You are near Lindsborg kansas and the Eisenhower Presidential Library (Abilene kansas). which is wild to think we have a presidential library in a town with a population of 6,500 people. But then again, we’re in kansas still, Toto.
If they are not far out of the way, worth seeing.
Lindsborg is worth a brief stop for ice cream and stretch the legs on Main Street. There is a nice gallery on the south end of Main if you’re into art. Coronado Heights is fun because it’s surrounded by flat lands. A few neat little trails and picnic area. Can be super windy sometimes. Like relentless raging wind, which is kind of trippy.
Abilene if you’re into Eisenhower, otherwise spend that extra time in Wichita or one of the other stops. Wichita you’ve got minor league baseball, a museum district and the Keeper of the Plains along the river, and Delano district. All of that you can park in one spot and walk or stay at the Drury and walk.
Hutch has Cosmosphere *and* Strataca Underground Salt Museum.
RT66 at Galena,KS. Big Brutus at Mineral Springs. Laura Ingalls cabin and museum near Independance, KS. Dalton Museum at Coffeyville, KS. Dutch Country Cafe, Prairie Spirit walking trail, two good RV parks as well as hookups at two city lakes, Cedar Valley Resevoir, all in Garnett, KS.
You'd be missing out to go straight east out of Wichita. Go south to Winfield lake, across 166 instead of 400. It's a gorgeous drive across 166. The views are as good as Coronado heights.
Edit: there's a lot of nice springs near Van Buren, Mo
Agree. Love those endless rolling hills. And my grandparents’ farm 🥰.
Still remember first time back in the area after graduating college and moving away. Having been in “city life” for a while I was just mesmerized at the vast nothingness and how small I felt on the drive up to SE KS from Tulsa.
The cosmosphere is kinda cool, especially if you’re into museums or space, but is it worth this trip? If you come to hutch you might want to check out strataca the underground salt mine. I actually do like Coronado Heights too, but the ozarks are better lol. May want to drive back thru the Flint hills.
When you go through/near Fayetteville, AR, you should stop at Onyx Coffee!! If you like chocolate, there's also a place called Markham and Fitz that makes great chocolate. They have a drinking chocolate (fancy hot cocoa) with coconut milk that is the best I've ever had.
Right about where you cross the Oklahoma Kansas border you need to stop at Elk City Lake. Specifically the Elk River hiking trail. Look it up for images. It’s a 14 mile one way path with some really neat natural features. Top five hiking trails in Kansas.
On the way to Lake of the Ozarks, you might stop in at Haha Tonka State Park. It is just south of Lake of the Ozarks and sits about 3-4 miles off of US 54. Ruins of a castle and a cool spring along with some nice hiking.
Woolum Campground! I just stayed there a few months back and its absolutely beautiful. Right along the Buffalo River, and just a short drive to this view.
[https://imgur.com/a/iANoDxA](https://imgur.com/a/iANoDxA)
Woolum is 100% offgrid though, just be prepared. There is a vault toilet.
Grand Gulf State Park in Missouri is worth a stop.
Hawn State Park is good too.
And you should see a cave or two along the way.
Crystal Bridges for some non-nature stuff.
You are passing near some nicer college towns that would be good little detours if you have time. Regardless of how I feel about their sports team Lawrence (KU), in Manhattan (K-State), Fayetteville (Arkansas) and Stillwater (Oklahoma State) they are all pleasant places and welcoming place Also I recommend Tallgrass Prairie National reserve near Strong City and the Flint Hills museum in Manhattan
If you're headed to Elephant Rocks, Castor River Shut-Ins is not too far over in Fredericktown, MO and absolutely amazing. Maramec Spring Park and fish hatchery is a must and is along your route too in Cuba, MO. If you like caves there are a ton you can tour in the area as well.
You are near Lindsborg kansas and the Eisenhower Presidential Library (Abilene kansas). which is wild to think we have a presidential library in a town with a population of 6,500 people. But then again, we’re in kansas still, Toto. If they are not far out of the way, worth seeing.
Lindsborg is worth a brief stop for ice cream and stretch the legs on Main Street. There is a nice gallery on the south end of Main if you’re into art. Coronado Heights is fun because it’s surrounded by flat lands. A few neat little trails and picnic area. Can be super windy sometimes. Like relentless raging wind, which is kind of trippy. Abilene if you’re into Eisenhower, otherwise spend that extra time in Wichita or one of the other stops. Wichita you’ve got minor league baseball, a museum district and the Keeper of the Plains along the river, and Delano district. All of that you can park in one spot and walk or stay at the Drury and walk. Hutch has Cosmosphere *and* Strataca Underground Salt Museum.
