Wichita is the largest city in Kansas - since Kansas City is divided between the US states of Kansas and Missouri. It is not the biggest or flashiest city in the US, but it remains a medium-sized city with a small-town feel. It offers much to tourists from both near and far with its variety of attractions.
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.
Get in
By car
Wichita is located at the junction of Interstates 135 and 35 (Kansas Turnpike) and approximately three hours drive from Kansas City or Oklahoma City. It's 1.5h from I-70, and about 3 hours from both Kansas City and Oklahoma City.
By plane
Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, five miles west of the city's center, serves nine carriers providing service to 11 cities across the country, most of which are major hubs with connecting service to points around the world.
- Allegiant Air. Service to/from Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.
- American Airlines. Service to/from Chicago and Dallas/Fort Worth.
- Delta Air Lines. Service to/from Atlanta and Minneapolis/St. Paul
- Southwest Airlines Service to/from Chicago-Midway, Dallas-Love, and Las Vegas.
- United Airlines. Service to/from Chicago, Denver, and Houston.
By bus
- Greyhound. (+1 316 265-7711) Buses stop at the 312 South Broadway terminal in downtown Wichita.
- Beeline Express (+1 316201-6700) also stops at 312 South Broadway.
- Los Paisanos. Buses stop at 2210 North Somerset St, Tel +1 316 831-0817. This company travels to the south of the USA and Mexico. Buses to Kansas City can be found.
By train
- Amtrak doesn't serve the city directly, but its Southwest Chief service that runs between Chicago and Los Angeles stops daily in Newton, a town 25 miles north of the city's center, around three in the morning. From Newton, you'll need to rent a car or hire a taxi to get to Wichita, and arrangements are best made in advance for either, particularly given the hour of arrival.
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.
- 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. Located 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. Mo-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 12:00-17:00. 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. This museum shows you the rich historical and cultural heritage of Wichita and Sedgwick County Kansas.
- Great Plains Transportation Museum. 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.
- Exploration Place (Sedgwick County Science and Discovery Center), 300 N McLean Blvd, ☏ +1 316 660-0600, toll-free: +1-877-904-1444, discover@exploration.org. M-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 12:00-17:00. 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. General Admission: $6-9.50 (Adults: $9.50, Seniors (65+): $8.00, Kids (3-11): $6.00).
- The Keeper of the Plains. A beautiful 40-foot 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 10:00-17:00, Su 12:00-17:00. The Wichita Art Museum is a popular art gallery that showcases 3 centuries of art as well as several glass pieces by Dale Chihuly. It has more than 7,000 pieces in its permanent collection, and showcases travelling exhibitions as well. Adults- $7, Seniors (+60)- $5, Students with ID and Children (5-17)- $3, Children under 5 and members get in free.
Do
- Kansas State Fair, 2000 N Poplar St, Hutchinson, ☏ +1 620 669-3600, toll-free: +1-800-362-3247, fax: +1 620-669-3640. If you are coming to Wichita around late summer, the Kansas State Fair is something to visit. It is held every year in the early fall or late summer. $6 for Adults, $3 for Kids, $4 for Seniors, $35 for Season Pass.
- Riverfest. Held in late May or early June, Riverfest is the largest event held in Kansas, with an estimated attendance of 350,000 in 2013. The festival is planned for 30 May-7 Jun for 2014. The admission is unusual for this event, for buttons are used in place of tickets.
- Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 Zoo Blvd, ☏ +1 316 660-WILD (9453), ask@scz.org. 8:30a - 5p, March 1 - October 31; 10a - 5p, November 1 - February 28. Opened in 1971, Sedgwick County Zoo has been ranked among the best zoos in the USA. Home to more than 3,000 individual animals of nearly 400 different species, the Zoo is the number one outdoor family attraction in Kansas. Children (3-11) - $8.95, Adults (12-61) - $13.95, Seniors (62+) - $11.95.
- Starlite Drive-In, 3900 S Hydraulic, ☏ +1 316 524-2424. Currently the only drive-in theatre in the Wichita area, it's the place to go for cheap showings of today's movies. The new digital projection is crystal clear, as well as major audio improvements with the FM Stereo option. $12 per carload.
- Warren Theatres (The Warren), ☏ +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. Woofstock has an event in Wichita, at Sedgwick County Park. It is a fairly large event, and enjoyable if you like dogs. It will be held 5 Oct 2013.
- Century II Perfoming Arts and Convention Center (Century 2), 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 located 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 a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. With no football program (WSU dropped the sport in 1986), the hot-button sport on campus is men's basketball, which has become a national powerhouse in recent years, with a Final Four berth in 2013 and an unbeaten 2013–14 regular season. Men's basketball games routinely sell out, both at the team's main home of Charles Koch Arena on campus and the aforementioned 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.
