When is the last time you went on a road trip around Kansas? This trip through the great outdoors is perfect for any summer adventure, whether you’re traveling alone or with a carload of people. There’s plenty of towns to drive through along the way, so don’t be afraid to stop and grab something to eat while you come through. Are you all packed and ready to go?
Follow along on this gorgeous trip through Kansas’ great outdoors, as we hit all of our favorite natural areas in one go.
OnlyInYourState/Clarisa A Total drive time is around 12.5 hours, through almost 700 miles of Kansas roads. Oh, the beauty you’ll see along the way. What are you waiting for? Pick an end of the line and work your way along.
- Arikaree Breaks
Kansas Tourism/Flickr Arikaree Breaks is a gorgeous washed-out area of Kansas where wind and water have created this beautiful landscape in northwest Kansas.
- Monument Rocks
Patrick Emerson/Flickr Next we have Monument Rocks (aka The Chalk Pyramids) where you can walk around and through what used to be the floor of a sea long before we came along. In the fragile rock, you’ll see tiny fossils of all sorts, but do your best not to break any of it. It is chalk, after all.
- Sandsage Bison Range
Keith Ewing/Flickr This beautiful bison range is one place in Kansas where you can get pretty close to these majestic creatures. To think that they once filled the prairie here is equally incredible and sad, but we’re glad they are here.
- Gypsum Hills
Vincent Parsons/Flickr The Gypsum Hills are a place where Kansas doesn’t feel very much like Kansas after all. The red mesas and shrub-covered rock feels like you’ve been traveling through an old western movie.
- Mushroom Rock State Park
Lane Pearman/Flickr Our favorite stone mushroom stands tall and proud at this miniature state park dedicated to it. What’s not to love about a giant mushroom rock?
- Kanopolis State Park
Vincent Parsons/Flickr Next is Kanopolis State Park, a favorite of many Kansans. This gorgeous area of Kansas is littered with caves, wildflowers, and beautiful red-orange rock framing your view.
- Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
Patrick Emerson/Flickr Then you can check out Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, where- you guessed it- tall grasses cover the ground as far as the eye can see. Abandoned schoolhouses and plenty of hiking ground means that exploring this area might take a little while if you want to do everything in one trip.
- Baker Wetlands
Patrick Emerson/Flickr Last but not least, these wetlands areas near Lawrence are surprisingly beautiful if you’ve never seen them before. Kansas has a couple wetlands areas that you shouldn’t miss, and this one is full of wildlife and reflective sunsets.
Of course, feel free to start at either end of the trip if you live closer to it. Also, if you’d like to open the map separately or save it, here’s a link to the directions for the trip.
OnlyInYourState/Clarisa A
Total drive time is around 12.5 hours, through almost 700 miles of Kansas roads. Oh, the beauty you’ll see along the way. What are you waiting for? Pick an end of the line and work your way along.
Kansas Tourism/Flickr
Arikaree Breaks is a gorgeous washed-out area of Kansas where wind and water have created this beautiful landscape in northwest Kansas.
Patrick Emerson/Flickr
Next we have Monument Rocks (aka The Chalk Pyramids) where you can walk around and through what used to be the floor of a sea long before we came along. In the fragile rock, you’ll see tiny fossils of all sorts, but do your best not to break any of it. It is chalk, after all.
Keith Ewing/Flickr
This beautiful bison range is one place in Kansas where you can get pretty close to these majestic creatures. To think that they once filled the prairie here is equally incredible and sad, but we’re glad they are here.
Vincent Parsons/Flickr
The Gypsum Hills are a place where Kansas doesn’t feel very much like Kansas after all. The red mesas and shrub-covered rock feels like you’ve been traveling through an old western movie.
Lane Pearman/Flickr
Our favorite stone mushroom stands tall and proud at this miniature state park dedicated to it. What’s not to love about a giant mushroom rock?
Next is Kanopolis State Park, a favorite of many Kansans. This gorgeous area of Kansas is littered with caves, wildflowers, and beautiful red-orange rock framing your view.
Then you can check out Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, where- you guessed it- tall grasses cover the ground as far as the eye can see. Abandoned schoolhouses and plenty of hiking ground means that exploring this area might take a little while if you want to do everything in one trip.
Last but not least, these wetlands areas near Lawrence are surprisingly beautiful if you’ve never seen them before. Kansas has a couple wetlands areas that you shouldn’t miss, and this one is full of wildlife and reflective sunsets.
Alternately, if road trips are something you’re always ready for, here’s a list of 10 different road trips in Kansas you can take anytime.
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