13 designated Scenic Byways provide a distinctive framework for planning a trip through Kansas: Nine are classified as scenic routes and four as historic routes. This places two different perspectives side by side—landscape and history. The Flint Hills National Scenic Byway and the Wetlands & Wildlife National Scenic Byway have national recognition. The latter runs through Cheyenne Bottoms.
Routes, Landscapes and Getting Your Bearings
Information about museums, restaurants, outdoor activities and places to stay is available for the Kansas Byways. This makes it possible to take different interests into account when planning, without viewing a route from just one perspective. The original section of Route 66 in Kansas is also useful for orientation: It lies in the southeastern part of the state.
Kansas is also divided into six tourism regions: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, North Central and South Central. This division gives an overview of the state’s variety, while the Byways draw attention to individual routes.
Rock Formations with a Geological History
Those interested in how the landscape formed will find very different rock formations in Kansas. Mushroom Rock State Park is home to natural Dakota rock formations that formed from beach sands and Cretaceous sediments. Their geological history stretches far back, and can be explored through the formations themselves.
Rock landscapes farther west also feature among the sights described: Monument Rocks is a striking formation south of Oakley, while Castle Rock lies south of Quinter. The chalk beds of both formations are rich in fossils. Together, these sites show how varied the striking rock formations in Kansas can be—from the Dakota formations at Mushroom Rock State Park to the fossil-rich chalk beds.
History at Historic Sites and Museums
Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park commemorates the United States Supreme Court decision that ended racial segregation in public schools. Fort Larned offers a different historical focus: This well-preserved, authentic army post complex from the 1860s and 1870s is located on the Santa Fe Trail. Its sandstone buildings housed soldiers who were known as “Guardians of the Santa Fe Trail.”
Fort Scott National Historic Site preserves buildings, a parade ground and a tallgrass prairie associated with events from 1842 to 1873. Nicodemus represents another important chapter in history: It is the only surviving western town founded by African Americans during Reconstruction. These places offer different historical perspectives, from events on the Santa Fe Trail to the founding of an African American town.
At Kaw Mission, exhibits tell the stories of the Kaw, the Santa Fe Trail and early Council Grove. The mission also shares the history of the site where thirty Kaw boys lived and attended school from 1851 to 1854. Pawnee Indian Museum focuses on a Pawnee village that existed in the late 18th century. Visitors can see the floor of a large Pawnee earth lodge and a rare Family Bundle above the altar.
The Kansas Museum of History covers Bleeding Kansas, statehood, the Civil War, natural resources and the railroad in its galleries. Interactive features bring visitors closer to the stories and artifacts on display. Museums and exhibits in Kansas also offer opportunities to learn about the history of the state’s Indigenous peoples.
More Experiences
Alongside routes, landscapes and historic sites, there are hands-on experiences, too: In Kansas, visitors can take part in a cattle drive or help with the harvest on a working farm. Music, theater, dance and other entertainment round out the offerings. A trip through Kansas thus combines different ways of exploring—from taking in rock formations to engaging with history and culture.
Discover more destinations: Labette, Butler, Finney, Johnson, Jackson, Atchison, Wilson, Sedgwick, Lyon, Anderson, Pratt County, Mcpherson County, Reno County, Shawnee County, Douglas County, Saline County, Sherman County, Crawford, Ford County, Cowley County, Logan County, Geary County, Riley County, Thomas County, Harvey County, Leavenworth County, Cloud County, Neosho County, Grant, Fort Scott, Nemaha County, Montgomery, Wyandotte County, Clark County, Norton County, Kiowa County, Barber County, Ellis County, Seward County, Barton County, Miami, Allen, Pawnee, Pottawatomie County, Meade County, Gray County, Scott County, Sumner County, Wabaunsee County, Cherokee County, Kingman County, Lane County, Russell County, Stanton County, Chase County, Ness County, Trego County, Wichita County, Morris County, Harper County, Phillips County, Gove County, Decatur County, Kearny County, Stevens County, Dickinson County, Smith County
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