Buy
- Bradley Fair. This upscale outdoor mall on North Rock Road 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. Located in the Downtown area, the factory outlet also doubles as a museum for Coleman's history.
- New Market Square. This sprawling shopping center, on North Maize Road, 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 10:00-21:00, Su 12:00-18:00. Located on East Kellogg, this is a typical indoor shopping mall anchored by Sears, JCPenney, Dillard's and Von Maur.
- Towne West Square Mall, 4600 W. Kellogg Dr, ☏ +1 316-945-1236. M-Sa 10:00-21:00, Su 12:00-18:00. Located at West Kellogg and Interstate 235. Similar to Towne East. Anchor stores include Sears, Dillard's JCPenney, and Dick's Sporting Goods.
Eat
- The Donut Whole, 1720 E. Douglas, ☏ +1 316 262-3700. Daily 06:00-23:59 but Drive Thru does not close. Serving donuts 24/7 with vegan options, locally sourced ingredients, and live music.
- Nu-Way. Serving up tasty burgers and fresh curly fries since 4 Jul 1930. A Wichita staple.
- Il Vicino. Delicious pizza with two Wichita locations.
- Spangles. A local fast food hamburger chain. Similar to Steak and Shake.
- Freddy's Frozen Custard (Freddy's), ☏ +1 316 719-7800. Su-Th 10:30-22:00, F-Sa 10:30-23:00. Locally famous steakburgers, good shoestring fries, and delicious frozen custard makes Freddy's a good place to go. Freddy's has 4 Wichita locations.
- Noodles & Company, 7700 E. Kellogg, Suite 1014 (In the Towne East Mall, Next to Von Maur), ☏ +1 316 681-2220. Serves up tasty noodles and salads. Their specialty is Wisconsin Macaroni and Cheese, but they have a variety of flavors from across the world.
- Sumo by Nambara, 11233 East 13th St N, ☏ +1 316 838-7866. Delicious hibachi-style food and fresh sushi.
- Redrock Canyon Grill, 1844 N Rock Road Ct, ☏ +1 316 636-1844. M-Th 17:00-22:00, F 17:00-23:00, Sa 11:00-23:00, Su 11:00-21:00. Delicious food and a fun atmosphere.
Drink
Old Town
- 1 The Brickyard, 129 N Rock Island Rd, ☏ +1 316 263-4044.
- 2 Indigo Lounge, 126 N Mosley St, ☏ +1 316 265-6760.
- 3 Emerson Biggins Old Town, 808 E. Douglas, ☏ +1 316 303-9800.
- 4 Heroes Bar & Grill, 117 N. Mosley, ☏ +1 316 264-4376. M-Th 11:00-23:00, F,Sa 11:00-02:00, Su 12:00-23:00.
- 5 Joe's Old Town Bar & Grill, 222 N. Washington, ☏ +1 316 303-9885. Daily 11:00-02:00. $0-10.
- 6 Barleycorn's, 608 E. Douglas, ☏ +1 316 613-3773, barleycornsbooking@yahoo.com.
- 7 Club Rain, 518 E Douglas, ☏ +1 316 261-9000, info@raincafeandlounge.com.
Sleep
- 1 Drury Plaza Broadview, 400 W Douglas Ave, ☏ +1 316 262-5000.
- 2 Hawthorn Suites Wichita, 2405 N Ridge Rd, ☏ +1 316 729-5700.
- 3 Hotel At Old Town, 830 E 1st St N, ☏ +1 316-267-4800.
- 4 Hyatt Regency, 400 W Waterman St, ☏ +1 316 293-1234, fax: +1 316 293-1200.
- 5 Mark 8 Inn Wichita, 1130 N Broadway, ☏ +1 316 265-4679, fax: +1 316 265-4679.
- 6 Scotsman Inn Wichita, 5922 W Kellogg (Exit on Dugan Rd), ☏ +1 316 943-3800, fax: +1 316 943-3800.
- 7 Wichita Marriott, 9100 Corporate Hills Dr, ☏ +1 316 651-0333, toll-free: +1-800-610-0673.
Connect
Go next
Routes through Wichita |
Topeka/Kansas City ← El Dorado ← | N S | → Blackwell → Oklahoma City |
Salina ← Park City ← | N S | → ends Template:Rtarrow Caldwell → Enid |
Liberal ← Greensburg ← | W E | → El Dorado → Nevada |
Dodge City ← Greensburg ← | W E | → Jct N S Template:Rtarrow Jct N S Template:Rtarrow Baxter Springs → Joplin |