5 reasons why Kansas most definitely does not suck
What’s so boring about all this green? Nothing? That’s right.
Kansas has a bad reputation. Well, more like a blah reputation.
It’s a flyover state. It’s flat and boring and goes on forever. There’s. Just. Nothing. There.
(Remember, friends, the things Kansas City is known for are in Kansas City, Missouri. Mostly.)
Even though I hadn’t been for decades, I was dreading driving the nearly 425 miles of I-70 across Kansas to see some friends in Colorado Springs and go to a wedding in Glenwood Springs. Dreading it.
Yet, to my surprise, I started to appreciate Kansas. Even love it. Really.
Save for that harrowing thunderstorm the first night we slept at a rest stop.
Sleep at a rest stop? Yes, Kansas allows it. So, let’s start our list about why Kansas doesn’t suck there.
A sunflower statue at a rest stop in Kansas.
Sleeping at rest stops is allowed
It’s not just allowed. It’s nice. Many rest stops have a little loop for people to park and stay the night. That way, you’re away from the noise and lights of people pulling in and leaving for just a short break. We slept at a rest stop on the way to Colorado and on the way home.
Those rest stops have places to dump your tanks
Free dump stations at rest stops? That’s just the kind of considerate place Kansas is. I can’t even tell you how much we appreciated this. A free place to stay with a dump station. And, indoor bathrooms. Bonus.
Scenery
I actually enjoyed seeing the sights across Kansas. From sunflower fields — it is the Sunflower State, after all — to green open space (at least in the summer). And, it’s not totally flat. There are some gentle hills to delight your eyes.
Tacos
We were surprised, too. But, if you come across a Torchy’s Tacos and you’re hungry, it’s worth a stop. They’re not just in Kansas, and they’re quite a bit better than what we usually find in near-the-freeway, quick-stop strip malls.
2024 update: We’re sad to report that Torchy’s no longer has a location along I-70 in Kansas.
Farmers, y’all
Farming is hard work, and farmers don’t get a lot of appreciation. On our drive, a billboard proclaimed: Every one Kansas farmer produces enough food for 155 people. Now, that’s cool.
A sunflower farm in the Sunflower State, Kansas.
Listen, Kansas doesn’t have the dramatic mountains of its neighbor, Colorado. Or, some of the other things that make a spot a top travel destination.
But, sometimes, if you keep an open mind and look just a little closer, you’ll find a place has its own reasons to visit. Even Kansas.
I look forward to going back and seeing more of the state than just I-70.