Topeka is the capital of the state of Kansas. It lies in the eastern part of the state. You can get there multiple ways. For example, you can get there via I-70, I-335, US-75, or K-4. Since it is the capital of the entire state, there surely has to be something cool there right? Here are some cool places I have been to in Topeka so far:
Historic John and Mary Ritchie House. This was just the beginning of our field trip to Topeka. I did not know that the Underground Railroad was in Kansas before we arrived at the house. It was all real, which is why the experience was so cool. If you’re a fan of the Underground Railroad, this is a place to go. You will most likely learn something while you are there!
Brown v. Board of Education. This was our second stop on our field trip. Since we had learned about the civil rights movement in history, this was a nice addition. It was like a review for what we were learning about in school. For people interested in learning about the civil rights movement or you just like the topic, this is a must. Maybe you might learn something you didn’t know before!
Kansas State Capitol. This was the last stop on our field trip. We were able to explore the huge area. It was very cool to ride down the elevator because you could really tell how tall the building was from that perspective. The place was nice and fancy, as you would expect. I can’t name just one favorite moment there because the whole experience was the best part of our visit there.
Kansas Museum of History. I went with my family here and there was a lot to learn and explore about the place which is why it is interesting to go there. And yes, there is a gift shop included for any shoppers out there interested.
Kansas Museum of History Topeka Kansas
For more information about these places, the links provided for each of them are above. Thank you for reading! Be sure to read more articles on the website!
Some of us like travelling and navigating using the highway numbers and, if on the interstate, exit numbers. You can find out how mile markers work by reading the article “What are Mile Markers?”. Now we will explain how the numbers of the interstates and state highways were determined.
Even and Odd Numbered Roads
In all cases, numbers ending in an odd number nearly always run from north to south. In contrast, numbers ending in an even number run east to west. If a highway or interstate performs a second function for that similar interstate, it will start with a one, two, three, etc. For example, Interstate 435 goes around a city that Interstate 35 is on. If it is a single digit like 5, the second to last digit is a zero. Another way to look at it is that if there is a three-digit interstate, the last two digits would be the number of a main interstate nearby.
In some scenarios, there may be multiple interstates with the same exact number in different states. For example, There is an I-470 that runs around Topeka, KS and a I-470 that goes near Independence, MO. It is true that you can find them in different states, but never in the same state.
Interstate Numbering
It is easier to figure out the pattern for interstates. Going west to east, odd numbers go from 5 to 95, mostly ending with five. Going north to south, even numbers, mostly ending in zero, go from the Mexican border to the Canadian border. Of course, not all interstates end in 0 or 5, especially in the eastern US.
Depending where the last digit is located on the number scale with 5, at least at some point, it will be at the right spot. I say this because interstates and highways like to intersect or cross sometimes. This is something to keep in mind because it may not seem like the pattern works where you are, but the pattern may occur in another state.
National highways
A question that may come to mind is, ”What about the nation’s highways that are not interstates?” This may be trickier to spot. I believe it is the case that with state highways, they are, for the most part, random. For the national highways, however, if you look hard enough, you notice there is a pattern. From east to west, U.S. highways are numbered from 1 by the Atlantic Coast to 101 by the Pacific coast. From north to south, U.S. highways go in order from 2 by the Canadian border to 98 by the Mexican border.
In some states, remember, it may not be perfect because again, highways, especially this kind, like to overlap each other from time to time. They don’t even have to meet. At some point, going in order, earlier digits in the number scale should be more north/south or west/east than the other. That is the trick to spotting the pattern for U.S. highways.
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Location and Directions Melvern Lake is located in eastern Kansas north of I-35 and west of US-75 which are two major highways. You can find it between Emporia and Ottawa. Near the lake are the towns Olivet via K-276 and the town Melvern via K-31. To visit the town of Melvern and then the lake from I-35, take Exit 160. If you take Exit 148, you can visit the town of Lebo heading south or take the road north to drive through the west side of Melvern Lake. However, the most direct route will most likely be taking US-75 north at Exit 155.
Directions to Eisenhower State Park There are many state highways nearby the lake, but the one to really remember is K-278 which will take you to Eisenhower State Park. It will end at the road you take to turn left and you will be able to easily spot it from there. Taking US-75 to K-278 west to South Fairlawn Road south to Eisenhower State Park is probably one of the more direct routes. If you want to, you could take South Hoch road through the west part of the lake to get to K-170 from the interstate, and then take a series of roads and eventually find South Fairlawn Road which will again take you to Eisenhower State Park. It is most likely the destination you want to travel to.
