fe Trail. Today, the Boot Hill Museum is Dodge City’s crown jewel, showcasing its Old West past with a stretch of replica buildings, an Old West Photo Parlor, and over 60,000 artifacts. Exhibits range from photographs to a historic gun collection, along with its newer Cowboy Hall of Fame.
For more historic fun, Dodge City Historic Trolley Tours are a favorite with families, guiding guests back in time to the 1870s. As for Dodge City’s adult visitors, the Kansas town has a vibrant nightlife. Although Dodge City’s gambling halls and saloons are no more, the Boot Hill Casino & Resort is a fun modern twist. In place of sarsaparilla and swinging saloon doors, of-age visitors can also spend evenings trying top-rated brewpubs like Dodge City Brewing.
The Best Kansas Towns To Chill Out
While we all love an overseas getaway, low-key day trips are the perfect way to enjoy travel throughout the year. If you’re searching for a place to let loose and chill out, these Kansas towns, although small in size, have big hearts and major attractions. Whether exploring Wamego’s Wizard of Oz sites, sampling Sweden in Lindsborg, or immersing yourself in Abilene’s Wild West past, these are the best towns in Kansas to unwind and forget your worries for a while.
