14 Great Things to do in Topeka with Kids
Heading to Kansas? One of our favorite stops when we recently traveled through Kansas was the city of Topeka! This town is filled with fun and family-friendly activities. The best things to do in Topeka with kids come in both free, affordable, and paid options.
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Check out these top activities in Topeka for families to plan your trip ahead of time. From the small town zoo to historic stops and incredible city parks, your family will have a great time exploring this less-popular destination.
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1. Gage Park
635 SW Gage Blvd, various parking lots
Gage Park is a beautiful 160 acre park on the northwest side of Topeka. This park truly has it all!
Visit the carousel and famous mini train, or wander around the rose garden and fitness loop trail among the trees and lakes. This is the best place to hang out in Topeka with kids!
There are plenty of playgrounds for the kids to run around and be wild on. No matter what your interest, there is plenty to do at Gage Park.
2. Topeka Zoo
635 SW Gage Blvd
The Topeka Zoo is located in Gage Park. Once you pay admission, you’ll be treated to 80 acres and over 300 animals.
Make sure not to miss the gorgeous Kay McFarland Japanese Gardens which are newer to the park but already praised for it’s legit design. The gardens are over 1.5 acres as you stroll through plants, ponds, fish, and fountains.
3. Children’s Discovery Center
4400 SW 10th Ave
The Children’s Discovery Center is also located in Gage Park. It’s the perfect place for kids to learn and explore, in a fun way.
Kids can choose careers to practice, like being a mechanic or owning a restaurant. Or they can get their artistic juices flowing by painting on the windows at the ART exhibit, which is totally approved and encouraged.
Build race tracks, try out simple machines, climb around, use fun money to go shopping while learning about finance, and more. Everything is a hands-on learning experience.
4. Ward-Meade Historic Site
124 NW Fillmore St
Ward-Meade Historic Site has a great educational perspective to it, but it’s super fun for adults and kids as well.
On site you’ll find the mansion house, plus the incredible gardens in the back where kids can feed fish in the ponds.
On the other side of the house is the popular Prairie Town, a replica town that would have existed in past years. Kids can climb aboard a piece of the Santa Fe Caboose, order from the soda fountain, visit the general store, and see what life was like.
5. Lake Shawnee
3110 SE Croco Rd
Lake Shawnee is one of the most beautiful things to do in Topeka, but it has a great fun-factor as well.
You’ll get 7 miles of paved trails, gorgeous views, and the super fun Adventure Cove at one of Kansas’ top destinations.
Adventure Cove will call the kids to their ultimate fun experience. Admission to the park includes access to the swim area. You can also rent paddle boats, canoes, and kayaks.
But you may be too busy on the giant inflatable playground on the lake at Adventure Cove. You’ll be provided a life jacket and short training so kids can run and live their best lives on the lake.
6. Brown vs Board of Education
1515 SE Monroe St
In a historic moment in May of 1954, the supreme court unanimously agreed that segregation in schools was a violation to the 14th amendment in the Brown vs. Board of Education civil rights case.
The case created was based on schools in Topeka that were still practicing segregation. Today, you can visit the Brown v Board of Education National Historic Park. Remember history at the Monroe School building.
You can also wander through the museum to learn about the case and how it played a part in the Civil Rights Movement.
7. Ted Ensley Gardens
3650 SE West Edge Rd
The Ted Ensley Gardens are a beautiful way to see Lake Shawnee. At 35+ acres, the garden showcases many trees and shrubs ideal for the climate in Kansas. They are laid out beautifully, with ponds and gazebos dotting the grounds.
Every year volunteers come to help plant over 100,000 tulips between Ted Ensley Gardens, Gage Park, and the Ward-Meade gardens.
Lake Shawnee adds to the beauty in the background.
8. Kansas Capitol Building
SW 8th & SW Van Buren St
Capitol buildings are always fun to tour and to see how each is unique to another.
We stopped at the capitol in New Mexico and thought it was awesome, so we made sure to make time to stop in Topeka.
The capitol has a free, underground parking garage. Then you can take the elevators up (either to the building or the stairs to the front of the building).
