Planning a family road trip from Kansas City? Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures, thrilling attractions, or hidden gems, there is something for everyone! Here are 15 unforgettable family-friendly road trips that promise fun, adventure and lasting memories.
Omaha, NE (2.5-hour drive)
Omaha is a fantastic family getaway with world-class attractions and exciting outdoor spaces.
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is ranked among the top zoos in the country. We loved the beautiful and unique Desert Dome, aquarium, Skyfari (which gives you a birds-eye view of the African animals), huge kids playground, ocean-inspired splash pad and train. Don’t miss lunch (buy it here or bring your own) at Durham Tree Top Cafe in the Lied Jungle building (watch gibbons in the indoor rainforest).
- Gene Leahy Mall at The RiverFront has the coolest eye-catching, modern park and playground with slides, green space, fountains to play in, swings and sculpture garden. You could easily spend hours here with fun food trucks and summer concerts.
- Bob the Bridge: Our kids loved posing for pictures with OMAR the Troll at the base of the bridge and walking up to the middle of the bridge to jump back and forth between Iowa and Nebraska.
- Luminarium – A hands-on science museum that sparks curiosity in kids and adults alike.
- Omaha Children’s Museum – Filled with hands-on exhibits for younger kids.
- Fontenelle Forest (south of Omaha) has an incredible raptor woodland refuge for rescued birds, plus beautiful boardwalks, nature trails and an indoor educational nature-based play area for kids.
- TreeRush Adventures at Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue, NE is an incredible treetop adventure with ziplines, suspended bridges and ropes courses. Hands down the favorite for everyone was the Screech Owl with 9 ziplines, it’s a must!
- Where to Stay in Omaha, Nebraska: If you want to splurge, we love The Farnam, Autograph Collection. Hotel Indigo Omaha is unique and charming. Kimpton Cottonwood has a pool and is another lovely stay.
Tulsa, OK (4-hour drive)
Tulsa is a hidden gem with an impressive mix of outdoor fun and cultural attractions.
- The Gathering Place – One of the largest and most innovative parks in the U.S., has an epic playground, skate park, and splash zones. Plan to spend hours here, it’s incredible!
- Discovery Lab – A hands-on science museum perfect for curious kids.
- Tulsa Zoo – Home to more than 400 animal species and interactive exhibits.
- Where to Stay in Tulsa, Oklahoma: For a splurge, Harwelden Mansion is incredible. We’ve also enjoyed the Ambassador Hotel near The Gathering Place and The Fairfield by Marriott Inn and Suites.
Eureka Springs, AR (4-hour drive)
Nestled in the Ozarks, this charming town offers stunning nature and adventure-filled activities.
- Beaver Lake – Rent paddleboards or kayaks and head to Lover’s Leap waterfall at Hogscald Hollow. You will love the gorgeous bluffs and serene blue green waters!
- Ozark Mountain Ziplines – Experience 10 ziplines with gorgeous views and an amazing family bonding experience!
- Pauly’s Burgers and Harley Davidson Tower: Devour a scrumptious burger and gelato then step outside and climb Harley Davidson’s tower for $1 with beautiful views from the top!
- Downtown Eureka Springs: Pose for pictures on the rainbow steps, enjoy the unique local shops, have coffee at Eureka Springs CoffeeHouse and take a lovely stroll through Basin Spring Park.
- Blue Spring Heritage Center: Explore this beautiful botanical garden with stunning turquoise Spring waters.
- Thorncrown Chapel: Admire the beautiful glass nestled in the woods. This stunning chapel is home to hundreds of weddings each year and it’s easy to see why.
- Little Golden Gate Bridge: Take a sunset drive across the historic one-lane suspension bridge for lovely sunset lake views.
- Where to stay in Eureka Springs, Arkansas: 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa. Brimming with history and charm, this family-friendly resort offers a pool, yard games, beautiful nature views and even a ghost tour! We loved our stay here!