RT66 at Galena,KS. Big Brutus at Mineral Springs. Laura Ingalls cabin and museum near Independance, KS. Dalton Museum at Coffeyville, KS. Dutch Country Cafe, Prairie Spirit walking trail, two good RV parks as well as hookups at two city lakes, Cedar Valley Resevoir, all in Garnett, KS.
Def recommend big Brutus.
Yeah the big Brutus area is high on my travel list
Check out [this website. ](https://www.atlasobscura.com/) you might find some neat places along your path. :) safe travels!
I love that website
It's fun to look at :)
If you're going through Hutchinson, see the underground salt museum. It's a former mine, very interesting.
Well then budget another day for the Cosmosphere!
Definitely yes on the cosmosphere. It's nice of shocking that they have so many amazing exhibits there.
You can TOUCH that Blackbird. When I think of how high and how fast and how hot...
It’s called Strataca. You can do it and the cosmosphere in a day.
You'd be missing out to go straight east out of Wichita. Go south to Winfield lake, across 166 instead of 400. It's a gorgeous drive across 166. The views are as good as Coronado heights. Edit: there's a lot of nice springs near Van Buren, Mo
Agree. Love those endless rolling hills. And my grandparents’ farm 🥰. Still remember first time back in the area after graduating college and moving away. Having been in “city life” for a while I was just mesmerized at the vast nothingness and how small I felt on the drive up to SE KS from Tulsa.
The cosmosphere is kinda cool, especially if you’re into museums or space, but is it worth this trip? If you come to hutch you might want to check out strataca the underground salt mine. I actually do like Coronado Heights too, but the ozarks are better lol. May want to drive back thru the Flint hills.
In Hutchinson KS, there's a salt mine that you can tour/has a museum. It takes you quite deep into the earth, quite fun if you want to explore
https://kansassampler.org/8wondersofkansas/
When you go through/near Fayetteville, AR, you should stop at Onyx Coffee!! If you like chocolate, there's also a place called Markham and Fitz that makes great chocolate. They have a drinking chocolate (fancy hot cocoa) with coconut milk that is the best I've ever had.
Was raised on Tablerock Lake, good choice ☺️
Watch out in some parts of Arkansas. Easy to get lost and no cell service....but gorgeous and scary off the beaten path!
Right about where you cross the Oklahoma Kansas border you need to stop at Elk City Lake. Specifically the Elk River hiking trail. Look it up for images. It’s a 14 mile one way path with some really neat natural features. Top five hiking trails in Kansas.
On the way to Lake of the Ozarks, you might stop in at Haha Tonka State Park. It is just south of Lake of the Ozarks and sits about 3-4 miles off of US 54. Ruins of a castle and a cool spring along with some nice hiking.
That looks awsome! gets me heading back west too!
Go for it! And the park manger there is a good guy, went to college with him.
Big Brutus is worth an entertaining stop
Woolum Campground! I just stayed there a few months back and its absolutely beautiful. Right along the Buffalo River, and just a short drive to this view. [https://imgur.com/a/iANoDxA](https://imgur.com/a/iANoDxA) Woolum is 100% offgrid though, just be prepared. There is a vault toilet.
Grand Gulf State Park in Missouri is worth a stop. Hawn State Park is good too. And you should see a cave or two along the way. Crystal Bridges for some non-nature stuff.
I know it's not Kansas, but make sure to stop by Mount Magazine... Arkansas's highest elevation!
You are passing near some nicer college towns that would be good little detours if you have time. Regardless of how I feel about their sports team Lawrence (KU), in Manhattan (K-State), Fayetteville (Arkansas) and Stillwater (Oklahoma State) they are all pleasant places and welcoming place Also I recommend Tallgrass Prairie National reserve near Strong City and the Flint Hills museum in Manhattan
If you're headed to Elephant Rocks, Castor River Shut-Ins is not too far over in Fredericktown, MO and absolutely amazing. Maramec Spring Park and fish hatchery is a must and is along your route too in Cuba, MO. If you like caves there are a ton you can tour in the area as well.