You can visit the galleries of both house and senate and walk around to other open spaces. Topeka’s capitol has an old Supreme Court room which is now used as a legislative hearing room.
One unique thing to do is to climb to the top of the dome. It’ll take just under 300 stairs, but once your up, you’ll have a great view of the city.
9. Evergy Plaza
630 S Kansas Ave
Evergy Plaza is in the heart of downtown Topeka. While it hosts hundreds of events each year, it is a great place for kids.
Kids can cool off in the hot summer months in the splash pad. Then in the evening, enjoy the summer fountain shows.
Evergy Plaza hosts free concerts and movie nights as well, perfect for spending your evening in Topeka in the summer.
10. Constitution Hall
429 S Kansas Ave
Constitution Hall is home to where the Kansas Constitution was drafted. It was done in 1855, before Kansas was officially a state. The constitution was written to ban slavery for when the territory received statehood.
In 1857, the building was part of the Underground Railroad as headquarters in the area.
11. Truckhenge
4124 NE Brier Rd
Many destinations feature odd attractions. Topeka’s is the Truckhenge.
Truckhenge gives a nod to the famous Stonehenge in its own way.
You’ll find recycled art and nature in art form surrounding old antique trucks taking off from the ground up. You’ll experience 10 acres of art and trucks around the property.
Unfortunately, this isn’t just a drive-by kind of attraction. It’s located on private farm property, so you’ll have to book a tour to experience this unique attraction.
12. Take a Hike
For an easier trail on paved ground, check out the Shunga Trail. This path stretches across Topeka for 8.5 miles and welcomes bikes, rollerblading, runners and walkers. It’s a great, easy trail for families.
The Iliff Commons is on privately owned land that the Iliff family makes available to the public for hiking. Hike 1.5 miles around the outer loop through the prairies, or explore little offshoots of the trail as you go. It’s not great for strollers, but easy enough for kids who can walk (or carried in a hiking carrier).
For an easy, family-friendly nature trail, head to Shawnee North Nature Trail. You’ll enjoy 2 miles of natural surface amongst the trees and grasses of Topeka.
13. Kayak at Kaw River State Park
Kaw River State Park, located in the northwest side of Topeka, is a great place to go kayaking. You’ll have access to the Kansas River (called the “Kaw”) to take your small watercraft in and enjoy a day on the water.
Besides kayaking or canoeing, you’ll also have access to great trails at Kaw River State Park. As a bonus, this is the only state park in Kansas that is FREE to visit!
14. Mulvane ArtLab
1700 SW Jewell Avenue
The Mulvane ArtLab is a great place for families of all stages to visit. Kids will love 15 stations of activities and an art library to explore.
The ArtLab is in the bottom of the Mulvane Art Museum, so make sure to explore some the art exhibits while you’re there.
Where to Stay in Topeka
We stayed at Homewood Suites, an average-priced hotel that was able to sleep all 6 of us (with a sofa bed). It was great having a small kitchen as well for some easy-prep meals!
Homewood Suites
Homewood Suites gives you free hot breakfast, an indoor pool, and plenty of room! Rooms have a small kitchen in case you pack your own food to heat up. Rooms are clean and modern!
Is Topeka Worth Visiting?
I was surprised at how much fun we had in Topeka. I didn’t know a ton about the city when we came, but when we left I felt like I could totally live there. The atmosphere makes you feel like you’re in a city with enough amenities and all the stores and resources you need, but not in an overcrowded or big-time city.
I especially loved Gage Park and seeing all the families out spending time together, celebrating special occasions, or just walking around the beautiful grounds. Gage Park seems like a central place of community building.
Beyond Gage Park, I loved that there were a lot of things to do in Topeka with kids, like touring the capitol building and taking in both the history and architecture of this amazing building.
Best Things to do in Topeka with Kids
While we didn’t get to all of these fun activities in Topeka, we got to quite a few and really enjoyed our time there as we traveled from Denver to St. Louis. Make sure to stop in Topeka next time you take a road trip because it is well worth it!