Arcadia Valley, MO (4-hour drive)
A nature lover’s paradise with unique geological formations and stunning water features.
- Elephant Rocks State Park – Climb massive, billion-year-old boulders.
- Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park – Natural rock formations create swimming holes perfect for a summer dip.
We visited both of these incredible places in one day on our way from KC to a St. Louis soccer tournament. This would be perfect to combine with a St. Louis weekend getaway.
Where to stay in St. Louis, Missouri: Hyatt Place St. Louis/Chesterfield, Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis Chesterfield, Live by Loews and our absolute favorite for the holidays or for a splurge, we love the convenience and grandeur of St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection.
Oklahoma City, OK (5-hour drive)
OKC is packed with fun attractions for the whole family.
- Bricktown – Take a Water Taxi ride through the lively Bricktown district, play mini golf and arcade games.
- Myriad Botanical Gardens – The grounds are gorgeous and the waterfall, plants and flowers inside are equally beautiful. Kids will love playing in the Children’s Garden.
- Scissortail Park – A sprawling urban park with playgrounds, trails, and water features. Parents will love it for the beautiful and clean grounds, gated play area and cool juxtaposition with this thriving park and the backdrop of downtown OKC.
- OKC Thunder game at Paycom Center – Our kids loved how accessible the players were before the game to sign autographs during warm-ups courtside. We appreciated the family-friendly atmosphere and exciting energy!
- Oklahoma City Zoo – We delighted in seeing the baby giraffe, petting stingray, riding the carousel and renting Scooter Pals to see all of the animals in style. Make memories with a unique Wild Animal Encounter. Our family created enrichment items for the Red River Hogs at Expedition Africa. The kids enjoyed going behind the scenes into their habitat and learning more about these unique animals.
- Science Museum OKC – Enjoy lots of interactive, hands-on learning and fun. My kids were excited to experience tornado winds in a tornado simulator, find our way through the giant mirror maze, climb through the tree house fun zone, build in the Tinkering Garage and play huge games like Giant Battleship and chess.
- Where to stay in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Renaissance Oklahoma City Downtown Bricktown Hotel. This hotel is gorgeous and incredibly convenient to walk to an OKC Thunder game.
Springfield, MO (2-hour drive)
A perfect weekend escape with plenty of family-friendly stops.
- Wonders of Wildlife – A must-visit aquarium and wildlife museum that will exceed every expectation.
- Fantastic Caverns – The only ride-through cave tour in North America.
- Dickerson Park Zoo – See exotic animals up close and feed giraffes.
- Where to stay in Springfield, Missouri: The Oasis Hotel and Convention Center. This family-friendly hotel was the perfect oasis for our Springfield adventures. It’s located in the northeast part of Springfield and made for an easy drive to all of our outings. The hotel has undergone significant renovations, the rooms were clean and comfortable and the indoor and outdoor pools were a huge highlight!
Southern Illinois (6-hour drive)
Home to some of the Midwest’s most scenic landscapes.
- Garden of the Gods – Breathtaking rock formations and panoramic views. Garden of the Gods Observation Trail, where beautiful views greeted us at every turn. My kids loved being in explorer mode, climbing and navigating the unique formations. And don’t worry—there’s an easy walking loop right from the parking lot for those looking for a gentler pace
- Bell Smith Springs – A beautiful area with hiking trails and natural pools. Bell Smith Springs Scenic Area and Devil’s Backbone on the Whitetail Trail. We enjoyed traversing down the unique stone staircase which felt like a special passage into the beautiful forest below.
- Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour has an incredible zipline experience! Even my mom and dad, nearly 80, joined us for the fun! The hikes between lines are a bit challenging but totally worth it for the memories and sweeping forest views.
