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Missouri, United States

Downtown Kansas City

The countdown core; 2 nights for the KC Live! ball drop, Crossroads dinners and late jazz. We have mapped 2 sights, 1 activity and 2 places to eat here, each with a reason to go.

Plan Downtown Kansas City with friendsBrowse 8 places
Downtown Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Places
8

2 See · 1 Do · 2 Eat · 2 Drink · 1 Stay

Curated routes
1

Kansas City New Year's Eve

Best season
Dec 30 – Jan 1

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

32°C / 89°F avg high

Coolest month
January

3°C / 37°F avg high

Wettest month
May

about 141 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Kansas City, the nearest city we track.

Things to do in Downtown Kansas City

8 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in Downtown Kansas City in Crown Center. All 2 are free to visit.

  • Union Station in Downtown Kansas CityPhoto: Dean Hochman · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Union Station

    The 1914 Beaux-Arts station, with a Grand Hall clock and holiday trains; Science City inside hosts a family Noon Year's Eve.

    Tip Science City's balloon-drop Noon Year's Eve on Dec 31 suits kids who will not make it to midnight.

    • Crown Center
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Morning
  • Liberty Memorial in Downtown Kansas CityPhoto: Meganhaderphotography · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Liberty Memorial

    The National WWI Museum and Memorial's lawn and tower look straight down on Union Station and the downtown skyline.

    Tip Come at dusk on Dec 30 for the classic skyline view as the towers light up.

    • Crown Center
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Dusk

Do

Hands-on ways to spend time in Downtown Kansas City in Power & Light District.

  • Do

    NYE Live! at KC Live!

    The Power & Light District's ticketed New Year's Eve party on the covered KC Live! block, with DJs, live acts and a midnight ball drop.

    Tip Packages range from basic entry to all-inclusive drinks and VIP ball-drop viewing; buy ahead.

    • Power & Light District
    • $$$
    • 5 hr
    • Dec 31, 8 p.m. to midnight

Eat

2 places to eat in Crossroads, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Eat

    Jack Stack Barbecue Freight House

    A Kansas City barbecue institution in a restored freight depot next to Union Station, known for burnt ends and crown prime ribs.

    Tip Reservations help; the bar seats walk-ins.

    • Crossroads
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Dec 30 dinner
  • Eat

    Lidia's Kansas City

    Lidia Bastianich's Italian restaurant in the Freight House since 1998, with a multi-course menu on New Year's Eve in past years.

    Tip Book an early seating and walk the few blocks to the Crossroads afterward.

    • Crossroads
    • $$$
    • 2 hr
    • Dec 31 dinner

Drink

2 bars & cafés across Crossroads and Westport for coffee, a round or a nightcap.

  • Drink

    Green Lady Lounge

    A red-lit jazz lounge on Grand Boulevard with live Kansas City jazz every night, including New Year's Eve.

    Tip Seating is limited; arrive by 9 p.m. on Dec 31.

    • Crossroads
    • $$
    • 2.5 hr
    • After 9 p.m.
  • Drink

    Kelly's Westport Inn

    Westport's oldest building and a classic Irish bar that drops a ball at 6 p.m. for Ireland's midnight, then again at midnight.

    Tip Do the 6 p.m. drop, then head downtown for dinner.

    • Westport
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Dec 31, 6 p.m.

Stay

Places to stay in Downtown Kansas City in Crossroads.

  • Stay

    Crossroads Hotel

    A hotel in a converted 1911 warehouse in the arts district, with a rooftop bar and its own themed New Year's Eve party.

    Tip Rooms put you a short walk from the streetcar, Lidia's and the Green Lady Lounge.

    • Crossroads
    • $$$

How to fit Downtown Kansas City into a trip

Downtown Kansas City is stop 1 of 2 on our Kansas City New Year's Eve route. Follow it as-is or lift Downtown Kansas City into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Weather by month, based on Kansas City

Our climate figures for Downtown Kansas City come from Kansas City, right next door. Average daily highs run from 3°C / 37°F in January to 32°C / 89°F in July. May is the wettest month, with about 141 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Kansas City. Kansas City weather (covers Downtown Kansas City) →

Near Downtown Kansas City

8 other destinations from our guides within about 300 km (186 mi), measured in a straight line.

Downtown Kansas City questions, answered

How many days do you need in Downtown Kansas City?

Our route notes suggest 2 nights in Downtown Kansas City. On our Kansas City New Year's Eve route it is stop 1 of 2 in a 3-day trip. The listed visit times for our 8 places add up to roughly 14 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Downtown Kansas City best known for?

The countdown core; 2 nights for the KC Live! ball drop, Crossroads dinners and late jazz. Standouts on our list: Union Station (The 1914 Beaux-Arts station, with a Grand Hall clock and holiday trains; Science City inside hosts a family Noon Year's Eve); Liberty Memorial (The National WWI Museum and Memorial's lawn and tower look straight down on Union Station and the downtown skyline); NYE Live! at KC Live! (The Power & Light District's ticketed New Year's Eve party on the covered KC Live! block, with DJs, live acts and a midnight ball drop).

When is the best time to visit Downtown Kansas City?

Our Kansas City New Year's Eve route is best Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for nearby Kansas City put the warmest highs in July (32°C / 89°F), the coolest in January (3°C / 37°F) and the most rain in May (about 141 mm).

What are the best things to do in Downtown Kansas City?

Start with NYE Live! at KC Live!, Union Station and Liberty Memorial. Our guide lists 8 places in all, from 2 sights, 1 activity, 2 places to eat, 2 bars & cafés and 1 place to stay.

Where should a group eat in Downtown Kansas City?

Our picks: Jack Stack Barbecue Freight House (Crossroads); Lidia's Kansas City (Crossroads). Reservations help; the bar seats walk-ins (Jack Stack Barbecue Freight House).

What is near Downtown Kansas City?

The closest destinations in our guides are Kansas City (about 0 km / 0 mi), Country Club Plaza (about 6 km / 4 mi) and Lawrence (about 58 km / 36 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Downtown Kansas City with your crew

Open the Kansas City New Year's Eve route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 8 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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