Flint Hills Panoramic Road Itinerary
Embark on a spectacular journey through the scenic Flint Hills of Kansas! Starting in the city of El Dorado, the Flint Hills Panoramic Road trip takes you through the stunning Cassoday, and ends in Manhattan. Along the way, you'll have the opportunity to explore the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, a stunning natural area full of wildflowers, tallgrass prairie, and plenty of wildlife. The total distance of the route is about 170km, and can be completed in one day. The best time to drive this route is during the spring and summer months, when the wildflowers are in full bloom. The roads are well maintained and suitable for all drivers. With a moderate budget, you can make this road trip a reality!
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number of days
170 km
route length
fair
budget
family
good for
on the right
traffic direction
low
accident level
START
El Dorado
Distance 170 km
Driving time 2.0 h
Pace: fast
51.0 kWh
Airports
ICT
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El Dorado, Kansas, is the perfect starting point for the Flint Hills Panoramic Road. Located in south-central Kansas, El Dorado is a small city with a lot of charm. From El Dorado, travelers can explore the Flint Hills, a unique and serene landscape unique to Kansas.
The El Dorado area is rich with historical sites, including the El Dorado State Park, which features a replica of the original 1860s fort. The city also features a number of museums, including the Butler County Historical Museum and the El Dorado Museum of Art. Visitors to El Dorado can also enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, such as fishing, hunting, and camping.
Travelers to El Dorado can fly into Wichita's Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT). Car rentals are available at the airport, making it easy to explore the area. With a car, visitors can head to El Dorado for the start of their road trip, and take the scenic route to explore the Flint Hills.
El Dorado is an ideal starting point for the Flint Hills Panoramic Road. With its historical sites, museums, and outdoor activities, visitors to El Dorado will find plenty to explore and enjoy.
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El Dorado
- Cassoday
Distance 34 km
Driving time 0.4 h
Pace: fast
10.1 kWh
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Itinerary
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Ready for an exciting road trip? Let's start in El Dorado, United States and drive through the beautiful Flint Hills. This 21mi journey will take you fewer than 1 hour and you will be amazed by the stunning views. You will find plenty of interesting places to visit in El Dorado, such as the Butler County History Center, the El Dorado Lake, and the El Dorado State Park. In Flint Hills, you will be able to enjoy the incredible views of the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge and the Konza Prairie Biological Station. Finally, you will end your journey in Cassoday. Here you can visit the Old West Town and the famous Cassoday Bike Run. For more information regarding attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, please check the "Itinerary" of this stage. So, what are you waiting for? Let's hit the road!
Cassoday - United States - North America - Scenic Drive
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Cassoday
- Tallgrass Prairie N.P.
Distance 49 km
Driving time 0.6 h
Pace: fast
14.6 kWh
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Itinerary
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A road trip from Cassoday to Tallgrass Prairie National Park is an exciting adventure! This 30 mile drive, which takes less than an hour, offers breathtaking views of the scenic countryside. During the drive, you can take in the beauty of the Flint Hills and the rolling fields of wildflowers.
Once you arrive in Cassoday, be sure to visit the historic Cassoday Hotel and the Cassoday Museum. The hotel was built in 1912 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum is filled with artifacts from the area's past.
As you continue your journey, take some time to explore the Tallgrass Prairie National Park. The park is home to an abundance of wildlife, including elk, bison, and prairie chickens. You can hike the trails, go bird watching, and take in the stunning views of the prairie.
Finally, be sure to visit the nearby town of Strong City. Here, you can explore the old train station, which is now a museum, and take in the beauty of the Flint Hills.
No matter what your destination, this road trip from Cassoday to Tallgrass Prairie National Park is sure to be a memorable experience. For more information about attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, be sure to check the Itinerary of this stage. Enjoy your journey!
Tallgrass Prairie N.P. - United States - North America - Scenic Drive - National Park Service
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3
Tallgrass Prairie N.P.
- Manhattan
Distance 88 km
Driving time 1.0 h
Pace: fast
26.3 kWh
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Itinerary
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Welcome road-trippers! Let us take you on an amazing journey from the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve to Manhattan. This 55mi drive will take you less than an hour to complete, so you can spend the day exploring the best of both locations.
Start your trip in the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and explore its vast prairie landscapes and the Flint Hills. Here you can take a guided tour, go bird watching, or just take a leisurely stroll. Don't forget to snap some pictures of the breathtaking views!
When you're ready, hop back in the car and drive to Manhattan. Here you can visit the Kansas State University and its beautiful gardens, the Flint Hills Discovery Center, and the Manhattan Town Center. Take some time to explore the city's unique shops and restaurants.
As you drive, take in the scenic views of the Flint Hills and the surrounding landscape.
At the end of the day, you'll have seen the best of both locations. For more information about attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, be sure to check out the "Itinerary" of this stage. Enjoy your road trip!
