Hit the road from Salina, Kansas and you can find something interesting any direction you take. There are boundless adventures found in America’s heartland, and the central location of Salina provides the perfect starting point for any of them. From closest to furthest, here are three great road trips starting in Salina.
Abilene, Kansas
Brimming with history and culture, Abilene might seem like a town to pass through but there is so much to see and do. Home to 34th President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Abilene hosts the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home. It’s not only a tribute to the only 5-star General to become President but it is also an astonishing collection of 70,000 artifacts. The museum features exhibits on Eisenhower’s childhood in Kansas, his military career, The Great War, and a special 150-year anniversary exhibit of The Chisholm Trail.
The Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad is another adventure you have to experience while visiting Abilene. With trips running from May to October, this two-hour narrated train ride takes you on a 10-mile tour of the Smoky River Hill Valley. Choose from a roundtrip passenger ride, Historic Home and Barn Tour, the Old Abilene Town tour, and much more. Train times vary depending on destination, and tickets can be booked online.
Hutchinson, Kansas
Just over an hour south on I-135 from Salina is the adventurous city of Hutchinson, or “Hutch” as the locals call it. Head 650 feet underground to the Strataca Salt Mine. One of the largest salt mines in the world, it is still being mined today. A variety of tours are available, including the Safari Shuttle. This tour takes visitors deep into the tunnels of the mine, undisturbed since the 1950s and preserved just as the last miners of the time left them.
Once you’ve been underground, you can then reach for the stars at the Cosmosphere Space Museum. Experience the digital theater, planetarium, live shows, and the Hall of Space Museum, which showcases some of the earliest rocketry known to man. The Cosmosphere is open seven days a week and is an out-of-this world experience for everyone.
Dodge City, Kansas
The three-hour trip to Dodge City is worth every mile. See the legends come to life when you visit Dodge City, and experience the old west like you never imagined. The easiest way to see it all is on the Historic Trolley Tour, which takes visitors on a one-hour narrated journey to Fort Dodge, where it all started; the Mueller-Schmidt House; the cattle stockyards; and much more. Tickets can be purchased at the Visitors Information Center. A trip to Dodge City isn’t complete without visiting the Boot Hill Museum and famous Front Street. See gunfighter reenactments, visit the saloon for a sarsparilla, or stroll through the working general store.
A memorable road trip from Salina, Kansas is just a few miles away. Not only will your final destination be worth the drive but also getting there will be just as adventurous. There is so much to see and do on your next road trip, so hit the road and explore all that Kansas has to offer.
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