stories
stories
HomeMoneyLifestyleNewsSportsEntertainmentTravelScienceLocal

Highest-rated free things to do in Kansas by visitors

·Stacker

Tint Media // Shutterstock
Tint Media // Shutterstock
Add Stacker as Preferred Source

Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Kansas.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Kansas using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in Kansas

#28. The World's Largest Ball of Sisal Twine

Tripadvisor

3 / 30

#28. The World's Largest Ball of Sisal Twine

- Rating: 4.3/5 (142 reviews)
- City: Cawker City
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#25. Fort Scott National Historic Site

Tripadvisor

6 / 30

#25. Fort Scott National Historic Site

- Rating: 4.7/5 (233 reviews)
- City: Fort Scott
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#24. Overland Park Farmers Market

Tripadvisor

7 / 30

#24. Overland Park Farmers Market

- Rating: 4.6/5 (110 reviews)
- City: Overland Park
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#23. Ft Leavenworth Army Installation

Tripadvisor

8 / 30

#23. Ft Leavenworth Army Installation

- Rating: 4.7/5 (118 reviews)
- City: Leavenworth
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#13. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Tripadvisor

18 / 30

#13. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

- Rating: 4.6/5 (249 reviews)
- City: Strong City
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#10. Boot Hill Casino & Resort

Tripadvisor

21 / 30

#10. Boot Hill Casino & Resort

- Rating: 3.7/5 (337 reviews)
- City: Dodge City
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#9. Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park

Tripadvisor

22 / 30

#9. Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park

- Rating: 4.6/5 (363 reviews)
- City: Topeka
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Kansas State Capitol Building

Tripadvisor

27 / 30

#4. Kansas State Capitol Building

- Rating: 4.7/5 (597 reviews)
- City: Topeka
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#3. Legends Outlets Kansas City

Tripadvisor

28 / 30

#3. Legends Outlets Kansas City

- Rating: 4.4/5 (316 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Trending stories