Manhattan - United States - North America - Scenic Drive - Wikimedia Commons
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Manhattan
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Manhattan, the end of the Flint Hills Panoramic Road, is a city of many attractions. Located in the heart of Riley County in northeastern Kansas, Manhattan is the perfect destination for a road trip. The city is home to the Manhattan Town Center, a sprawling shopping mall with an array of stores, restaurants and entertainment. Visitors can also enjoy the outdoor activities of Manhattan Park and the historic buildings of Aggieville.
For those looking to explore Manhattan's history and culture, the Flint Hills Discovery Center is a must-see. This interactive museum focuses on the area's natural and cultural heritage, and features interactive exhibits, educational programs and a planetarium. The nearby Konza Prairie Biological Station is also a great spot for nature lovers, with its diverse array of plants and animals.
For those traveling by car, Manhattan is within easy reach of several airports. The nearest international airport is Kansas City International Airport (MCI), located just two hours away.
Manhattan is an ideal destination for a road trip, offering something for everyone. Whether it's shopping, outdoor activities, history or culture, Manhattan has it all. So pack your bags and hit the road - the Flint Hills Panoramic Road awaits!
Flint Hills Panoramic Road at a glance
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Start:
El Dorado
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End:
Manhattan
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Distance:
170 km
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Stay:
1 day
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Getting there:
Wichita Eisenhower National Airport (ICT)
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When to drive:
May, June, July, August, September, October
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More info:
More info you can find in the "Itinerary" section at each stage.
We hope that our itinerary idea gave you plenty of inspirations for your future travels.
It is a ready-made idea that can be conveniently expanded into a complete tour – all things are possible.
If car travel is the preferred travel mode for you, there are a number of important traffic regulations to follow and a bunch of things to remember to make your road trip safe.
These tips will surely become useful for holidayers who are considering renting a vehicle or camper hire.
Holidayers who choose Kansas as their holiday destination should definitely pay attention to the local road rules.
Alcohol is best to be avoided at any cost while driving.
Remember that the amount of alcohol that the driver can consume is rather low and is only 0.5‰.
The maximum allowed speed in build-up areas is 40km/h.
Around rural areas, travellers can travel at the maximum allowed speed of 72km/h.
On motorways, 129km/h is the maximum car speed that you should never exceed in Kansas.
We recommend driving with your headlights on at daytime and equipping your car with a fire extinguisher and first aid kit to increase your safety.
The majority of travellers are also interested in the travel expenses of the whole road trip.
The amount of money that you have to pay during the whole itinerary will vary depending on the budget option that you choose.
A wide range of budget configurations is showed below.
If you go for the cheapest offer, you have to spend the maximum of 25 EUR on fuel to cover the planned 4 stages.
Within the economy offer, accommodation options will cost more or less 77 EUR.
The travel expenses related to food and restaurants within this option may cost up to about 72 EUR.
Travellers will have to pay around 45 EUR if they aim for the cheapest hire car offer as well.
Thus, going for car rental will increase the costs of the road trip from approximately 174 EUR to roughly 219 EUR.
When it comes to the standard offer, you have to spend the maximum of 25 EUR to cover the planned mileage of the adventure.
Cost amounting to 121 EUR can be expected by all travellers who are looking for standard hotels.
Holidaymakers can expect that the standard option in terms of food and restaurants will cost around 108 EUR.
Travellers who want to cover the tour in a standard rental vehicle can expect a cost of roughly 54 EUR.
Drivers who would like to rent a car will pay roughly 308 EUR for the whole Flint Hills Panoramic Road, whereas those who are not interested in car hire will spend about 254 EUR.
The highest level of comfort of the premium option will come up to the expectations of the most demanding holidayers.
When it comes to this offer, the estimated cost of the road trip will total more or less 470 EUR for holidayers who are considering car rental and 254 EUR for those who do not need a rental vehicle.
Travellers who would like to cover the trip in a premium hire vehicle can expect a cost of roughly 90 EUR.
In the top standard configuration of the tour, you need to spend the maximum of 38 EUR to cover the planned mileage.
Tourists who are considering top services in all aspects of their road trip should expect to pay roughly 198 EUR for accommodation options and approximately 144 EUR for restaurants and food.
Our trip is also an exciting opportunity for all camper fans.
If you choose this travel option, the expenses are more or less 225 EUR.
Holidayers will spend around 50 EUR on fuel allowing to cover all stages of the trip.
Drivers who choose camper hire should expect to pay more or less 55 EUR for overnight stays and about 72 EUR for expenses connected with food.
You can check all of the costs in the Road Trip Costs section.
If you like Flint Hills Panoramic Road, you should see other exciting road trips and scenic drives that we offer on our website.
We hope that the great versatility of ideas will definitely cater to the needs of the most demanding holidaymakers.