- Boo Castle Park – Jeremy “Boo” Rochman Memorial Park in Carbondale, with its unique castle playground, complete with dragons, tunnels and climbing bridges
- Where to stay: The Cabins at Sunrise Hill in Makanda, are charming A-frames in a serene setting. We enjoyed the modern decor in the Blue Heron Cabin, cozy fire pit and stargazing hot tub. We caught and released fish, played board games and made smores. This was perfect respite to relax, unwind and be present together.
Des Moines, IA (3-hour drive)
A fun and vibrant city with lots to offer families.
- Adventureland Park – Delight your kids with a fun-filled day at Adventureland Park. Our kids LOVED Monster, possibly our favorite roller coaster yet! Cool off in the waterpark and make amazing family memories here. Opens for the 2025 season May 17.
- Pappajohn Sculpture Park – Unique outdoor art installations.
- Blank Park Zoo – Walk among wallabies and see red pandas up close. Our hearts were full after feeding and petting the alpaca (additional fee) in Alpaca Acres. We adored the red panda exhibit which allowed us to see their sweet faces closer than ever before. Don’t miss seeing the cute wallabies up close plus giraffe feeding, fun playground and seal & sea lion demonstration.
- Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden – The geo dome is beautiful with gorgeous plants and flowers. The kids enjoyed the giant frogs, lily pads and waterfall in the outside gardens.
- Where to stay: Fairfield Inn & Suites, Altoona, IA. Just minutes from Adventureland Park and steps away from great outlet shopping and restaurants. We were grateful for the spacious suites, pool and hot tub and free breakfast.
Rocky Mountain National Park, CO (9-hour drive)
A stunning outdoor adventure worth the longer drive.
- Emerald Lake Trail – If you do only one hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, this should be it! This iconic and family-friendly hike takes you to Bear Lake, Nymph Lake, Dream Lake and Emerald Lake. Start at the Bear Lake Trailhead. Marvel at the serene beauty of Bear Lake, venture through the enchanting Nymph Lake, with the most beautiful and idyllic lily pads and culminate your journey at the breathtaking Emerald Lake with its gorgeous waters reflecting the towering peaks. Start early! This not only guarantees stunning scenery but also ensures a more peaceful experience on the trail. The parking lot can fill up before 7 a.m. If the parking lot is full, don’t fret – the shuttle service is surprisingly easy. This hike took our family about 3 hours. We moved at a relatively fast pace but allowed for plenty of rock climbing, rock skipping, squirrel chasing and of course a full belly flop into the frigid waters. This is ideal for hiking with kids because the payoffs are frequent, the hike is only mildly strenuous and you get a lot of wow in a relatively easy hike.
- Where to stay: I hope to stay in a cabin on our next visit and will update this blog when we do. We had a lovely stay at Embassy Suites by Hilton in Loveland. Our hike here was part of a major road trip from Kansas City to Canada and we only stayed one night for this hike. It was comfortable and perfectly situated with easy access from the interstate.
Minneapolis, MN (6.5-hour drive)
A perfect mix of urban excitement and nature.
- Mall of America – Stay, shop, and enjoy indoor roller coasters. We loved the rides, a meal at Sugar Factory, a visit to FlyOver America and the Crayola Experience.
- Minnehaha Falls – A beautiful waterfall just minutes from MOA.
- Where to stay near Mall of America in Bloomington, MN : Radisson Blu Mall of America is incredibly convenient, a lovely hotel and ideally connected to the Mall of America. We loved being able to walk directly from our hotel into the mall to ride rides and shop.
Badlands National Park, SD (7.5-hour drive)
A unique landscape unlike anywhere else in the Midwest.
- Door Trail – Easy hike through dramatic rock formations. Embark on a 15-20 minute out-and-back journey on the Door Trail for sweeping views of the Badlands. Perfect for all ages, there’s an easy ¼ mile boardwalk leading to a fantastic viewpoint. If you’re up for more adventure, follow the trail markers for an awesome (and still easy) hike that takes you right into the heart of this natural treasure. Trust me; it’s worth it!
