Wichita

Wichita is the largest city in Kansas — since Kansas City is divided between the states of Kansas and Missouri. It is not the biggest or flashiest city in the US, but it is a medium-sized city with a small-town feel. It offers much to tourists from both near and far with its variety of attractions.

Tourist information

Understand

Wichita is a city in the heart of the great plains in Central Kansas. The city is home to large aircraft manufacturers which make up a large portion of the local economy. In 2021, it had almost 400,000 residents.

By car

Wichita is at the junction of Interstates 135 and 35 (Kansas Turnpike) and approximately 3 hours' drive from Kansas City or Oklahoma City. It's 1½ hours from I-70.

By plane

By bus

By train

While Amtrak doesn't serve the city directly with any passenger trains, there is a shuttle service to the Wichita Transit Center at 214 S Topeka St from Newton for the Southwest Chief and also from Oklahoma City for the Heartland Flyer.

Get around
  • City Bus. As the only form of public transit serving the city, bus service may cover the areas near some sights you'd want to see, but not nearly all. Routes are long and the wait for the next bus can stretch to an hour. In general, this is not a good way to get around.
  • Taxi Hailable only at the airport, they don't even queue at downtown hotels. Points of interest are far enough apart that a rental car quickly becomes cost-effective. Unlike other cities of its size, you can't even find any at the bus station.
  • Rental car If you didn't drive to Wichita, you'll likely want to rent a car when you arrive.
  • Navigating Wichita Wichita is almost exclusively a driving town. Even so, traffic is generally lighter than most larger cities, and parking is almost always free and plentiful, even downtown. Wichita's streets are laid out in a fairly easy-to-navigate grid system.
  • Ridesharing Uber and Lyft both operate ridesharing services in the city.
  • No trip to Wichita is complete without an excursion through the nearby Flint Hills, and that's only possible in a car (preferably a convertible).

See
  • 🌍 Old Town. Downtown, just east of the central business district. This entertainment district is one of the must-see spots if you are travelling to the city. It boasts over 100 shops, restaurants, and bars, all within walking distance. 
  • 🌍 Museum of World Treasures, 835 East 1st St, ☏ +1 316 263-1311, toll-free: +1-888-700-1311. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. Experience treasures from around the world and through the ages at one of Wichita's top-rated attractions. Find your inner explorer—there's something for all to learn from the past. 
  • 🌍 The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, ☏ +1 316 265-9314. This museum shows you the rich historical and cultural heritage of Wichita and Sedgwick County Kansas. 
  • 🌍 Great Plains Transportation Museum, 700 E Douglas, ☏ +1 316 263-0944, . Sa 9AM-4PM. Dedicated to recording and exhibiting the importance of railroad transportation in the human, agricultural, commercial and industrial heritage of Wichita, Kansas and the Great Plains. 4-12 $4, 13+ $7, 0-3 free. (updated Jan 2017)
  • 🌍 Exploration Place (Sedgwick County Science and Discovery Center), 300 N McLean Blvd, ☏ +1 316 660-0600, toll-free: +1-877-904-1444, . M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. This modern museum sits on the Arkansas river, where it displays travelling exhibits. While several of the rooms in the museum are solely for kids, there is always something for the adults to do too. Adult $9.50, senior (65+) $8.00, child (3-11) $6.00. 
  • 🌍 The Keeper of the Plains. A beautiful 40 ft (12 m)-tall sculpture by Blackbear Bosin. This statue can be reached by a bridge connected to the Exploration Place parking lot. 
  • 🌍 Wichita Art Museum (WAM), 1400 W Museum Blvd. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. The Wichita Art Museum is a popular art gallery that showcases 3 centuries of art and several glass pieces by Dale Chihuly. It has more than 7,000 pieces in its permanent collection, and showcases travelling exhibitions. Adult $7, senior (+60) $5, student with ID or child (5-17) $3, child under 5 and members get in free. 
  • 🌍 Mid-America All-Indian Center, 650 N Seneca, ☏ +1 316 350-3340. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. Adult $7, senior (55+)/student/military $5, child (6-12) $3. (updated Sep 2019)

