
Highest-rated free things to do in Kansas by visitors
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!

#30. Cattle Feedlot Overlook
- Rating: 3.7/5 (108 reviews)
- City: Dodge City
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#29. Lee Richardson Zoo
- Rating: 4.6/5 (130 reviews)
- City: Garden City
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#28. The World's Largest Ball of Sisal Twine
- Rating: 4.3/5 (142 reviews)
- City: Cawker City
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#27. Dodge City Trail of Fame
- Rating: 3.9/5 (88 reviews)
- City: Dodge City
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#26. Giant Van Gogh Painting
- Rating: 4.2/5 (187 reviews)
- City: Goodland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#25. Fort Scott National Historic Site
- Rating: 4.7/5 (233 reviews)
- City: Fort Scott
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#24. Overland Park Farmers Market
- Rating: 4.6/5 (110 reviews)
- City: Overland Park
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#23. Ft Leavenworth Army Installation
- Rating: 4.7/5 (118 reviews)
- City: Leavenworth
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#22. Louisburg Cider Mill
- Rating: 4.1/5 (150 reviews)
- City: Louisburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#21. Riverside Park and Ralph Mitchell Zoo
- Rating: 4.6/5 (110 reviews)
- City: Independence
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#20. Santa Fe Trail Tracks
- Rating: 3.8/5 (162 reviews)
- City: Dodge City
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#19. Castle Rock
- Rating: 4.3/5 (74 reviews)
- City: Quinter
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#18. Arkansas River Trail
- Rating: 4.4/5 (113 reviews)
- City: Wichita
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#17. Gage Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (253 reviews)
- City: Topeka
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#16. Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway
- Rating: 3.5/5 (503 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#15. Oak Park Mall
- Rating: 4.2/5 (129 reviews)
- City: Overland Park
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#14. Kansas Star Casino
- Rating: 3.1/5 (505 reviews)
- City: Mulvane
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#13. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
- Rating: 4.6/5 (249 reviews)
- City: Strong City
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. Lake Shawnee
- Rating: 4.7/5 (239 reviews)
- City: Topeka
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#11. Great Plains Nature Center
- Rating: 4.5/5 (120 reviews)
- City: Wichita
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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

#8. Coronado Heights
- Rating: 4.3/5 (162 reviews)
- City: Lindsborg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#7. Old Town
- Rating: 4.0/5 (307 reviews)
- City: Wichita
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#6. Grinter Farms
- Rating: 4.7/5 (46 reviews)
- City: Lawrence
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#5. Massachusetts Street
- Rating: 4.7/5 (476 reviews)
- City: Lawrence
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Kansas State Capitol Building
- Rating: 4.7/5 (597 reviews)
- City: Topeka
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#3. Legends Outlets Kansas City
- Rating: 4.4/5 (316 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. Monument Rocks
- Rating: 4.6/5 (276 reviews)
- City: Oakley
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#1. The Keeper of the Plains
- Rating: 4.6/5 (890 reviews)
- City: Wichita
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.