Stand at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers, where a 40-foot bronze figure raises its arms above the water, and you have the image most people carry away from Wichita. The city spreads out around that point in low, easy blocks: a downtown entertainment district, a row of museums, and a riverfront that connects them on foot.
Wichita suits travellers who like their cities manageable and their attractions close together. Families, sports fans, and anyone driving through the Great Plains will find enough here for a full day or a long weekend, with the zoo and the drive-in sitting a short drive from the centre.
This guide covers the sights and experiences named in the source material, with the practical details you need to fit them into a trip.
Top things to do in Wichita
1. Old Town
Old Town sits downtown, just east of the central business district, and functions as the city's entertainment district. It holds over 100 shops, restaurants, and bars, all within walking distance of one another, which makes it the natural place to base an evening.
Come here when you want to eat and wander without moving the car. Because everything is clustered, you can pair a meal with a walk between venues rather than committing to a single stop.
2. The Keeper of the Plains
This 40 ft (12 m) sculpture by Blackbear Bosin stands above the river and is one of the defining images of the city. You reach it by a bridge connected to the Exploration Place parking lot, so the two visits fit together naturally.
Combine it with Exploration Place, which sits on the Arkansas river, and time your walk for the part of the day when you want to be outdoors.
3. Exploration Place (Sedgwick County Science and Discovery Center)
Exploration Place is a modern museum on the Arkansas river, showing travelling exhibits. Several rooms are designed solely for kids, but there is always something for adults as well.
It is open Mon-Sat 10AM-5PM and Sun noon-5PM. Adult admission is $9.50, senior (65+) $8.00, and child (3-11) $6.00. Park here and use the lot as your access point to the Keeper of the Plains bridge.
4. Sedgwick County Zoo
The zoo is home to more than 3,000 animals of nearly 400 different species and opened in 1971. It is a substantial half-day outing rather than a quick stop.
Hours run 8:30AM-5PM from Mar 1 to Oct 31, and 10AM-5PM from Nov 1 to Feb 28. It sits at 5555 Zoo Blvd; the phone number is +1 316 660-WILD (9453).
5. Museum of World Treasures
At 835 East 1st St, this museum displays treasures from around the world and through the ages and is one of Wichita's top-rated attractions. Expect a broad sweep of material rather than a single subject.
It is open Mon-Sat 10AM-5PM and Sun noon-5PM. Call +1 316 263-1311 or toll-free +1-888-700-1311 for details.
6. Wichita Art Museum (WAM)
The Wichita Art Museum at 1400 W Museum Blvd showcases three centuries of art and several glass pieces by Dale Chihuly, with more than 7,000 pieces in its permanent collection alongside travelling exhibitions.
Hours are Tue-Sat 10AM-5PM and Sun noon-5PM. Adult admission is $7, senior (+60) $5, student with ID or child (5-17) $3, and children under 5 and members get in free.
7. Mid-America All-Indian Center
Located at 650 N Seneca, this centre focuses on Native American culture and is open Tue-Sat 10AM-4PM. Adult admission is $7, senior (55+)/student/military $5, and child (6-12) $3.
Its shorter opening days make it worth checking before you build a day around it.
8. The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum
This museum presents the historical and cultural heritage of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas. It is a straightforward introduction to how the city and county developed.
Call +1 316 265-9314 to confirm details before you go.
9. Old Cowtown Museum
Old Cowtown Museum is a history-focused attraction in the city. Reach it at +1 316 350-3323 for current information.
Pair it with your other museum stops if you are working through the city's history in one stretch.
10. Great Plains Transportation Museum
At 700 E Douglas, this museum is dedicated to recording and exhibiting the importance of railroad transportation in the human, agricultural, commercial and industrial heritage of Wichita, Kansas and the Great Plains.
It is open Sat 9AM-4PM. Tickets are $4 for ages 4-12, $7 for 13 and over, and free for ages 0-3. Contact +1 316 263-0944 or info@gptm.us.