Do
  • 🌍 All Star Adventures. An amusement park. (updated Feb 2020)
  • 🌍 Riverfest, 444 E William St. Held in late May or early June, Riverfest is Wichita's largest festival, with live music, food vendors and activities for all ages. (updated Sep 2017)
  • 🌍 Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 Zoo Blvd, ☏ +1 316 660-WILD (9453), . Mar 1 - Oct 31: 8:30AM-5PM; Nov 1 - Feb 28: 10AM-5PM. Opened in 1971, home to more than 3,000 individual animals of nearly 400 different species. Child (3-11) $8.95, adult (12-61) $13.95, senior (62+) $11.95. 
  • 🌍 Starlite Drive-In, 3900 S Hydraulic Ave, ☏ +1 316 524-2424. The only drive-in theater in the Wichita area. The new digital projection is crystal clear, and audio is provided through your car's FM radio.
    This is one of the best deals around, most of the time the price is $12 per car regardless of however many people are in the car. There are two large screens and each plays 3 current box-office movies back-to-back. Even when the price is higher than $12 per car (varies depending on season) it is much more economical than a traditional theater, especially considering that outside food and drinks are permitted. (though there is a snack bar selling popcorn, drinks, funnel cakes and more.)
    There is an intermission between each movie that allows time for you to visit the snack bar and restroom, though be warned that the snack bar will close sometime after the third and final movie starts. (Restrooms will remain open)
    The Starlight Drive-In is generally closed in the winter, and opens again when weather permits. Call in advance for pricing, showtimes, and to verify that it is operating that night.     (updated Feb 2020)
  • Warren Theatres, ☏ +1 316 691-9700. Movie theatre chain with 5 Wichita locations, including the Palace and the Movie Machine. The 21st Street Warren also houses the largest digital IMAX in the world. $7-16. 
  • 🌍 Woofstock, 6501 W 21st Street North (Inside Sedgwick County Park). 9:30AM-3PM. Held in early October by the Kansas Humane Society as their largest fundraiser of the year. $10-25, under 12 free. (updated Sep 2017)
  • 🌍 Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center, 225 W. Douglas Ave, ☏ +1 316 264-9121. Century II is a full service performing arts and convention center, providing citizens and visitors with a diverse selection of entertainment and meeting opportunities. The facility is owned and managed by the City of Wichita and is unique among other municipal facilities. The complex features three sections. The main section is unique in its design as it is circular. The two secondary sections are the Bob Brown Expo Hall and the Hyatt Regency Wichita convention rooms. 
  • 🌍 INTRUST Bank Arena, 500 E. Waterman St., ☏ +1 316 440-9000. INTRUST Bank Arena is a state-of-the-art arena in the heart of downtown Wichita. Opened in 2010, the arena holds 15,100 people comfortably, including more than 20 suites and 40 loge boxes. It features a 50' LED display in the lobby, as well as wraparound LED screens and a central scoreboard inside the arena. It is home to the Wichita Thunder, a minor league hockey team. It also holds several basketball games a year, and serves as the secondary "Home" for Wichita State University Shockers basketball. 
  • 🌍 Wichita State Shockers, Charles Koch Arena, ☏ +1 316 978-FANS (3267). The sports teams of Wichita State University, fielding NCAA Division I teams in seven men's sports and eight women's sports as the newest member of the American Athletic Conference. With no football program (WSU dropped the sport in 1986), the hot-button sport on campus is men's basketball, which became a national powerhouse, with a Final Four berth in 2013 and an unbeaten 2013–14 regular season. Men's basketball games routinely sell out at the team's main home of Charles Koch Arena on campus and the Intrust Bank Arena. Most other facilities are on campus, with the most notable being Eck Stadium (baseball) and the former football home of Cessna Stadium, now home to WSU track and field and also hosting many local and state high school football games. 
  • Wichita Wind Surge, 300 S Sycamore St, ☏ +1 316 390-7719. The local Minor League Baseball team plays at 🌍 Riverfront Stadium as the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. 