The first thing you will notice is the Eisenhower State Park Office of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism (the way to get into the park). Once allowed to enter, there are two directions to take which will eventually connect back to each other closer to the actual lake. It won’t be hard to find restrooms and showers as you drive along. There are a few campgrounds adjacent to the lake such as the Doud and Churchill campgrounds. There is even a decent playground located pretty close to the water.
There are other places nearby such as the Outlet Park east of the lake close by US-75. It includes a dam you can ride on that gives you a good view of the lake looking west. There are places you can maybe access all around the lake including the Turkey Point Area southwest of Eisenhower State Park.
In conclusion, Melvern Lake is one of many lakes you can find in eastern Kansas. You can access it pretty easily from three major cities in the state of Kansas: Topeka, Emporia, and Ottawa. Melvern Lake is a good place to enjoy life and go fishing.
Four Lane HighwayLinks I-80 to I-70 Not too long ago, the state Nebraska and Kansas decided to make a four laned road stretching from I-80 and I-70. It would start from York, Nebraska, travel south through McCool Junction, Fairmont, Geneva, Strang, Bruning, Hebron, past the Nebraska – Kansas border through Belleville, Concordia, Minneapolis, and finally Salina where it meets I-70 and even I-135. It still exists today and serves a good purpose for faster transportation.
US-81 To explain a little better, this US-81 route contributes with I-135 and its purpose as well. If you look at a map, you see I-35 which was once in the central part of the country starting to shift east away from the north central states. With the new roads, there is a faster route for the area that I-35 missed when going east to Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota.
In the Dakotas and Nebraska, you realize there is no interstate that runs vertically through the middle of the states. We have history to blame for this. But in short, this new route gives these north central states a faster way to access I-35 in a more direct way to travel to places in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
From the flip side of things, it is easier for the south central states to travel to the north central states as well. It is a step towards making transportation slightly faster in this area.
Here are a few good places to stop along this road from York, NB and Salina, KS:
York North of I-80 you can truly see the size of the town. US-81 & US-34 mostly bypass the town, but Lincoln Avenue is a main road that runs straight through the town. This is a good stopping point even when traveling along the interstate. Most travelers when in a slight hurry stop south of town rather than in it. They should consider going up a mile if they have the time.
Geneva To get more options, you can either travel west on F Street or NE-41, whichever comes first. You could stop at Shell for gas, Dollar General for a snack, or even Subway for a nice, healthy lunch.
Hebron – Home of the World’s Largest Porch Swing
Hebron Most of the stops are again west of the highway. Lincoln Avenue is a good way to enter the city from the highway. You can find another Dollar General here as well as a Casey’s. The airport and the country club is south of the town near US-136.
Belleville North of US-36 and east of US-81 is where the city of Belleville resides. Up north is a Love’s, a speedway, swimming pool, and Rocky Pond. For anyone looking for businesses you can find in most places, there is a Super 8 hotel near a Dollar General, Casey’s, and even a DQ where you can stop for a treat.
POW Camp Concordia Kansas USA
Concordia You don’t have to leave the highway too much at all to stop at a DQ, Sonic, McDonald’s, Subway, Arby’s, and more. South of town they even have a Walmart. It should fill most needs someone would like during the trip.
Salina This city is blessed to have four lane roads in all four directions. When US-81 reaches Salina, people traveling south have the option to travel west to Hays and Denver, east to Topeka and Kansas City, or south to Wichita and Oklahoma City. Taking I-135 south by Salina gives you more options rather than I-70, but there are still enough stops north of Salina by I-70 to support travelers along their way. US-81 continues south with I-135 after Salina to Wichita and beyond.
Makes Driving Fun What is so important about four laned highways? Well, for one, it is easier to handle the traffic since you can pass cars without going in the other lane that cars use to go the opposite direction. An additional benefit is higher speed. These factors add up to a sum of easier driving and faster travel. The interstates aren’t the only four laned roads you will find in the state of Kansas.
Kansas City For example, near Kansas City, it is harder to find highways that are just two laned compared to other parts of the state. Parts of US-69, US-169, US-73, US-24, and US-40 around the area will have more lanes so traffic can flow more smoothly since it is very populated.