11. Starlite Drive-In
At 3900 S Hydraulic Ave, this is the only drive-in theater in the Wichita area. Digital projection is used, and audio comes through your car's FM radio. There are two large screens, each playing three current box-office movies back-to-back, with an intermission between each film.
Most of the time the price is $12 per car regardless of how many people are in it, and outside food and drinks are permitted, though a snack bar sells popcorn, drinks and funnel cakes. The snack bar closes sometime after the third and final movie starts, while restrooms stay open. It is generally closed in the winter and reopens when weather permits, so call +1 316 524-2424 in advance for pricing, showtimes, and to verify it is operating that night.
12. Riverfest
Held in late May or early June at 444 E William St, Riverfest is Wichita's largest festival, with live music, food vendors and activities for all ages.
If your trip falls in that window, plan your other stops around it rather than trying to compete with it.
13. INTRUST Bank Arena
Downtown at 500 E. Waterman St., the arena is home to the Wichita Thunder, a minor league hockey team, and hosts several basketball games a year as the secondary home for Wichita State University Shockers basketball.
Check the schedule at +1 316 440-9000 if you want a game during your stay, and combine it with an evening in Old Town nearby.
14. Wichita State Shockers
The sports teams of Wichita State University field NCAA Division I teams in seven men's sports and eight women's sports as a member of the American Athletic Conference. With no football program, the focus on campus is men's basketball, played mainly at Charles Koch Arena on campus and at Intrust Bank Arena.
Most other facilities are on campus, notably Eck Stadium for baseball and Cessna Stadium, now home to WSU track and field and host to many local and state high school football games. Reach the ticket office at +1 316 978-FANS (3267).
15. Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center
At 225 W. Douglas Ave, Century II is a full-service performing arts and convention center offering a diverse selection of entertainment and meeting opportunities. The complex has three sections: a main section with a circular design, the Bob Brown Expo Hall, and the Hyatt Regency Wichita convention rooms.
Call +1 316 264-9121 to see what is on during your dates.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Sedgwick County Zoo when it opens, since it rewards an early arrival and takes a solid chunk of the morning. If you would rather stay central, begin at the Museum of World Treasures instead, which opens at 10AM Mon-Sat.
Afternoon: Move to Exploration Place on the Arkansas river, then walk the bridge from its parking lot to the Keeper of the Plains. If time allows, add the Wichita Art Museum before it closes at 5PM.
Evening: Head to Old Town for dinner and a walk among the shops and bars. If a game is on, take in the Wichita Thunder at INTRUST Bank Arena first, or finish the night at the Starlite Drive-In, calling ahead to confirm it is operating.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Wichita?
Late May or early June brings Riverfest, the city's largest festival, with live music, food vendors and activities for all ages. Early October brings Woofstock at Sedgwick County Park, held by the Kansas Humane Society. Note that the Starlite Drive-In is generally closed in winter and reopens when weather permits.
Which attractions are close enough to combine?
Exploration Place and the Keeper of the Plains connect directly: the statue is reached by a bridge from the Exploration Place parking lot. Old Town and INTRUST Bank Arena are both downtown, so an arena event pairs well with an evening in Old Town.
What does a visit cost?
Admission varies by venue. Exploration Place is $9.50 for adults, $8.00 for seniors 65+, and $6.00 for children 3-11. The Wichita Art Museum is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors 60+, and $3 for students with ID or children 5-17, with under-5s and members free. The Mid-America All-Indian Center is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors 55+/student/military, and $3 for children 6-12. The Great Plains Transportation Museum is $7 for ages 13 and over, $4 for ages 4-12, and free for ages 0-3.
Do I need to book anything in advance?
For the Starlite Drive-In, call in advance for pricing, showtimes, and to verify that it is operating that night, since it closes in winter and reopens when weather permits. For arena and campus events, contact INTRUST Bank Arena or the Wichita State Shockers ticket office to check what is scheduled during your dates.
Pick your dates, check the opening days for the museums and the zoo, and start building your Wichita itinerary around them.