Buy
  • 🌍 Bradley Fair, 2000 N Rock Rd, Suite 160, ☏ +1 316 630-9990. This upscale outdoor mall has many trendy clothing stores found in big cities, as well as a few restaurants, water fountains, and an amazing duck pond. 
  • 🌍 Coleman Factory Outlet, 235 N. St. Francis, ☏ +1 316 264-0836. In the Downtown area, the factory outlet doubles as a museum for Coleman's history. 
  • 🌍 New Market Square, North Maize Road. This sprawling shopping center has stores ranging from Wal-Mart and Super Target to specialty clothing stores, book stores, restaurants, and more. 
  • 🌍 Towne East Square Mall, 7700 East Kellogg Dr, ☏ +1 316 686-4849. M-Sa 10AM-9PM, Su noon-6PM. This is a typical indoor shopping mall anchored by Sears, JCPenney, Dillard's and Von Maur. 
  • 🌍 Towne West Square Mall, 4600 W. Kellogg Dr (at intersection with Interstate 235), ☏ +1 316 945-1236. M-Sa 10AM-9PM, Su noon-6PM. Similar to Towne East. Anchor stores include Sears, Dillard's JCPenney, and Dick's Sporting Goods. (updated Jan 2023)

Eat
  • 🌍 The Donut Whole, 1720 E. Douglas Ave, ☏ +1 316 262-3700. Daily 6AM-midnight but drive thru does not close. Serving donuts 24/7 with vegan options, locally sourced ingredients, and live music. (updated Sep 2019)
  • Nu-Way. Serving up tasty burgers and fresh curly fries since 4 Jul 1930. A Wichita staple. (updated Sep 2019)
  • Il Vicino (two locations). Delicious pizza. (updated Sep 2019)
    • 🌍 Bradley Fair, 2132 N Rock Rd, ☏ +1 316 636-2121. Su-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM. (updated Jan 2023)
    • 🌍 College Hill, 4817 E Douglas Ave, ☏ +1 316 612-7085. Su-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM. (updated Jan 2023)
  • Spangles. A local fast food hamburger chain, similar to Steak and Shake, which serves black Angus steak burgers and dairy-free soft-serve ice cream. (updated Sep 2019)
  • Freddy's Frozen Custard (Freddy's) (6 locations). 10:30AM-10PM. Locally famous steakburgers, good shoestring fries, and delicious frozen custard makes Freddy's a good place to go. (updated Sep 2019)
  • 🌍 Sumo by Nambara, 11233 East 13th St N, ☏ +1 316 838-7866. Delicious hibachi-style food and fresh sushi. (updated Sep 2019)
  • 🌍 Redrock Canyon Grill, 1844 N Rock Road, ☏ +1 316 636-1844. M-Th 5-10PM, F 5-11PM, Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11AM-9PM. Delicious food and a fun atmosphere. (updated Sep 2019)
  • 🌍 Yokohama Ramen Joint, 613 W Douglas Ave, ☏ +1 316 260-7031. M Tu Th-Sa 11AM-9PM, W Su closed. Small restaurant serving authentic ramen, yakisoba, and other East Asian staples. (updated Jan 2017)
  • 🌍 Dempsey's Burger Pub, 3700 E Douglas Avenue #78, ☏ +1-316-425-3831. Kitchen: Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM; bar: daily 11AM-2AM. Local gourmet burger joint serving up wagyu burgers and others. (updated Sep 2017)

Old Town

Sleep

Go next
Routes through Wichita
Topeka/Kansas City ← El Dorado ←  N  S  → Blackwell → Oklahoma City
Salina ← Park City ←  N  S  → ends → Caldwell → Enid
Liberal ← Greensburg ←  W  E  → El Dorado → Nevada
Dodge City ← Greensburg ←  W  E  → Jct N S → Jct N S → Baxter Springs → Joplin


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