Where to find classic small town / rural Kansas (Kansas City, Topeka: home, school)

[twenty_one21]

What route through the state would be best to see typical small-town America?

I'm from Australia, but I'll be entering Kansas at Liberal then heading up to Goodland then Kansas City. I want to get away from the Interstate, away from any tourist attractions and big cities and just journey through nice little rural towns on my way to KC. Kansas to us foreigners really brings to mind the stereotypical rural American landscape and I hope I can find it

Would I be better off travelling south or north of Interstate 90? Does any part of the state have a greater collection of "classic small-towns" than another?? I'll be travelling in March if this makes any difference. Thanks :]]

[thriftylefty]

I would take highway 24 out of Colby ,maybe drive north to Smith Center on 281, continue west on 36 ,and take 73 south to 70. The large scale farming is more in the western part of the state so as you travel east you will find road side places to stop along the way.

[AnywhereElse]

I can suggest a book, Kansas "Off the Beaten Path" by Patti Delano - we have this one and it is excellent breaking down the state into regions and points of interest, places to stay, Chamber of Commerce info, etc. Though just off the highway, we always enjoyed Abilene and it is well worth checking out since it is a small town but has several attractions including the Eisenhower Home and Museum (really awesome stuff there).

[DOUBLE H]

Originally Posted by twenty_one21

Would I be better off travelling south or north of Interstate 90? Does any part of the state have a greater collection of "classic small-towns" than another?? I'll be travelling in March if this makes any difference. Thanks :]]

Actually I think you're referring to Interstate 70!

March can be a challenge weather wise. The Pacific storms that pick up steam in Colorado can really dump snow, particularly in the western part of Kansas. I remember spending two days in Colby waiting for the Kansas Highway people to open up the road. Those guys do a great job though, keeping those roads open. If you do go in March check the weather reports before traveling.

[Gunluvver2]

Highway 36 in Northern Kansas is my preferred East/West highway. Especially when I am on my motorcycle and not in a hurry.
GL2

[itsMeFred]

Mine too.
But, like GL, I'm biased also.

And I'll also echo the caution about driving in western Kansas in March. That's when winter actually hits.

[lifelongMOgal]

Originally Posted by Gunluvver2

Highway 36 in Northern Kansas is my preferred East/West highway. Especially when I am on my motorcycle and not in a hurry.
GL2

Lovely small towns along the way. Marysville is particularly picturesque, IMO.

[itsMeFred]

Or raise your kids, because you know there's not much better than letting kids grow up where most of the town knows them, their school activities and how they did at the county fair this year...

[slimsim]

You will see plenty of small towns just sticking to I-70. During the 7 hour drive from the western part of the state (goodland) to Topeka/Lawrence, the largest cities you will see are Hays (17,000) and Salina(50,000). I would bet every other town is about a few thousand people.

[SELLSFISH]

We lived in White City for 8 years. It is situated on Hwy 4 (runs from Topeka to just south of Salina) and there are many small towns all along it. It is a great ride with a lot of beautiful scenery. For a North / South trip I would recomend Hwy 77 from Marysville south to El Dorado. We are living back in South Carolina now, but it was a GREAT place to raise our kids.