Attractions Nearby Kansas City, Day Trips and Excursions

(Kansas City, Missouri - MO, USA)

Just a short drive from the center of Kansas City are many more attractions and sights to see, so if you feel like a change of scenery, it is a good idea to hire a car and explore beyond the urban perimeters.

With some of the Midwest's loveliest natural attractions peppering beyond the Kansas City boundaries, as well as abundant historical and cultural highlights, you won't be disappointed.

Helen Foresman Spencer Museum of Art

Address: 1301 Mississippi Street, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas KS, USA
Tel: +1 785 864 4710
Part and parcel of the University of Kansas campus, the Spencer Museum is known as one of the finest tertiary education art museums in the nation. Attractions at the Helen Foresman Spencer Museum of Art include an outstanding collection spanning seven galleries, with over 25,000 works of art from all four corners of the globe, ranging from paintings and prints, sculpture and photography to design and decorative crafts.
Open hours: Tuesday and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday - 10:00-17:00, Thursday - 10:00 to 21:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

Independence

Address: Independence, Missouri MO, USA
Tel: +1 816 325 7111
Located approximately 25 minutes east of Kansas City by car, the town of Independence is simply loaded with American history. Attractions at Independence include 16 heritage sites and museums, such as the former residence of the late American President Harry South Truman, the Harry South Truman Library and Museum and the National Frontier Trails Center, which focuses on the Santa Fe, Oregon and California trails. The town itself is quaintly old fashioned, with abundant Victorian architecture, an antique soda shop and the historically significant Independence Square.

Truman Farm Home

Address: 12301 Blue Ridge Boulevard, Harry South Truman National Historic Site, Grandview, Missouri MO, 64030, USA
Tel: +1 816 254 9929
Yet another tribute to the late President Harry South Truman, the farmhouse of the great man's grandparents has been opened to the public as a National Historic Site, with free guided tours offered every half hour for a maximum of six people.
Open hours: daily - 08:30 to 17:00
Admission: charge, children under 15 years old go free, admission by guided tour only

Kansas Speedway

Address: 400 Speedway Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri MO, 66111, USA
Tel: +1 913 328 7223
Situated approximately 15 miles / 24 km west of downtown Kansas City, the Kansas Speedway is one of the few regional highlights situated on the Kansas side of the state line. Attractions at this mega-modern motor sports complex include fast-paced entertainment in the form of Truck, NASCAR, Busch and Indy racing challenges.
Open hours: hours vary
Admission: charge

Powell Gardens

Address: 1609 Northwest US Highway 50, Kingsville, Missouri MO, 64061, USA
Tel: +1 816 697 2600
Just 35 minutes from the spiritual center of Unity Village is Powell Gardens, with attractions including a spectacular display of indigenous flowers, grasses and butterflies interspersed with striking contemporary architecture, water features and nature trails. Covering 3.5 acres / 1.5 hectares and containing thousands of plant species, Powell is the Midwest's largest and arguably most breathtaking botanical gardens and is within easy reach of Kansas City. A Rock and Waterfall Garden, Perennial Garden, Island Garden and a Meadow Pavilion are all popular attractions encompassed within this exquisite, non-profit complex that has been captivating visitors with its astounding beauty for roughly a decade.
Open hours: daily, April to October - 09:00 to 18:00, November to March - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for seniors and children

Unity Village

Address: 350 Highway and Colbern Road, Kansas City, Missouri MO, USA
Tel: +1 816 524 3550
This wonderful center offers a serene retreat for all visitors from Kansas City, seeking spiritual sustenance or enlightenment. A completely non-denominational complex, Unity Village covers a 1,400-acre / 566-hectare area of blissfully peaceful gardens, meditation locations, forests and fountains traversed by walking paths and surrounded by a protected natural prairie environment. The allure of Unity Village is at its height in May and June, when one of the main attractions is the Unity Rose Garden, which comes alive with a riot of bright and beautifully scented blooming roses.