Christmas Tree Crown Center Kansas City Missouri USA
Around Kansas Here are some other areas where you can find them along your travels with the locations listed from east to west:
US-59 (Lawrence – Ottawa)
US-75 (Holton – Topeka – US-56)
Manhattan Area (K-18, K-177, US-24)
K-254 (Wichita – El Dorado)
US-54 (Kingsman – Wichita – Augusta – El Dorado)
US-81 (York, NB / I-80 – NB Border – Concordia – Salina / I-135)
How to get to Hays, Kansas, USA Via I-70, US-40, and US-183 lies the town of Hays, Kansas, one of the more popular places in the area. Hays and Salina were a big deal when the interstate was first built. If you have noticed when you first approach an interstate, it will have north and south or west and east directions depending on the interstate. With that they will have an important town name in addition to the sign so people know where things are. West of Hays, you will get names of towns on the signs that aren’t even in Kansas such as Limon or Denver in Colorado. East of Hays you will get signs for Salina, Topeka, Kansas City, St. Louis, etc. Based on that information, we can figure that Hays is recognized more than some cities in the state.
Old Fort Hays Historical Marker
In addition to the interstate and US-183, there is Bypass US-183 that travels around the southwest parts of town, including Fort Hays State University. If you are traveling from East I-70 to South US-183 or from North US-183 to West I-70, this is an excellent way to skip town traffic along Vine Street or US-183. Vine Street is one of the main roads in town with many places to eat. The road actually named “Main Street” takes you through downtown, the library, pool, park, etc. There are also enough businesses north of the interstate to choose from.
Fort Hays Historic Site Kansas USA
Besides Fort Hays State University, you can visit the Sternberg Museum, Old Fort Hays, a golf course, country club, and more parks. My family likes to visit a park east of Main Street and just north of Bypass US-183. There is a playground, picnic areas, and a great view of Big Creek from the bridge going over it. We like the location of Hays mostly because it is a nice halfway point to meet up with family out west. We have many places to stop for food right off the interstate along US-183 north or south. Occasionally, even though it is slightly off track for us, we like taking the bypass so we can check out more of the town and Fort Hays.
Jellison Covered Bridge – Fort Hays University Kansas
The Kansas Turnpike Association (KTA) is responsible for keeping the toll road in good conditions. It travels west from Kansas City to Topeka then down through Emporia to Wichita, and then finally takes a dive south in Oklahoma. You can take this route via West I-70, West I-470, South I-335, and South I-35. It is approximately 225 miles long in total. You can also look at it from a reverse angle where the directions are north and east instead, taking you to Missouri.
Tolls may not be fun to pay for, but there are some benefits to it. First of all, there are places you can stop on the toll road instead of getting off to go through town traffic and then paying to get back on again. Additionally, there is an extra lane added to the two normal lanes so the road isn’t so jammed with traffic. Since it is after all a toll road. you can trust that it is a good, steady road to travel on. There are always improvements being made to the road. Less traffic will merge on the road since there are less exits than usual. Getting a KTA sticker costs money, but it allows you to keep driving without stopping because they have added cameras to capture a look at your license plate so they can bill you later. If you prefer to drive more conveniently, you can consider taking the toll or even getting a sticker at the front of your car if you wish.
As mentioned previously, there are service areas that provide food, restrooms, gas, shops, information spots, etc. You don’t have to pay to get off or on with these along the way. Here are where these locations are based off of mile markers you can find off to the side of the road or even between North & South / West & East Interstate on which you are traveling.
Tall Grass Prairie National Preserve Kansas exit from I-35 at Emporia Kansas
Kansas Welcome Center Service Area (Mile Marker 26) Get to know some more about the state of Kansas, visit the EZ GO store, stop by Phillips 66 for gas, or grab a bite at McDonald’s while you are taking a break from driving.
Towanda Service Area (Mile Marker 65) If you care to stop by, there are a couple of ChargePoint charging stations you can use or take Dunkin’ or Hardee’s to go.
Matfield Green Service Area (Mile Marker 97) Go ahead and take a look at the Al Larsen Memorial or stop at another Phillips 66 to get some gas or a snack for your travels. Another Dunkin’ to go? If it’s open why not have another one?
Emporia Service Area (Mile Marker 132) By this point you are not far from the halfway point of the turnpike. You are either approaching Emporia or have just left. If you wish, you can grab a bite to eat at McDonald’s, get gas at Valero, or stop at the Fast N Friendly store.
