Getting Around, Topeka Travel, Transport and Car Rental
(Topeka, Kansas - KS, USA)
The streets of downtown Topeka are structured as a gridwork. Streets heading east to west tend to be numbered, while those that travel north to south are named, often after past US presidents. These include Buchanan Street, Fillmore Street, Lincoln Street, Monroe Street, Taylor Street and Van Buren Street.
Choosing a rental car for your transport is perfect if you want to get out and about, exploring northeastern Kansas and possibly crossing the eastern state border, by driving to Kansas City in nearby
Missouri - roughly a 90-minute drive.
The state of
Nebraska is also within driving distance of Topeka and lies roughly four hours to the north, via Highway US-75. On the southern outskirts of the city, Interstate I-470 (Kansas Turnpike) connects the highways and a number of shopping centers.
Metro bus transport in Topeka is perfect for getting around the city on a budget and all local buses feature racks for bikes. For longer journeys, you can travel in comfort onboard either air-conditioned Greyhound buses or Amtrak trains.
Kansas City International Airport (MCI) / Arriving by Air
Address: 601 Brasilia Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri (MO), 64195, USA
Tel: +1 816 243 5237
Although the Philip Billard Municipal Airport (TOP) is located just a few miles to the south of downtown Topeka, this is a small local air facility with no commercial flights. The Kansas City International Airport is actually the nearest airport of significance to Topeka, being found approximately 70 miles / 113 km away and to the northeast. This airport is simple to travel to from downtown Topeka by taking Interstate I-70 until exit 411A, and then joining the I-435, Highway US-152 and the I-29. Ground transport includes metro buses, shuttles, taxis, limos and car rental companies (Ace, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz, National, Payless and Thrifty).
Kansas City Airports Guide
Car Rental
A rental car is by far the easiest way to travel in and out of Topeka, and around the city itself. Many of the principal attractions are conveniently located close to on-street parking spaces or garages. In total, there are more than 3,250 off-street parking spaces spread around Topeka, with the main garages found on:
- Southeast 6th Avenue (Townsite Garage, next to the Chamber of Commerce)
- Southeast 7th Street (Park and Shop Garage, next to the Shawnee County Courthouse)
- Southeast 8th Avenue (Crosby Place)
- Southeast 9th Street (9th Street Garage)
- Southeast Monroe Street (900 Monroe Lot)
- Southeast Quincy Street (Coronado Garage)
- Southwest 12th Street (Water Tower Lot)
- Southwest 5th Street (5th and Jackson Lot)
- Southwest 9th Street (Center City Garage)
- Southwest Jackson Street (512 Jackson Garage)
Metro Buses
Tel: +1 785 783 7000
Topeka is called home by a popular bus line, which transports passengers to all of the principal streets. This service is run by the Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority (TMTA), Monday to Friday (05:45 to 18:15) and on Saturdays (07:15 to 18:15). In total there are currently 15 bus routes around the city and these stop off at destinations such as Dillons (North and Southeast), Highland Park High School, Quincy Street Station (QSS), Tyler Towers, VA Medical Center, Walmart (North, South and West), Westridge Mall and YMCA North. Bus fares are charged for each one-way journey, although you can save money by buying strips of ten tickets, or a monthly pass.
Greyhound bus transport also stops off in Topeka and is suited to long-distance travel, connecting Hutchinson, Junction City, Lawrence and
Wichita
in Kansas, as well as Columbia, Kansas City and Springfield in Missouri,
Des Moines in
Iowa, Omaha in Nebraska and Tulsa in Oklahoma.
Trains
Topeka is home to an Amtrak rail station, which is to be found at 500 Southeast Holliday Place, between Southeast 4th Street and Southeast 6th Avenue. Trains regularly transport passengers on the Southwest Chief Line, which passes through the city during the early hours of the morning and travels between
Chicago and
Los Angeles. After stopping at Topeka, the trains then stop off at various other stations and states on the way to Union Station in Los Angeles, such as:
- Newton, Hutchinson, Dodge City and Garden City (Kansas)
- Lamar, La Junta and Trinidad (Colorado)
- Raton, Lamy, Albuquerque and Gallup (New Mexico)
- Winslow, Flagstaff, Williams Junction and Kingman (Arizona)
- Needles, Barstow, Victorville, San Bernardino, Riverside and Fullerton (California)
Taxis
Taxi transport in Topeka is heavily used by both locals and visitors to the city, being perfect for short distances in this small capital city. If you are planning to travel by taxi, simply phone ahead or ask your hotel to arrange a pick-up. Of note, the Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority provides a general evening taxi service between the hours of 20:00 and 23:30, seven days a week. Other local cab companies include:
- Capitol City Taxi - tel: +1 785 267 3777
- Monarch Transportation Service - tel: +1 785 266 0017
- Yellow Cab Taxi Company - tel: +1 785 357 4444