Kansas

Travel Guide North America USA Midwestern United States Kansas

Introduction

Sunset in Kansas

Kansas is a state in the midwest of the USA with around 2.85 million inhabitants. Kansas is often overlooed by many travellers crossing the States on a road trip for example. Still, it has some interesting cities and those endless plains are worth a shot as well!

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Geography

Kansas covers around 82,000 square miles of land and borders Oklahoma to the south, Missouri to the east, Nebraska to the north, and Colorado to the west. The state is located equidistant from the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The geographic center of the 48 contiguous states (so except Alaska and Hawaii) is located in Smith County near Lebanon.

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Cities

Hutchinson
Kansas City
Lawrence
Manhattan
Olathe
Overland Park
Salina
Shawnee
Topeka, the state capital.
Wichita, the state's largest city.

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Sights and Activities

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Events and Festivals

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Weather

Supercell

Kansas experiences a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. From December to February, temperatures are usually below zero. From June to September Kansas enjoys warm days with frequently temperatures above 30 °C. From February until May, Kansas, located in the so-called Tornado Alley, is prone to tornadoes.

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Getting There

By Plane

By Train

The Southwest Chief, operated by Amtrak, travels between Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California, stopping in a number of places in Kansas.

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

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Getting Around

By Plane

By Train

By Car

Many international rental companies have a wide selection of rental cars and these include Hertz, Avis, Dollar, Thrifty, Enterprise, Budget and Alamo/National. Most companies will require you are at least 25 years of age, although younger people might be able to rent cars at slightly higher rates and with some insurance differences as well. A national driver's license is usually enough, but an additional international one is recommended. Also note that it usually costs more to include lots of other extra things. For example extra drivers, GPS, the first full tank, SLI (Supplemental Liability Insurance), PAI (Personal Accident Insurance, usually covered already at home), road assistance/service plan, and drop-off costs for one-way rentals.
If you want to book a car, it is recommended that you book your car before arriving in the USA. This is almost always (much) cheaper compared to just showing up. Also, try and book with a so-called 'broker', which usually works together with a few or many car rental companies and can offer the best deal. Some examples include Holidayautos, Holidaycars and Sunny Cars. Some of the cheapest deals to book from Europe, includes Drive-USA, which also has a German version.

Kansas state flower, outside Dodge City, KS

For more information and tips about renting cars and campers, additional costs, insurance, traffic rules, scenic routes and getting maps and fuel it is advised to check the USA Getting Around section.

Kansas has a number of National Scenic Byways which offer a great way to explore the state crossing beautiful landscapes. Mostly, there are lots of national parks, state parks or monuments along the way and it's generally a better alternative than the faster but boring Interstate Highways.

By Bus

By Boat

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Eat

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Drink

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Sleep

Hotel and Motel Chains

There are dozens of hotel and motel chains, ranging from budget to top end. Allthough they are not the most charming accommodations, they usually have a very decent midrange service with good rooms and are generally good value. At least you know what to expect and in some cases they are either the only or the best option in the area. Some of them include: