Kansas City to Wichita: Scenic Routes and Historic Stops

Ready to hit the road from Kansas City to Wichita? Here’s what you need to know when plotting your course between the Sunflower State’s two biggest cities, whether you take the direct route or a more scenic path.

Kansas City's Union Station and Wichita's Riverfront.Photo byCanva.

Choosing your route

When charting your course between Kansas City and Wichita, you have a few options. Do you want to get there as fast as possible, or would you prefer to wander along the scenic route?

Note: The driving distance and times listed assume normal weather and road conditions. Be sure to allow more time during inclement weather, road construction, or if it’s a game day at either the University of Kansas or K-State. You’ll also need to add in time for your planned stops.

Driving the Kansas Turnpike.Photo byKansas Tourism.

Direct route

About 200 miles and 3 hours (not including stops)

If you are more of a “hurry up and get there” kind of person, the quickest path between Kansas City and Wichita is Interstate 35. It’s not necessarily the most scenic drive, but it gets the job done, moving you between two of the Sunflower State’s biggest metropolitan areas pretty darn efficiently.

This route is mostly along the Kansas Turnpike. Toll fees vary, but if you enter the turnpike at the eastern terminal near Bonner Springs and take it to one of the Wichita exits, expect to pay between $12.50 and $14.00.

Stops Along the Direct Route

If you have a full tank of gas, everyone’s gone to the restroom, and you just want to get there, you may not need to stop. But if you do, here’s what you need to know.

• Once you’re on the Kansas Turnpike, the only real place to stop is at one of the service plazas every 40 miles or so.
• These travel stops have plenty of pumps, clean restrooms, limited fast-food restaurants, and a few packaged food options. Although they cater to a relatively captive audience, the prices aren’t any higher than off the turnpike, but you do have limited options.

Entrance to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.Photo bySage Scott.

Scenic route

About 220 miles and 3 1/2 hours (not including stops)

If you prefer a view, take a slight detour along the Flint Hills Scenic Byway. Stretching between Council Grove and Cassoday, the 47-mile-long scenic drive offers incredible views of the native grasses and wildflowers of the tallgrass prairie, one of the last remaining native landscapes in the country.

Stops along the scenic route

As you follow the route from Council Grove to Cassoday, consider these enriching stops:

• Kaw Mission State Historic Site: Established as a mission school in 1850 along the Santa Fe Trail, it offers an immersive exploration of the Kaw people’s history.
• Last Chance Store Museum: The Oldest commercial building on the Santa Fe Trail that once provided supplies to travelers before their 625-mile journey to Santa Fe.
• Lower Fox Creek School: A restored one-room schoolhouse from 1882, showcasing historical educational practices.
• Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve: Preserves nearly 11,000 acres of tallgrass prairie with hiking trails, wildflowers, and a bison herd.
• Prather Creek Falls: A picturesque, accessible three-tiered waterfall at Chase State Fishing Lake.
• Chase County Courthouse: The oldest working courthouse in Kansas, built from native limestone between 1872 and 1873 in the French Renaissance style.

Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Park in Topeka.Photo bySage Scott.

Historic route

About 245 miles and 4 1/2 hours (not including stops)

This route will add a sprinkle — or a full cannonball-sized splash — of history to your Kansas City to Wichita road trip. You can experience a stagecoach stop along the Santa Fe Trail, explore a pivotal location for civil rights, and do much more to immerse yourself in Kansas’s rich history.

Stops along the historic route

Recommended stops along this route include:

• Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop: The Only remaining working stagecoach stop on the Santa Fe Trail, offering 1860s stagecoach travel, farming life, and frontier living experiences.
• Lecompton: Former territorial capital of Kansas, known as the birthplace of the Civil War.
• Kansas State Capitol: Located in downtown Topeka, the only U.S. capitol allowing visitors to the top of the dome for panoramic views.
• Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Park: Celebrates the 1954 Supreme Court decision against racial segregation in public schools.
• Evel Knievel Museum: Features the largest collection of Evel Knievel’s memorabilia, including his jump bikes and interactive exhibits.

From the bustling streets of Kansas City to the pioneering spirit of Wichita, your road trip across Kansas is more than just a journey between two points. It’s a voyage through the heart of America, filled with opportunities to explore, discover, and create memories that will last a lifetime. So take your time, enjoy the views, and discover why there’s no place like Kansas.

Read the full article at Everyday Wanderer where you can access maps and get additional tips for your Kansas City to Wichita road trip.