Is Kansas Boring? There’s More to Kansas than Stereotypes!

When most people think about Kansas, they think about the long stretch of highway where you can see for miles and miles and wonder “is Kansas boring?”. They think Kansas is flat as a pancake, that this is where Dorothy spun away because of all the tornadoes.

And if that’s you, you’re not wrong. Where I-70 drives through, it’s incredibly flat and much of Kansas reflects that.

BUT…

There is so much more to Kansas than what you see off the highway as you pass through as quickly as possible.

When we drove through Kansas (and we have a few times), we thought we needed to just drive as quickly as allowed to get it over with.

But one year I decided to make more of a road trip out of it, and I discovered that there is a lot more to Kansas than the stereotypes.

The stereotypes aren’t wrong, but they also aren’t all there is to the Sunflower State.

So if you’re having to drive through Kansas and dreading it a little, here are a few reasons to get off the highway a little and spend some time. Is Kansas flat as a pancake? Yes. But also, some parts offer much more than endless flat views.

Here’s more about the state, and what you could be missing when you drive through Kansas.

What is Kansas known for?

Let’s break down some of the popular things people think when they think about Kansas.

Is Kansas the Sunflower State?

The sunflower was made the Kansas state flower in 1903. They are plentiful among the plains and prairies of Kansas. Sunflowers are also deep in symbolism for Kansas, both as strength and hope, but also in looking towards the bright side just as the sunflower turns toward the sun.

Kansas and Tornadoes

Kansas is known for tornadoes. From the classic Wizard of Oz sweeping away Dorothy to the realistic statistics of everyday life, Kansas is no stranger to this weather event.

Kansas is the heart of Tornado Alley. Since 1950, Kansas has come in at #1 for the amount of F5 tornadoes in the country.

Is Kansas known for BBQ?

Not quite. The bbq capital of the world is Kansas City…Missouri. While there is a Kansas City, Kansas, the bbq king is crowned in its neighbor of the same name in Missouri.

Is Kansas known for Corn?

Yes, Kansas is known for its corn. In fact, it’s one of the top 10 corn-producing states in the US. (First place goes to Iowa.)

In 2024, over 6 million acres in Kansas were dedicated to planting corn!

Wilson Lake shows that Kansas is not as flat as people think!
📸 by Angie at The Travel Bug Life, used with permission

Is Kansas as Flat as a Pancake?

This is one question that makes people wonder if Kansas is boring, just a long flat drive. While it often appears that Kansas is flatter than a pancake, you’ll be surprised to know that the elevation of Kansas increases dramatically across the state.

The lowest point in Kansas is 679 feet at the Verdigris River near Oklahoma. As you head west near Colorado, the elevation is above 4,000 feet! The state has a gradual incline as you move east to west across the state.

Beyond that, Kansas actually has some cool geological features, which I’ll talk more about below (like Monument Rocks).

Is Kansas Boring?

Most people would say yes. But below, I’m going to show you why Kansas is so much more exciting than many realize. This state deserves more credit than it gets.

Beyond the Stereotypes of Kansas

Besides the true (and sometimes not true) stereotypes ok Kansas described above, there is so much more to the state! Tornadoes may conquer this state more than others, but the state is full of very interesting landscapes and exciting towns.

Here are a few highlights of Kansas that are worth going beyond the seemingly-flat highway.

Topeka

We stayed over in Topeka as we drove through Kansas. This was such a fun and beautiful town! From Rose Gardens to family parks to the beautiful Lake Shawnee, this was not what we expected from Kansas. There’s even a cute homestead you can walk through for free.

You can also see a house that was designed to look like a spaceship.

Wichita

Wichita is where we were actually planning on staying overnight, but modified our plan last minute. But I still want to add this awesome town on our next drive through.

The incredible Keeper of the Plains Monument is a top attraction built to honor Native American heritage of the area. The Sedgwick zoo is a great family attraction that’s been recognized for its commitment to conservation as well as its successful breeding of rare and endangered species.

Wichita is filled with family attractions, like the botanic gardens, Exploration Place, Aviation Museum, Arkansas River Trail, and so much more. Wichita is loaded with fun for visitors.

Overland Park

Overland Park is another overlooked destination that is full of family fun. Families will love the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead where you can have close contact with animals, birds, and learn about plants and farming.

The city also has a beautiful Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, museums, theaters, and memorials.

State Parks of Kansas (that are anything but boring!)

The state parks are where you really start to question the “flat as a pancake” idea, and shows that Kansas is not boring! Again, if you drive off the main highway a little, you’ll find a whole new world of Kansas you didn’t know existed.

These are just a couple of the incredible state parks of Kansas, and they are located along I-70 or a short drive off of it.

Little Jerusalem is one of the coolest state parks in Kansas. Named for its resemblance of the walls of Jerusalem, you’ll find badlands, plenty of animals, and the only Great Plains wild buckwheat in the world. You can find Little Jerusalem south of Oakley off I-70.

Cedar Bluff State Park is also just south of I-70 east of Little Jerusalem. Here you’ll find 150 limestone bluffs along the lake. This is not how you imagine Kansas! The park offers camping, hiking, and water sports.

Mushroom Rock State Park is just what it sounds like. You’ll encounter a giant rock formation that looks just like a mushroom. You’ll be sharing the park with other animals like deer and colorful birds like Blue Jays and Cardinals. You can find Mushroom Rock south of I-70 between Ellsworth and Brookville.

Kanopolis Lake State Park is just south of Mushroom Rock State Park. Here you’ll find rolling hills and sandstone bluffs. Visitors can enjoy 30 miles of trails and plenty of scenic lake views.

Wilson Lake State Park (pictured toward the top) is a beautiful lake with small rock formations in the water and rolling hills around the perimeter. This is a prime example of how Kansas is not flat everywhere and really has some stunning beauty. You can find it east of Hays just north of I-70.

📸 Monument Rocks by Ashley at Jetset Jansen, (used with permission)

Monument Rocks

Monument Rocks isn’t a state park, but it’s a super cool land formation area that is open to the public. It’s just down the road from Little Jerusalem.

Here you’ll find 50 foot chalk formations that have been around since the Cretaceous period. This is why the landmark is also often called the “Chalk Pyramids.”

It was the first Natural Landmark to be designated in Kansas back in the 1960’s. While it’s no Moab with arches all over, Monument Rocks is Kansas’ own little gem of formations.

Is Kansas Boring? Wrap up

While many people roll their eyes when they hear about Kansas, there’s actually so much more to the state than it being “flat as a pancake.” While some stereotypes are true (yes, lots of tornadoes), some are not (there’s actually about 4,000 feet of elevation change, so not as flat as you think!)

Is Kansas boring? I guess it could be if all you do is drive through as quickly as you can and ignore the state as a whole.

But if you’re willing to get off the highway and look around for a bit, you might find some incredible formations, lakes, views, and fun things to do. Almost 3 million people live in Kansas, and they are not all farmers. They are people that know how much their state has to offer.

So next time you hear that Kansas is as flat as a pancake, or Kansas is boring, or Kansas only grows corn, know that if that’s all Kansas is to you, you’re missing out! Check out the incredible state parks, fun cities, and cool landmarks on your next road trip through Kansas.