Southeast Kansas - "For The Free"

In Southeast Kansas, you can live freely. This is where Beautiful rock formations create beautiful outdoor experiences for the Table Mound Hiking Trail at Elk City State Park. Thirteen miles of the Route 66 Byway wraps around the Ozark Plateau. It's also where history buffs can explore Kansas’s Civil War history on the 168-mile-long Frontier Military Historic Byway.

Whether you are caught up in the chicken wars in Pittsburg, touring the Fort Scott National Historic Site, or biking the Prairie Spirit Trail, you're almost assured of having a wonderful time out here. Get ready for your Southeast Kansas adventure. We've got a complete list of the top museums, local food, shops, art, and outdoor experiences in the area.

 

Outdoor Adventure

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A man in one of the rocky cavern trails at Elk City State Park

Elk City State Park

Elk City State Park offers a quiet, family-oriented get-away. Dense oak and hickory woodlands meet… Read More

Bald eagle stands on dead tree at Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge

Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge

This Refuge is managed primarily for migratory waterfowl. Intensive use by ducks and geese occurs… Read More

Crawford State Park

Crawford State Park

Rich in history and spectacular scenery, Crawford State Park gives visitors a “taste of the Ozarks.”… Read More

Schermerhorn Park

Schermerhorn Park

Visit this wonderful Nature Center with picnic area, playground equipment, and shelter house. Back… Read More

Cross Timbers State Park

Cross Timbers State Park

Cross Timbers State Park accounts for 1,075 acres in the northern reaches of the physiographic… Read More

A rocky view overlooking the water at Fall River State Park

Fall River State Park

Fall River State Park is home to a remarkable diversity of plant and animal life. The 1,107-acre… Read More

Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area

Marais Des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge

Celebrating 30 years! Read More

History + Museums

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Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum

Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum

In the first half of the last century an American couple from Kansas named Martin and Osa Johnson… Read More

Big Brutus

Big Brutus

Named to the National Register of Historical Places in January 2018, Big Brutus put the oooohs and… Read More

Baxter Springs Heritage Center & Museum

Baxter Springs Heritage Center & Museum

Outstanding museum with two floors of climate-controlled displays and research facility. Exhibits… Read More

Gordon Parks Museum

Gordon Parks Museum

The Gordon Parks Museum highlights the life and work of Kansas-born photographer Gordon Parks… Read More

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Visitor Center has temporarily moved! While work is being completed in the Post Hospital, the… Read More

Mine Creek Civil War Battlefield State Historic Site

Mine Creek Civil War Battlefield State Historic Site

At Mine Creek in 1864 a large body of Union cavalry swept down on the rear of Confederate General… Read More

Arts, Culture, & Entertainment

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Norman Eppink Art Gallery and Gilson Memorial Room

Norman Eppink Art Gallery and Gilson Memorial Room

Located on the 1st floor of the John E. King Hall. These exhibitions provide visitors the… Read More

Cars on the Route

Cars on the Route

Director John Lasseter and animator Joe Ranft of Pixar “Cars” visited this Kan-O-Tex Service Station… Read More

Mary L. Martin Art Gallery

Mary L. Martin Art Gallery

Visit the Mary L. Martin Art Gallery and enjoy the magnificent works of art from the most famous of… Read More

Beverly Corcoran Art Gallery

Beverly Corcoran Art Gallery

Located inside Pittsburg’s Memorial Auditorium, the Beverly Corcoran Gallery is a jewel within a… Read More

Bicknell Family Center for the Arts

Bicknell Family Center for the Arts

On permanent display on the second floor of the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts. Read More

Chanute Art Gallery

Chanute Art Gallery

Located in the heart of downtown in four buildings built in the early 1900s, renovated to meet a… Read More

Emporia Arts Center

Emporia Arts Center

Home of the Emporia Arts Council, the Emporia Arts Center provides artistic events for the Emporia… Read More

Independence Historical Museum & Art Center

Independence Historical Museum & Art Center

Housed in the historic 1912 Federal Building-Post Office built in 1912, the museum and art center is… Read More

Unique Dining

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Chicken Annie's Original

Chicken Annie's Original

Open since 1934. Family owned and operated, and helped make Crawford County the Chicken Capital of… Read More

Chicken Mary's

Chicken Mary's

Established in 1942 by German immigrants, this famous fried chicken restaurant was the winner of 8… Read More

Octagon City Coffee

Octagon City Coffee

Octagon City Coffee is a coffee shop offering a wide selection of coffee, specialty drinks and… Read More

Radius Brewing Company

Radius Brewing Company

Located at 610 Merchant in beautiful downtown Emporia, KS, Radius Brewing Company is a full-service… Read More

Brickstreet BBQ

Brickstreet BBQ

The Bowman family invites you to savor Brickstreet Barbecue; ribs, brisket, burnt ends and more, all… Read More

Dutch Country Cafe

Dutch Country Cafe

The Dutch Country Café, inspired by our Amish heritage, is a unique dining experience that is built… Read More

Indy Brew Works

Indy Brew Works

This new microbrewery, located in a historic building in downtown, offers an eclectic selection of… Read More

Bobby D's Barbecue

Bobby D's Barbecue

BobbyD's is a locally owned restaurant in downtown Emporia featuring barbecue brisket, pork, ham… Read More

Granny's Chip Chocolate Ice Cream & Candy Shop

Granny's Chip Chocolate Ice Cream & Candy Shop

We serve delicious scooped ice cream, candy, milkshakes, sundaes and novelties in a welcoming space. Read More

Lomar Drive-in

Lomar Drive-in

Open: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm Monday & Tuesday, Thursday-Sunday Small drive-in hamburger/ice cream stop… Read More

11th Lane Roastery & Blessed Bees

11th Lane Roastery & Blessed Bees

We are a full service coffee shop located in beautiful downtown Burlington. We offer a wide variety… Read More

Streetcar Station Coffee Shop

Streetcar Station Coffee Shop

Gourmet Coffee, Latte, Cappuccino, Smoothies, Hot Chocolate, Italian Soda, Daylight Donuts… Read More

Shopping

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The Sweet Granada

The Sweet Granada

The Sweet Granada is a specialty sweets shop featuring handmade gourmet chocolates as well as other… Read More

Historic Fredonia Square

Historic Fredonia Square

Many of the other buildings on the downtown square were built in the late 1800's or early 1900's… Read More

Bluestem Farm and Ranch Supply Inc.

Bluestem Farm and Ranch Supply Inc.

Serving the Flint Hills for over 50 years. Hardware, clothing, sporting goods, we've got it. Check… Read More

Somewhere in Time Antiquities

Somewhere in Time Antiquities

Somewhere in Time Antiquities is the only Antique store on Route 66 with over 60 Root Beer's & 300… Read More

Frontenac Bakery

Frontenac Bakery

The Frontenac Bakery was established in 1904 by Italian immigrant George Vacca. His original… Read More

Dynamic Discs

Dynamic Discs

Supplying everything for the disc golfer and creator of the world-class Glass Blown Open disc golf… Read More

Columbus Made & Mercantile

Columbus Made & Mercantile

Columbus Made & Mercantile is a quaint shop filled with locally curated items ranging from clothing… Read More

American flags line the lawn of a historic building in Fort Scott

Southeast

In the Southeast region there are enough trees and hills to stifle the stereotypical Kansas landscape. Leave your ‘footprint’ in…