Many of the ideas listed for how to have a cheap vacation in Kansas may sound boring, but if you are low on funds and looking for a getaway these tips can help do that. No one ever said you had to spend a small fortune on a vacation in Kansas. There are plenty of things to do in Kansas for a cheap vacation.
Even if you’re not living in Kansas, consider the ideas as a way to have a cheap vacation in your state, hometown or at home.
What do you need for your cheap vacations in Kansas?
Tank of Gas – You may not need a full tank of gas for these cheap vacations in Kansas because some of them will be in your own back yard; literally. Other short trip cheap vacations may only take you a few miles or less from home. If you are going to stay at home and use the ideas listed in this article, a gallon or two may do the trick since you may be required to take a trip to the grocery store for food and other small incidentals.
Camera and Film – The beauty of having a camera is you don’t have to have an expensive digital camera. If you have one that uses film, use that to take pictures of activities you are doing around the home or one a short jaunt to the park.
Time – You won’t have to have much time to take a cheap vacation in Kansas. An hour or two can do you wonders when you are wanting to get away from it all.
An Ice Chest and Ice and a Bag – Think picnic lunch instead of stopping to eat at a fast food place while on your cheap vacation. You can feed your family far cheaper than any fast food place. Not only that, you can throw in snacks and extra drinks for the price of one meal at McDonalds. There are plenty of parks, road side rest stops, and other similar place in Kansas to stop at even on an afternoon drive to the local lake or other free sight seeing attraction.
Free Tourist Attraction List in Kansas – Create your own list of free tourist attractions if you don’t see any listed in this article for your area. You may surprised at how many of them there are all over Kansas.
List of Lakes – There are several lakes all over Kansas. Some will charge a small camping or entrance fee into their park area. Many of these lakes have roped off swimming areas for the public. Swimming at a local lake is far cheaper than a swimming pool or water park. As far as that goes, take a tent or other similar shelter, bedding, and a change or two of clothes. That way you can spend the night, take a shower the next morning providing the lake you chose has a shower area, and visit some of the local sites in the area.
Map – You really don’t need a map, but it can help plan a cheap vacation in Kansas. There have been times we have looked at a map to see what other things are near an area where we have planned to go.
Where can you go and use the things needed for a cheap vacation in Kansas?
Let’s start at the bottom of the list. My family has done this several times over the years.
A Lake with Tourist Attractions and Activities
Kanopolis Lake, Kansas
Kanapolis Lake is west of Lindsborg, Kansas. There are free camping areas at Kanapolis Lake. You can also swim in some areas of the lake where the water is shallow. There are canyons, caves, and hiking trails at this lake in Kansas.
I mention Lindsborg because we have went there on a day trip to tour some of the local sites. On your way out of Lindsborg, on Highway 4, there is Coronado Heights. It is another tourist attraction nearby Kanapolis Lake.
This leads to taking a camera with you on your cheap vacation to take pictures of activities your family does during this cheap vacation in Kansas. You could have a fun weekend or a vacation by visiting a local lake like Kanoplis in Kansas.
Road Side Parks
There have been times while we have been out on a road trip when we have stopped at a road side park and had a picnic lunch. Some of the road side parks had markers and tourist attractions. Your family and yourself may learn more about the area you are visiting on your cheap vacation in Kansas.
If your a homeschool parent, these cheap vacation stops in Kansas can help your children learn about Kansas history.
Out of the Way Places
Sure there are plenty of sites to see in Kansas. There are tourist attractions in Dodge City like Boot Hill, Wichita like the Kansas Aviation Museum, the Combat Air Museum in Topeka, and the University of Kansas Natural History Museum in Lawrence.
However, did you know there is a candy factory in Dexter, Kansas? There is a candy shop just outside of Dexter called Henry’s Candy Company. It is located on K15 north of Dexter. You can watch the staff make the candy sold in this store.
At Home Vacation
I mentioned at the beginning of this article about staying at home. Did you consider setting up a tent in the back yard for an at home camping trip? If you have a fire pit, you could roast wieners for hotdogs and make s’mores later in the evening telling stories. May not sound like much fun, but think of something your family could do while camping in the back yard. This could be a fun cheap vacation if there is a swimming pool.
For those who live in the country, setting up a tent near a pond that you fish at can be just as fun as going to the lake to go camping. Think of the cookouts that you have with family and friends. Take pictures of the good times all had, and reminisce about the cheap home vacation you had in Kansas. There may be a moment that happened everyone wished they had in a picture or on tape.
How about having a cookout or picnic at your local park near your home? This can be a great way to have a cheap vacation in Kansas. Take a baseball and glove, volleyball and net, horseshoes, or any other fun outdoor game with you and make a day of it at your local park.
