7 Fantastic Day Trips From Kansas City on a Single Tank of Gas

Kansas City is a vibrant urban area with a bustling population that is centrally located in the midwest. This makes it easy to leave the city life that we have become accustomed to and travel a more scenic route that leads to beautiful views and new adventures across Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. One of the best ways to explore the midwest and take in those wonderful views and attractions is to take a day trip or a weekend getaway. Whether you are a Kansas City native or a first time visitor here are the top seven day trips from Kansas City:

With its quaint storefronts, lovely wineries, distilleries and numerous historic sites, Weston is the perfect small town to take a break from the busy city and relax with a glass of wine. Located 35 minutes Northwest of downtown Kansas City the Holladay Distillery is the oldest distillery in the United States that still operates at its original location. The distillery is owned by the McCormick Distilling Company and was founded in 1856. They currently offer tours, that include tastings, seven days a week.

    If you do not have time to stop by the distillery, venture down to main street and check out McCormick on Main which is also owned by the McCormick Distilling Company. They offer trinkets and knick knacks, as well as, world class liquor produced at the Holladay Distillery. Most notable about McCormick’s on Main is their 25 cent liquor samples. Located at the back of the store is a bar where they offer seating and a selection of liquors produced at the Holladay Distillery that you can sample for a quarter.

Located 45 minutes South of Kansas City, Somerset Ridge Vineyard & Winery rests on a limestone ridge outside of Louisburg, Kan. Somerset Ridge is a great place to enjoy a glass of wine or two with friends. Cultivating 12 different varieties of grapes featuring three European, one American and eight hybrids, Somerset Ridge has a wine for everyone.

    Somerset Wine & Cider Bar might be more your style if you are looking for a micro winery in Kansas City with what the vineyard boasts is, “the most beautiful courtyard in Kansas City." They also have live music and a food truck in the courtyard that makes it the perfect relaxing summer night destination.

Known as the birthplace of Missouri’s wine country, Hermann is located in the Missouri River Valley, three hours East of Kansas City, and is the home of the Hermann Wine Trail. Highlighting seven wineries, this 20 mile long trail provides guests with fantastic wine tastings and events all year round. During the month of July, they will be hosting a Berries and BarBQ wine trail where guests can travel to each of the wineries and sample delicious BarBQ dishes that are paired with specialty wines. The Hermann wine trail is the perfect location for a day trip or a weekend getaway.

    Wine and vineyards are not for everyone, for those that enjoy a more rustic adventure along the Missouri River, the Katy Trail is perfect. Located across the river from Hermann, the Katy Trail stretches from Clinton, Mo to Machens, Mo and offers scenic views of the bluffs that surround the Missouri River. This makes it perfect for hiking, bicycling or going horseback riding on the trail with a group of friends.

 Spanning the eastern region of Kansas, two hours from Kansas City, lies the Flint Hills. Composed primarily of limestone and containing the United States' largest natural tallgrass prairie, the Flint Hills provides amazing views and scenic hiking trails where you can watch the summer wind roll through the grassy knolls of several state parks. The perfect way to admire the vast prairie and its beautiful scenery is to hike along the Konza Prairie Biological Station trails, owned by Kansas State University, or Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve trails. Both offer stunning views of over 700 varieties of plants and animals.

The Lake of the Ozarks is a relaxing aquatic paradise with rolling hills, large lakefront beaches and many state parks in the heart of the Missouri. Located only two and a half hours from Kansas City, this beautiful lake is a fisherman’s dream. It is considered to be one of the top fishing destinations in the United States and is full of a large variety of fish that would make a delicious meal, such as, bass and walleye. 

 With over 1,100 miles of shoreline, Lake of the Ozarks is a wonderful place to spend a day with the family, swimming and soaking up the sun during the warm summer months. The kids can enjoy building sand castles and playing in the sparkling freshwater lake while you relax on the shore enjoying a drink and live music.

The rustic lifestyle is not for everyone, sometimes all you need is a change of scenery. Omaha is smaller than Kansas City, but it offers all the amenities that Kansas Citians have grown accustomed to. Located two and a half hours North of Kansas City and boasting the world’s largest indoor desert, aquarium inside a zoo and North America’s largest indoor rainforest, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is one of the best zoos in the country. The zoo contains numerous ecosystems and is a fantastic way to spend an entire day with the family.

    Omaha also offers fun for solo travelers or those traveling without children. With its vast restaurant selection and local breweries, the Old Market has something for everyone. Stop by the Upstream Brewery to sample local beers and alcohols all brewed on site. Afterward, make your way to Get Out Omaha and try to break out of Omaha’s number one escape room or visit one of the many art galleries located nearby.

Hosting the NCAA Sweet Sixteen during basketball's March Madness tournament at Sprint Center has become a tradition in Kansas City. About an hour drive from the madness is the Booth Family Hall of Athletics on the University of Kansas campus. It houses not only memorabilia from the University of Kansas' athletic history, but it also contains James Naismith's original rules for basketball. This vast collection of history makes the Booth Family Hall of Athletics a must see for sports fans.

    While visiting the University of Kansas, take a stroll around campus and visit the Spencer Art Museum. They offer hands on art projects and lecture events throughout the summer to educate locals and visitors. Housing over 35,000 works of art and constantly adding special exhibits for visitors to enjoy, the Spencer Art Museum is a must see.

    Lawrence is not just known for sports or the University of Kansas, they are also known for fine art or live music. Downtown Lawrence is full of art galleries and venues spilling live music onto the streets. Final Fridays offers the best of both art and music and takes place on the last Friday of every month all year round. Located primarily along Massachusetts Street and New Hampshire Street, stores and galleries open their doors and welcome visitors to look at local artwork and listen to live music all night long.

Leaving behind the day to day grind of working in Kansas City in favor of a relaxing day trip can be just what you need to recharge during the summer. To save time and hassle before your trip to one of these amazing places, remember to check your tires for damage and make sure they are properly inflated. This will help you avoid unnecessary stress during your relaxing getaway. For the tips and tricks of tire maintenance visit Zohr or text us at (816) 800-9175.