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Missouri, United States

Kansas City

Allow two days: barbecue is the anchor, with jazz history, the WWI museum and the Nelson-Atkins between meals. Below: 4 sights, 2 places to eat and 3 bars & cafés, plus how Kansas City fits into a longer trip.

Plan Kansas City with friendsBrowse 9 places
Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Places
9

4 See · 2 Eat · 3 Drink

Curated routes
1

Kansas City to Omaha

Best season
Apr – Oct

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.

Things to do in Kansas City

9 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

4 sights worth building a day around across Midtown, Crown Center and 18th & Vine. 2 of them are free.

  • Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas CityPhoto: Jim Li · Google
    See

    Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

    Free encyclopedic museum with the giant Shuttlecocks on its sculpture lawn.

    • Midtown
    • Free
    • 2.5 hr
    • Morning
  • National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas CityPhoto: Jason Soupene · Google
    See

    National WWI Museum and Memorial

    The US museum dedicated to the First World War, under the Liberty Memorial tower.

    Tip Ride up the tower for a view of the skyline.

    • Crown Center
    • $$
    • 2.5 hr
    • Morning
  • Union Station Kansas City in Kansas CityPhoto: NotTheAverageGamerz · Google
    See

    Union Station Kansas City

    1914 rail station with a grand hall, science center and model railroad exhibit.

    • Crown Center
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Afternoon
  • Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas CityPhoto: User SakuraAvalon86 on en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
    See

    Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

    Moving history of Black baseball in the 18th & Vine Jazz District.

    • 18th & Vine
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Afternoon

Eat

Where we would book a table in Kansas City across Kansas City, KS and 18th & Vine.

  • Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que in Kansas CityPhoto: Joe's KC BBQ · Google
    Eat

    Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que

    Barbecue served out of a working gas station; the Z-Man sandwich is the order.

    Tip Lines can be long at lunch; go early or order ahead.

    • Kansas City, KS
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Lunch
  • Arthur Bryant's Barbeque in Kansas CityPhoto: Arthur Bryant's Barbeque · Google
    Eat

    Arthur Bryant's Barbeque

    Barbecue institution with vinegar-forward sauce and piles of burnt ends.

    • 18th & Vine
    • $
    • 45 min
    • Lunch

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Kansas City across 18th & Vine, Westside and Crossroads.

  • The Blue Room in Kansas CityPhoto: Dave Adams · Google
    Drink

    The Blue Room

    Jazz club inside the American Jazz Museum with live music most nights.

    • 18th & Vine
    • $$
    • 2 hr
    • Night
  • Boulevard Brewing Company in Kansas CityPhoto: Boulevard Brewing Company · Google
    Drink

    Boulevard Brewing Company

    KC's largest brewery, with tours and a rooftop beer hall.

    Tip Book tours ahead; try Tank 7.

    • Westside
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Afternoon
  • Tom's Town Distilling Co. in Kansas CityPhoto: Tom's Town Distilling Co. · Google
    Drink

    Tom's Town Distilling Co.

    Art Deco distillery and cocktail bar named for Prohibition-era boss Tom Pendergast.

    • Crossroads
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Evening

How to fit Kansas City into a trip

Kansas City is stop 2 of 3 on our Kansas City to Omaha route. Follow it as-is or lift Kansas City into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

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

Kansas City month by month

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. Kansas City weather and the best time to visit →

Near Kansas City

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

Kansas City questions, answered

How many days do you need in Kansas City?

Our route notes suggest 2 days in Kansas City. On our Kansas City to Omaha route it is stop 2 of 3 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 14 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Kansas City best known for?

Allow two days: barbecue is the anchor, with jazz history, the WWI museum and the Nelson-Atkins between meals. Standouts on our list: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Free encyclopedic museum with the giant Shuttlecocks on its sculpture lawn); National WWI Museum and Memorial (The US museum dedicated to the First World War, under the Liberty Memorial tower); Union Station Kansas City (1914 rail station with a grand hall, science center and model railroad exhibit).

When is the best time to visit Kansas City?

Our Kansas City to Omaha route is best Apr – Oct. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages 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 Kansas City?

Start with Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, National WWI Museum and Memorial, Union Station Kansas City and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 4 sights, 2 places to eat and 3 bars & cafés.

Where should a group eat in Kansas City?

Our picks: Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que (Kansas City, KS); Arthur Bryant's Barbeque (18th & Vine). Lines can be long at lunch; go early or order ahead (Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que).

What is near Kansas City?

The closest destinations in our guides are Downtown Kansas City (about 0 km / 0 mi), Country Club Plaza (about 7 km / 4 mi) and Lawrence (about 58 km / 36 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Kansas City with your crew

Open the Kansas City to Omaha route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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