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 with its variety of attractions. === Tourist information === Visit Wichita website == 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. == Get in == === 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 === 1 Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT IATA) (5 mi (8.0 km) west of the city's center). Serves 9 carriers providing service from 11 cities across the country, most of which are major hubs with connecting service to points around the world. Alaska Airlines. Service from Seattle. Allegiant Air. Service from Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. American Airlines. Service from Chicago-O'Hare and Dallas/Fort Worth. Delta Air Lines. Service from Atlanta and Minneapolis/St. Paul Southwest Airlines Service from Chicago-Midway, Dallas-Love, and Las Vegas. United Airlines. Service from Chicago-O'Hare, Denver, and Houston. === By bus === 2 Greyhound, 312 South Broadway (bus stop) (at the bus terminal in downtown Wichita), ☏ +1 316 265-7711. (updated Jan 2023) Beeline Express, 312 South Broadway, ☏ +1 316 201-6700. (updated Jan 2023) 3 Los Paisanos, 2210 North Somerset St (bus stop), ☏ +1 316 831-0817. This company travels to the south of the USA and Mexico. Buses to Kansas City can be found. (updated Jan 2023) === 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 == 1 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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 Great Plains Transportation Museum, 700 E Douglas, ☏ +1 316 263-0944, info@gptm.us. 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) 5 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 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. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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) 9 Old Cowtown Museum, ☏ +1 316 350-3323. (updated Jul 2025) == Do == 1 All Star Adventures. An amusement park. (updated Feb 2020) 2 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) 3 Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 Zoo Blvd, ☏ +1 316 660-WILD (9453), ask@scz.org. Mar 1 - Oct 31: 8:30AM-5PM; Nov 1 - Feb 28: 10AM-5PM. Opened in 1971, home to more than 3,000 animals of nearly 400 different species. 4 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) Regal Warren West Theater, 9150 W 21st St., ☏ +1 844-462-7342. Theater with supposedly the largest digital IMAX in the world. $7-16. 5 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) 6 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 a diverse selection of entertainment and meeting opportunities. The complex features three sections. The main section has a circular design. The two secondary sections are the Bob Brown Expo Hall and the Hyatt Regency Wichita convention rooms. 7 INTRUST Bank Arena, 500 E. Waterman St. (downtown Wichita), ☏ +1 316 440-9000. The arena holds 15,100 people. 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. 8 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 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 9 Riverfront Stadium as the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. == Buy == 1 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. 2 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. 3 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. == Eat == 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) 1 Bradley Fair, 2132 N Rock Rd, ☏ +1 316 636-2121. Su-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM. (updated Jan 2023) 2 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) 3 Amidon, 2021 N Amidon Ave, ☏ +1 316 290-9901. (updated Jan 2023) 4 South Wichita, 3450 S Meridian Ave, ☏ +1 316 223-4322. (updated Jan 2023) 5 Ridge, 420 S Ridge Rd Ste 100, ☏ +1 316 260-2611. (updated Jan 2023) 6 Rock Road, 310 N Rock Rd, ☏ +1 316 691-9998. (updated Jan 2023) 7 West, 8621 W 21st N, ☏ +1 316 722-2299. (updated Jan 2023) 8 Plazzio, 11525 E 13th St N, ☏ +1 316 440-5678. (updated Jan 2023) 9 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) 10 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) 11 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) == Drink == === Old Town === 1 The Brickyard, 129 N Rock Island Rd, ☏ +1 316 263-4044. 2 Emerson Biggins Old Town, 808 E. Douglas, ☏ +1 316 303-9800. 3 Barleycorn's, 608 E. Douglas, ☏ +1 316 613-3773, barleycornsbooking@yahoo.com. 4 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. (updated Feb 2016) 2 Hotel At Old Town, 830 E 1st St N, ☏ +1 316 267-4800. (updated Feb 2016) 3 Hyatt Regency, 400 W Waterman St, ☏ +1 316 293-1234, fax: +1 316 293-1200. (updated Feb 2016) 4 Scotsman Inn Wichita, 5922 W Kellogg (Exit on Dugan Rd), toll-free: +1-888-306-6721. Check-in: 1PM-midnight, check-out: 11AM. (updated Feb 2016) 5 Wichita Marriott, 9100 Corporate Hills Dr, ☏ +1 316 651-0333, toll-free: +1-800-610-0673. (updated Feb 2016) 6 Ambassador Hotel Wichita, Autograph Collection, 104 S Broadway St, ☏ +1 316 239-7100. (updated Jul 2025) == Connect == == Go next ==