Kansas Overlanding, AJ & Sarah Williams

Kansas Overlanding

Kansas is not your typical Overlanding destination. When people picture Kansas, they think of flat farmland and little towns with funny names. Most people consider it a fly over state or the state you must drive through to get to the overlanding paradise that is Colorado. I must admit it doesn’t have the stunning vistas of some of its neighboring states. But, as a Kansas native, I have spent a lot of time exploring its back roads and off the beaten path attractions. One of the great things about the back roads and trails in Kansas is that most can be explored with a fully stock vehicle. If you are looking for a relaxing weekend out on the trails, you should check out some of our favorite Kansas overlanding destinations.

In Western Kansas there are fields as far as the eye can see. If you have ever taken a drive through Kansas on I-70 you probably napped during that portion of the drive. There is a lot more to this part of the state than the wind turbines, prairie dogs, and the awesome Wheat Jesus billboard. While out in the West, you should check out the Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park, Syracuse Sand Dunes State Park, and Monuments Rocks.

The jewel of Central Kansas is the beautiful and serene Flint Hills, located in East Central Kansas and extending from around Wichita to Topeka. There, you can spend a whole day cruising through the gentle rolling hills. The land is a combination of private and public lands. All the local cattle ranchers ask is that, if you open a gate, that you close it and stay on the marked roads, so you do not damage the natural prairie.

If you like driving hours to see rocks like we do, you will love Mushroom Rock State Park, located in north central Kansas outside the little town of Marquette. The small state park features some really cool natural rock formations in the shape of - you guessed it - mushrooms. Teter Rock is a large stone monument located high on a hill in the heart of the Flint Hills. The monument and a couple stone foundations are part of what was a once bustling oil town and is now a ghost town. It is the perfect spot to stop, rest and eat some lunch while traveling through the Flint Hills.

These are just a small number of the fascinating sites to see when overlanding in Kansas. Overlanding is about the journey. I encourage you to get out of the house and explore your state’s byways and back roads.

AJ & Sarah Williams

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