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5 Family-Friendly Adventures in Kansas

Explore the Sunflower State.

By: The Outbound Collective + Save to a List

Gently rolling plains, hills, and some of the last bits of tallgrass prairie in the United States await in Kansas. Kansas's gentle landscape and big views make it an excellent spot for family exploration. 

Here are a few of our favorite family-friendly adventures in this beautiful state.

Adventure by Mat Owens

Hike and camp (for free!) along this easy trail outside of Lawrence. Primitive campsites are available first-come, first-served. Grab a site with lake access to spend your afternoon playing on the shore with the whole family.

Adventure by Adrienne Fleck

For little legs, or for any legs that need a sturdy surface to walk on, check out the paved and mulched trails through the arboretum and botanical gardens at Overland Park. Beautiful flowers and trees span the grounds, and a series of short trails wind through the property. Bring a picnic!

Adventure by Kurt Zoglmann

If there is one thing Kansas is known for it, it's the prairie. Explore the native tallgrass prairie along the Konza Prairie Trail. Keep your eyes open for turkeys and white-tailed deer, and plan your hike for sunset to snag some of the best views in the state.

Adventure by Kurt Zoglmann

The cove at Tuttle Creek Lake is the perfect place to take in one of Kansas's epic sunrises. Arrive an hour before sunrise to watch the sky light up slowly and streak the clouds with color. When the water is low in Tuttle Creek Lake, short hikes can be made along the shoreline.

Adventure by Kevin Abernethy

The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in the Kansas Flint Hills preserves what remains of the over 170 million acres of tallgrass prairie that once covered the middle part of the United States. Stop at the Visitor's Center before starting your hike to learn more about the landscape, and for kids to get their Junior Ranger badges!

Cover photo of Kansas's Geary Lake Falls, courtesy of Kurt Zoglmann

We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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