- Notch Trail – A more adventurous hike featuring an incredible giant ladder climb. My kids are still talking about this incredible adventure! The Notch Trail is a 1.5-mile round trip, where you’ll encounter a giant ladder climb leading to the top of a scenic canyon. The trail then continues along a cliff with breathtaking views, ending with a beautiful panorama of the Badlands. Truly an unforgettable experience!
- Pinnacles Overlook – Capture the magic of a Badlands sunset at Pinnacles Overlook as the colors of the landscape come alive! Keep your eyes peeled, because this is also a prime spot for spotting bighorn sheep.
- Where to stay in Rapid City, South Dakota – We love the waterpark connected to Home2 Suites by Hilton Rapid City. We’ve stayed here numerous times. The breakfast was incredible on one stay and pretty terrible on another so I want to be candid about that. But the waterpark, convenience and comfort have made this our top stay near Mount Rushmore and visiting Badlands National Park.
Lake of the Ozarks, MO (3-hour drive)
A fantastic summer getaway for all ages!
- Ha Ha Tonka State Park – From exploring the ruins of a century-old stone castle to hiking through caves, over a massive natural bridge, and alongside the state’s 12th-largest spring, this has it all! Some favorites are the kid-friendly Castle Trail (under 1 mile) and the scenic Dell Rim Trail (0.5 miles). Or, for a little more challenge, try the Island Trail (0.9 miles) or Spring Trail (1.4 miles). Don’t miss the Colosseum Trail for the perfect view of the natural bridge!
- Lake activities – Boating, fishing, and swimming. I have incredible memories of parasailing when I was a tween and teen but it’s been too long to have a recommendation.
- Mini golf and go-karting – So many great options but Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf is a family favorite.
- Where to stay at Lake of the Ozarks – I grew up going to the lake with family and friends. We’ve primarily stayed at VRBO’s over the years there are many incredible options.
Branson, MO (3.5-hour drive)
A top-tier family vacation spot!
- Silver Dollar City – A world-famous theme park with rides and shows. Silver Dollar City is a blast for all ages. Plan to spend at least one full day here!
- Top of the Rock and Table Rock Lake will take your breath away. Perfect for the adventure-seeking family with incredible views and fun adventures. Try the Top of the Rock Lost Canyon and Nature Trail for a unique experience.
- Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery is a great free short stop in Branson. Our kids always love feeding the trout and exploring the nature center.
- Where to stay in Branson, Missouri: We absolutely LOVED our unique stay in covered wagons at Sycamore Creek Ranch. We are also excited about the announcement of the hotel SDC plans to open in 2026!
St. Louis, MO (4-hour drive)
A city full of family-friendly fun and attractions.
- Gateway Arch – Take a tram ride to the top for amazing views and rent electric scooters to cruise around the beautiful grounds.
- City Museum – A one-of-a-kind interactive museum – allow time to play on the roof (additional fee)
- Missouri Botanical Garden – A gorgeous space to explore in all seasons.
- Where to stay in Saint Louis, Missouri: Hyatt Place St. Louis/Chesterfield, Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis Chesterfield, Live by Loews and our absolute favorite for the holidays or for a splurge, we love the convenience and grandeur of St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection.
Wichita, KS (3-hour drive)
A fun, laid-back road trip destination.
- Botanica Gardens – Beautiful themed gardens to explore.
- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (in nearby Goddard) – Feed giraffes and meet exotic animals.
- Mushroom Rocks & Coronado Heights Castle – Out of the way but worth seeing the unique natural and historic stops when headed back to KC.
- Where to stay in Wichita, Kansas: Hyatt Regency Wichita has been a favorite within walking distance of the Equity Bank Ballpark. If you are visiting Tanganyika in Goddard, we recommend the Hampton Inn with a fun indoor waterpark for kids called Blast Off Bay.
These 15 amazing road trips from Kansas City offer something for every type of traveler. Whether you’re looking for national parks, charming small towns, or exciting city escapes, these destinations will create unforgettable family memories.
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