If you’ve ever dreamed of chasing horizons, touching history, or getting just a little closer to the stars, Kansas offers an air-and-space adventure that’s nothing short of awe-inspiring. From aviation legends to cosmic wonders, this statewide itinerary takes you through eight can’t-miss destinations that celebrate Kansas’ rich contributions to flight and exploration of the stars.
Atchison
Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum
Start your Kansas aviation itinerary off by honoring one of the most iconic pilots in history. The Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum celebrates Atchison’s hometown heroine with immersive exhibits and a breathtaking centerpiece—Muriel, the world’s last remaining Lockheed Electra 10-E, just like the plane Amelia flew on her final flight. This stop captures the courage and curiosity that continues to inspire explorers today and is the perfect place to set the tone for the soaring adventure ahead.
Louisburg
Powell Astronomical Observatory
When the sun sets, turn your eyes to the sky. The Powell Astronomical Observatory offers public viewing nights where you can peer into distant galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters through high-powered telescopes, including the Ruisinger telescope—one of the largest telescopes available for public viewing in a five state area. Kansas’ wide-open skies create the perfect backdrop for stargazing, letting you end your day with a moment of wonder. And the best part? This observatory is only a 45-minute drive from Kansas City!
Topeka
Combat Air Museum
Continue your journey west to Topeka, where the Combat Air Museum puts you in the middle of military aviation history, literally. With aircraft from WWI through the modern era, plus engines, drones, and aviation art, the museum offers a powerful look at innovation, sacrifice, and global service. Walking the hangar floors feels like stepping through time and makes it the perfect stop for anyone looking to get up close and personal with aviation history.
Hutchinson
Cosmosphere
Next, chart a course toward Hutchinson for a deep dive into space exploration at the world-renowned Cosmosphere. The Cosmosphere is home to an incredible collection of artifacts including the largest collection of Russian space artifacts outside Moscow as well as the fully restored Apollo 13 command module, Odyssey. Whether you’re learning to dock spacecraft in a simulator or standing inches from the rockets that carried humans into the unknown, the Cosmosphere makes the impossible feel within reach.
Wichita
B-29 Doc Hangar, Education & Visitors Center
In the Air Capital of the World, step into living history at the B-29 Doc Hangar. Here, you’ll meet Doc, one of only two airworthy B-29 Superfortresses on the planet. Watch expert volunteers keep this WWII giant flying, explore interactive exhibits, and—if you’re lucky—witness an engine run or even a flight day. It’s an emotional, up-close encounter with a Kansas-built legend.
Kansas Aviation Museum
Discover where American aviation took flight—Wichita’s historic Kansas Aviation Museum. Housed in the original 1935 municipal airport terminal, this Art Deco landmark tells the story of the city that built the airplanes that built an industry. Explore classic aircraft, climb into cockpits, and watch planes take off from the active runway right outside.
Coffeyville
Tucked inside Coffeyville’s historic municipal airport, the Aviation Heritage Museum is a hidden gem celebrating southeast Kansas’ role in America’s flight story. This volunteer-driven museum highlights local aviators, WWII training history, and restored aircraft that once roared across Kansas skies. Exhibits offer a down-to-earth look at how small communities helped shape big aviation milestones—perfect for travelers chasing the full story of Kansas flight.
Liberal
Mid-America Air Museum
Finish your journey in southwest Kansas, where more than 100 aircraft fill the sprawling hangars of the Mid-America Air Museum. As one of the largest aviation museums in the country, it’s a paradise for aviation fans. Walk among warbirds, experimental planes, and commercial aircraft while uncovering the stories of the innovators who built them. It’s a fitting grand finale to a journey through Kansas’ skyward legacy.
Plainville
C2T Ranch
Looking to spend a little more time under the stars? Visit C2T Ranch, a working regenerative ranch tucked between canyons (yes canyons!) and hidden springs on Kansas meadows. Known for its sweeping prairie vistas and open horizons, C2T is a perfect blend of earth and sky—a place where the landscape feels almost as big as the atmosphere above it. Visitors can take part in ranch tours, learn about regenerative agriculture, and witness the beauty and power of the livestock up close. As the day winds down, the wide-open prairie becomes a canvas for Kansas’ vibrant sunsets, creating a peaceful, unforgettable moment under the same skies that inspired generations of explorers.
Strong City
Stargazing at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
For a sky experience that’s truly out of this world, head to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, where the vast Flint Hills open into one of the darkest night skies in the region. As daylight fades, the rolling prairie becomes a quiet, unbroken horizon—your front-row seat to the cosmos. On clear nights, the Milky Way stretches overhead in a dazzling river of light, and shooting stars trace across the sky like nature’s own fireworks.
Whether you’re joining a scheduled night-sky program or simply spreading a blanket under the stars, the preserve offers a peaceful, awe-inspiring reminder of just how big the universe is… and how lucky we are to witness it from right here in Kansas.
Ready for Takeoff?
Whether you’re a lifelong aviation fan or simply inspired by stories of bravery and discovery, Kansas invites you to explore the machines, the minds, and the moments that changed the world. From the hangars to the heavens, this air-and-space itinerary proves that in Kansas, the sky isn’t the limit—it’s just the beginning.
