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Kansas, United States

Lawrence

Stop for an afternoon and evening: KU's hilltop campus, then Mass Street for dinner, beers and live music. We have mapped 3 sights, 1 activity and 1 outdoor spot here, each with a reason to go.

Plan Lawrence with friendsBrowse 9 places
Lawrence, Kansas, United States
Places
9

3 See · 1 Do · 1 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Shop

Curated routes
1

Kansas City to Omaha

Best season
Apr – Oct

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

32°C / 90°F avg high

Coolest month
January

3°C / 37°F avg high

Wettest month
May

about 140 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Lawrence

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

3 sights worth building a day around in KU Campus. All 3 are free to visit.

  • KU Campanile and Memorial Drive in LawrencePhoto: James FitzSimmons · Google
    See

    KU Campanile and Memorial Drive

    WWII memorial bell tower on Mount Oread with views over the Kansas River valley.

    • KU Campus
    • Free
    • 30 min
    • Sunset
  • Spencer Museum of Art in LawrencePhoto: Alan Islas · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Spencer Museum of Art

    Free university museum with a wide collection from Asian art to American painting.

    • KU Campus
    • Free
    • 75 min
    • Afternoon
  • KU Natural History Museum in LawrencePhoto: InaMaka · CC BY 3.0
    See

    KU Natural History Museum

    Home to a famous 1890s panorama of North American wildlife and fossils.

    • KU Campus
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Afternoon

Do

1 activity for when the group wants to do more than look in Downtown.

  • Liberty Hall in LawrencePhoto: Pete Romano · Google
    Do

    Liberty Hall

    Historic downtown venue showing indie films and hosting concerts.

    • Downtown
    • $
    • 2 hr
    • Evening

Outdoors

1 outdoor spot for fresh air in Clinton Lake.

  • Clinton State Park in LawrencePhoto: Gregory Unruh · Google
    Outdoors

    Clinton State Park

    Lakeside park with mountain-bike trails and swimming just west of town.

    • Clinton Lake
    • $
    • 2 hr
    • Morning

Eat

Where we would book a table in Lawrence in Downtown.

  • Wheatfields Bakery Cafe in LawrencePhoto: Wheatfields Bakery Cafe · Google
    Eat

    Wheatfields Bakery Cafe

    Wood-fired bread bakery and cafe off Mass Street, good for breakfast or sandwiches.

    • Downtown
    • $
    • 45 min
    • Breakfast
  • Free State Brewing Company in LawrencePhoto: Free State Brewing Company · Google
    Eat

    Free State Brewing Company

    Kansas's first legal brewery since Prohibition, opened in 1989 on Mass Street.

    Tip Ad Astra Ale is the flagship.

    • Downtown
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Dinner

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Lawrence in Oread.

  • Jayhawk Cafe in LawrencePhoto: Edward David · Google
    Drink

    Jayhawk Cafe

    'The Hawk,' a campus bar since 1919 with a warren of rooms.

    • Oread
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Night

Shop

Markets and shops worth the detour in Downtown.

  • Raven Book Store in LawrencePhoto: Carla Aldana · Google
    Shop

    Raven Book Store

    Independent bookshop on Mass Street known for its mystery section.

    • Downtown
    • $
    • 30 min
    • Afternoon

How to fit Lawrence into a trip

Lawrence is stop 1 of 3 on our Kansas City to Omaha route. Follow it as-is or lift Lawrence into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

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

Lawrence month by month

Average daily highs run from 3°C / 37°F in January to 32°C / 90°F in July. May is the wettest month, with about 140 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Lawrence weather and the best time to visit →

Near Lawrence

8 other destinations from our guides within about 350 km (217 mi), measured in a straight line.

Lawrence questions, answered

How many days do you need in Lawrence?

Our route notes suggest an afternoon in Lawrence. On our Kansas City to Omaha route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 10 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Lawrence best known for?

Stop for an afternoon and evening: KU's hilltop campus, then Mass Street for dinner, beers and live music. Standouts on our list: KU Campanile and Memorial Drive (WWII memorial bell tower on Mount Oread with views over the Kansas River valley); Spencer Museum of Art (Free university museum with a wide collection from Asian art to American painting); KU Natural History Museum (Home to a famous 1890s panorama of North American wildlife and fossils).

When is the best time to visit Lawrence?

Our Kansas City to Omaha route is best Apr – Oct. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (32°C / 90°F), the coolest in January (3°C / 37°F) and the most rain in May (about 140 mm).

What are the best things to do in Lawrence?

Start with KU Campanile and Memorial Drive, Spencer Museum of Art, KU Natural History Museum, Liberty Hall and Clinton State Park. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 3 sights, 1 activity, 1 outdoor spot, 2 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 1 shop.

Where should a group eat in Lawrence?

Our picks: Wheatfields Bakery Cafe (Downtown); Free State Brewing Company (Downtown). Ad Astra Ale is the flagship (Free State Brewing Company).

What is near Lawrence?

The closest destinations in our guides are Country Club Plaza (about 56 km / 35 mi), Downtown Kansas City (about 58 km / 36 mi) and Kansas City (about 58 km / 36 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Lawrence 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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