Topeka Service Area (Mile Marker 188) You have many options in this service area: Hardee’s, Pizza Hut Express, Dunkin’, Taco Bell, Phillip’s 66, and Kansas Originals Market. Need a charging station? There’s a couple east of the building.
Lawrence Service Area (Mile Marker 209) If you want to visit the EZ GO store, you can find one in this service area. Additionally, there is yet another McDonald’s and yet another Phillip’s 66. Once again, you have charging stations to use located east of the building.
There are two main toll plazas at each end of the turnpike for the people coming from or going to Oklahoma / Missouri. They are known as the Eastern Terminal Toll Plaza and the South Terminal Toll Plaza. These are located around mile markers 16 and 216. Pretty cool how they are almost exactly 200 miles apart from each other.
If you are traveling out west to Colorado or east to Missouri through Kansas via I-70, there are some towns you can stop at along the way to your destination. More specifically, I shall give some suggestions that have enough variety.for you. I will list the exit numbers, the town, and some reasoning. It is up to you which place is more convenient according to the pace of your travel. From Kansas City to Topeka is the Kansas Turnpike that I will talk about in the future.
Topeka (KS Capital City) (Exits 355-366) It is expected to be a big city and it is. The west part of I-470 is not a toll road unlike the east part once it meets up with I-335. I feel there are many more options in this part of the city that are much closer to the road. If you want to keep traveling through, you can take your pick which way to go. You can see more downtown on I-70 and I-470 bypasses most of it. If you don’t mind the toll you can get on ahead of time taking I-470 east.
East Rolling Hills Park Milford Lake Kansas near Junction City Kansas USA
Junction City (Exits 295-300) From Topeka to Junction City there really aren’t a lot of places to go that are right close by. You can find some but they might not have what you are looking for. Junction City has plenty of good options. If you so happened to check out K-State University before heading here, just take K-18 to make your way to Junction City and the interstate. Fort Riley is east of the town right between the K-18 exit and the main town. We normally take exits 296 & 298 for food whenever we travel in that direction. Check out Milford Lake!
Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum Abilene Kansas USA
Abilene (Exit 275) Exit 272 has a Love’s Travel Shop you can stop at to get gas and a few snacks. The main road is at Exit 275 where it meets up with K-15 and is most likely where you want to stop if you stop at all here. Most options are south, but there are a couple north from it. You can learn more about Eisenhower if you go to the south part of town taking K-15 if you wish.
Salina (Exits 250-253) It seems like a small town at first, but there are many more options by taking I-135 south at Exit 250. There you find a much bigger looking city, so you should be able to find the maximum amount of options this way. However, if you wish to stay near the interstate, take Exit 252 to K-143. Going south into town takes some time but connects to downtown. Up north is the quickest solution for rushed travelers. The travel store might be a convenient short stop on the north side of the road. Check out the Rolling Hills Zoo!
Russell (Exits 184 & 189) There are more smaller towns along the way, but don’t have too many places that are familiar to most people. However, if this is something that interests you, there is Wilson (Wilson Lake), Dorrance, and Bunker Hill for example. The town of Russell is a bit bigger and will have more options than the ones along the way. Just take north US-281 at Exit 184 or the main exit or take Business US-40 at Exit 189.
Old Fort Hays Historic Site Hays Kansas USA across from Ft Hays State University and Big Creek Park.
Hays (Exits 157 & 159) This is considered a major city in this part of the state. Be more than happy to take Exit 159 to get on US-183 and travel either direction north or south. Going south gives you more options, but there are also a number of places on the north side. Or if you care to take Exit 157 for Bypass US-183, you can go by Fort Hays State University and the west part of town. This is what I like to do occasionally when I’m travelling west.
WaKeeney (Exits 127 & 128) Traveling west from Hays, you could stop at Ellis at Exit 145, but WaKeeney in my opinion is a better choice if you have already stopped in Hays. South of the interstate on US-283 is a travelstore connected to a McDonald’s with a drive-thru. This is probably the best place to stop in WaKeeney. It is pretty easy to spot right to the side of both roads and we usually stop here most of the time when we travel.
Annie Oakley Kansas USA at Buffalo Bill Cultural Center
Oakley (Exit 70 & 76) What exit you take can depend on your direction of travel. Both exits are good because they both have good rest stops and gas stations to get gas and a short snack. You can take Exit 70 for US-83 and Exit 76 for US-40. Exit 76 has a big gas station with multiple places to go. However, Exit 70 takes you to Buffalo Bill Cultural Center and also has a Cenex with a restaurant next door. You could even take both roads instead of the interstate if you were really curious about the town of Oakley.
