Attractions Nearby Wichita, Day Trips and Excursions

(Wichita, Kansas - KS, USA)

Kansas is a central US state and Wichita is close to many of its leading attractions, with plenty of possible day trips and excursions presenting themselves. A small town lying off the Interstate I-70 and some 115 miles / 185 km north of Wichita, Abilene is less than two hours away by car and was formerly a rather rowdy cow town, full of energy and excitement.

Other Kansas attractions within easy reach of Wichita include Arkansas City and the esteemed state capital of Topeka. Further afield and to the south, the attractions of Oklahoma state await, with both Oklahoma City and Tulsa being popular tourist cities. Further south is Texas, where Dallas (360 miles / 579 km) and Fort Worth (355 miles / 571 km) are particular highlights.

Abilene

Very much a Kansas highlight, Abilene was once home to Dwight D. Eisenhower, with a number of attractions being related to this past US president, such as the Eisenhower Center on Southeast 4th Street. Dog lovers will likely enjoy a visit to the Greyhound Hall of Fame, while history buffs may like to explore the reconstructed Old Abilene Town. Further attractions here include the Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad and the Seelye Mansion (A. B. Seelye House), which now appears on the National Register of Historic Places.

Arkansas City

Arkansas City stands where the Walnut River and the Arkansas River meet, some 68 miles / 109 km south of Wichita and on the southwesterly side of Cowley County. The main campus of the acclaimed Cowley College is to be found within Arkansas City, along with the Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum, where the history of the 1893 race for land is recorded, along with displays of prehistoric artifacts and relics.

Oklahoma City

Address: Oklahoma OK, USA
At around two and a half hours away (161 miles / 260 km to the south), Oklahoma City is a popular excursion from Wichita, although just a little too far for an easy day trip. Founded as recently as the end of the 19th century, there are many reasons to visit the city, with the animal attractions at the Oklahoma City Zoo being especially popular with families. Also on offer is the magnificent Oklahoma State Capitol, the Bell Bricktown Ballpark, the Remington Park Race Track and the Oklahoma City National Memorial, which remembers the tragic bombing of 1995. Museum-goers may like to consider spending an afternoon at the Omniplex - Air and Space Museum, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, the State Museum of History or at the Oklahoma City Art Museum.

Topeka

Serving as the state capital of Kansas, Topeka is to be found just a little under 140 miles / 225 km to the northeast of Wichita and has grown up around the Kansas River, in central Shawnee County. Topeka has a population of some 125,000 people and little in the way of attractions as such, although guided tours of the dome at the very top of the Kansas State Capitol on Southwest 6th Avenue are recommended. The Kansas Museum of History is another worthy attraction, along with the Combat Air Museum at Forbes Air Force Base, the Topeka Zoo and the Ward-Meade Park Botanical Gardens.

Tulsa

Address: Oklahoma OK, USA
Tulsa is around 175 miles / 283 km to the southeast of Wichita and can be reached in just over two and a half hours, being located alongside the Arkansas River. An attractive city known for its oil heritage and stylish Art-Deco buildings - such as the 1931 Tulsa Union Depot, Tulsa offers a reasonable choice of accommodation, with some chain hotels around the East 71st Street area, together with a selection of old motels on Interstate I-44. Attractions in Tulsa include the Bells Amusement Park, the Big Splash Water Park, the Creek Council Oak Tree, the Cain's Ballroom and the Philbrook Museum of Art. Close by, the Redbud Valley Nature Preserve may also be of interest.

Western Kansas

Directly to the west of Abilene, the Interstate I-70 opens into a series of rolling plains and expansive countryside, where the scenic views are almost endless. There are several places of interest within the Western Kansas area, such as the Fort Hays Historical Site, the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, the striking chalk formations named the Monument Rocks, and the Oakley Fossil Museum.