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Everyday Outdoor Family

Easy Day Trips from Kansas City

Published 13 days ago • 3 min read

Hi Everyone!

Sometimes I want to get away, but don't have the time or budget to get away. That's why I came up with a list of my favorite day trips from Kansas City. There is so much to explore whether you want to stay in the metro area or go a few hours away from the city. I hope this email helps you find places you wouldn't have thought of before!

Day Trips from Kansas City

Weston, MO

Weston is only 30 minutes north of KC and has a small town feel, along with lots of outdoor opportunities. We love to explore the downtown shops and grab a bite to eat at Tin Kitchen, a local BBQ restaurant. We also hitting the trails at Weston Bend State Park and visiting the local farms, like Weston Vineyard and Orchard for fruit picking. Click HERE for my complete guide to Weston.

Lake Olathe

Lake Olathe is one of the best destinations in the Kansas City metro for anyone looking to explore and get outdoors. There is so much here for families to explore including a swim beach, a waterfall you can paddle or walk to, fishing, boating, hiking, biking, a venue, disc golf, and a nature playground. Make a plan to visit this amazing spot and visit my Lake Olathe blog HERE.

Lawrence, KS

Lawrence, Kansas is the perfect day trip destination for anyone looking for outdoor adventures, cute shops and eateries, and small-town charm. We had a great time exploring Massachusetts St, going to local gift shops, playing at the Watkins Museum, and going to the Art Collective. Be sure to also look into Clinton Lake State Park if you are looking for an outdoor adventure.

Excelsior Springs, Missouri

Excelsior Springs is a great place for a couples or friend's trip. The Elms Hotel is a great place to stay with a great spa and pool, as well as nightly paranormal tours. The paranormal aspects, the ambiance of the Elms, and downtown vibe make it a great destination.

Abilene, Kansas

Abilene is a longer drive from KC, but there is so much to do in this small town! My kids enjoyed riding the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad. We also rode a carousel from 1901, explored Old Abilene Town, and saw the World's Largest Belt Buckle. This is just a small sampling of what we did in Abilene. Check out Can’t Miss Fun Things to Do in Abilene, Kansas on my blog for more!

Day Trip Ideas on the Blog

Here are a few blog posts to help you continue to find ideas for your next day trip.

6 Best Waterfalls in Kansas City

Kansas City isn’t known for having epic waterfalls like Asheville or Southern Idaho, but we have quite a few that are stunning and relatively unknown.

10 Best Day Trips from KC

I actually have about 50 great day trips from KC, but here are my top 10.

How to find nearby ideas without hours of research

I asked 5,000 people what their biggest problems were that held them back from exploring more. One of the biggest issues was overwhelm and indecision.

They said they wanted to find more cool places in their home state or fun stops on road trips, but they could never keep track of what was where and what was on the way.

That’s why I created my Kansas and Missouri maps. I wanted to make it easy for you to find places, sort by the activities you love, and search by destination.

Get your map now to start planning your summer adventures across Kansas and Missouri!

Summer Offers

Go see the Kansas City Royals for 20% off with my code OUTDOOR, valid Sun–Thurs through August 9.

I Want to Hear from You!

Are there any of your favorite day trips that I missed? Where you do like to go when you need an escape from Kansas City? Hit reply and let me know!

Thank you!

Thank you so much for being here and supporting me! It means so much to me that you’re here. I hope that I can provide value for you and your family, so you’re inspired to get out and explore more! Happy adventuring!

-Amy

8450 NW Prairieview Road, #1397, Kansas City, MO 64154
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