Colby (Exits 53 & 54) The main exit would be Exit 53 since it connects with K-25. It is one of the main roads of the town. Just travel up north and find something there. Whenever we would travel west, we would stop here before heading to Colorado to get to somewhere like Denver. We just always found something there like the McDonald’s close by the interstate.
Goodland (Exits 17 & 19) West of Colby, US-24 joins the ride, you pass by Brewster followed by the time zone change. An hour behind is Goodland. Exit 19 leads to Bypass US-24 which comes back with K-27 at Exit 17. This is the main exit to get something to go in my opinion. This is really the last big stop before the state line. Kanorado at Exit 1 is the last town in Kansas and it is a pretty small one. Then you shall make your entrance into Colorful Colorado and the Rocky Mountains. Burlington is the first available stop in Colorado 13 miles west from the state line. We also like to stop here sometimes.
Rest Areas There are many located along the interstate if you want to use the restroom or just stop driving for a bit. This is not including the toll road. Here is roughly where they are at based on mile markers: 336, 309, 265, 224, 187, 132, 96, 48, 9. These are what I can find and remember. If you are coming east from Colorado the rest area at around mile 9 is a welcome center for anyone new coming through the state.
I made a video where I completed a 50 state and capitals quiz to test how well I know geography. I promise there is no cheating involved. You will just have to trust me on this.
The state of Kansas has a lot to offer. Out of the 48 contiguous states, this state is right in the center. More technically speaking, the most northern tip of the state is the actual geographical center of the states (Alaska and Hawaii not included).
Kansas City Even though it may seem like the biggest in the state, the majority of the city is on the Missouri side. The city combined with other suburbs is one of the biggest cities in the region. Don’t forget to stop by for some BBQ!
Christmas Fountains Crown Center Kansas City Missouri USA
Lawrence Kansas University resides in this town. It is also not far from two major cities, Topeka and Kansas City. If you are a Jayhawk fan, this is where you come for all of the home games!
University of Kansas at Lawrence Kansas USA
Wichita According to the population, this is the biggest city in Kansas. Wichita State University is where all of the shockers come for home games! The air capital of the world has made a newer airport, Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport; fly through here if you wish.
Hutchinson This is one of the bigger cities on the western side of the state. The Cosmosphere there is a place you can go to study more about space. There is even an underground salt museum you can go to.
Manhattan Kansas State University resides in this town. If you come to watch any sport, football is what the Kansas State Wildcats are all about. The city is also scenic; it is surrounded by many hills around on the outside and the two main roads from I-70 are good roads you can take to get there
Hays Home of Fort Hays State University. You can go here for college if you live in the western part of the state so you don’t have to travel as far east to get to KU, KSU, or WSU. You can also go see the Sternberg Museum of Natural History here.
Liberal This city is found right next to the Oklahoma border in southwest Kansas. You can get here via US-83 or US-54, which are both major highways. Dorthy’s House is a popular place you can go to here.
Atchinson Amelia Earhart Birthplace (Atchison, KS) – One of the many famous people in the world actually came from Kansas! Right off the Missouri River, you can tour the house where she lived.
Dodge City Another look at southwest Kansas! This place is known for being a frontier cow town founded back in 1871 aka Fort Dodge. You should stop by to visit the Boot Hill Museum while on your way to your destination.
Pittsburg This city is close by the Missouri border in southeast Kansas and is only thirty miles away from Joplin. You can get here via US- 69 or US- 160. You could visit Miner’s Memorial or Veterans Memorial Amphitheater Museum during your travels.
Emporia I-35 and I-335 meet at this point. You can travel north to Topeka, east to Kansas City, or south to Wichita using these interstates. Emporia State University is an option for college to the high school graduates or if you want to watch an event or explore the place.
Coffeyville This city is found in southeast Kansas right next to the Oklahoma border. You can get here via US-166 or US- 169. Dalton Defenders and Coffeyville History as well as Brown Mansion are some places to visit here.
Elkhart This city is next to both Oklahoma and Colorado state borders. Elkhart is known as the Cornerstone of Kansas since it is just about as southwest as you can get in Kansas without entering another state. Wide open spaces! You can learn more about Cimarron National Grassland if you visit the museum there.
