If you’re looking for a Kansas destination filled with history, great food, fascinating attractions, unique art, and small-town charm, Hays, Kansas, deserves a spot on your travel list.
Located in western Kansas along I-70, Hays is easy to reach. But, it deserves much more than a quick stop for gas and food.
Spend a little time here, and you’ll discover a destination like no other! Where Wild West history meets fascinating museums, historic brick streets, colorful murals, limestone sculptures, German heritage, and plenty of places to eat and explore.
During our visit, we quickly realized that Hays is one of those destinations where the more you explore, the more you discover.
Whether you’re planning a Kansas road trip, looking for a weekend getaway, or simply searching for a new place to explore, here are 10 of the best reasons to visit Hays, Kansas.
Step Into the Wild West at Fort Hays
You can’t talk about Hays without talking about its Wild West history.
Fort Hays played an important role in the history of the American frontier and helped shape the community that would eventually become Hays.
The area has connections to famous names from the Old West, including Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill Cody, and George Armstrong Custer.
Today, visitors can explore Fort Hays State Historic Site and learn more about the soldiers, settlers, and events that helped shape this part of Kansas.
Walking through the historic site gives you a glimpse into what life may have been like during the days when the frontier was still wild and the West was rapidly expanding.
For anyone who loves Western history, Fort Hays is a must-see.
Explore the Bricks in Downtown Hays
One of the best places to begin exploring Hays is downtown.
Known as The Bricks, downtown Hays is filled with historic buildings, brick streets, locally owned businesses, restaurants, shops, and public art.
It’s the kind of downtown that’s meant to be explored slowly.
Park your car and take a walk.
Look up at the historic buildings. Stop in the local shops. Grab something to eat. Take pictures. See what catches your eye.
Downtown Hays also offers plenty of reminders of the city’s past, making it a great place to experience the history and personality of the community all at once.
Sometimes the best way to get to know a destination is simply to wander around—and The Bricks is the perfect place to do exactly that.
Discover Millions of Years of History at the Sternberg Museum
Hays isn’t just home to Wild West history.
It also takes visitors millions of years into the past.
The Sternberg Museum of Natural History is one of Hays’ most fascinating attractions and a must for anyone interested in fossils, prehistoric creatures, dinosaurs, and natural history.
The museum tells the story of prehistoric Kansas, including a time when much of the state was covered by an ancient inland sea.
One of its most famous attractions is the incredible fish-within-a-fish fossil, which has become one of the museum’s most recognizable specimens.
It’s the kind of place where you can walk in expecting to spend an hour and quickly realize there’s much more to see.
Whether you’re traveling with kids, love museums, or are simply curious about the incredible history beneath your feet, the Sternberg Museum is worth adding to your Hays itinerary.
Eat Your Way Through Hays
Let’s be honest—one of the best parts of traveling is the food.
And Hays gives visitors plenty of opportunities to enjoy a great meal.
From local restaurants and breweries to coffee shops and sweet treats, there’s something for almost every appetite.
One of the things we love about exploring a new destination is finding places that give you a taste of the local community.
Instead of rushing through a meal, take your time.
Try something new.
Support a local restaurant.
Ask someone what they recommend.
Because food is more than just something you need during a trip.
It’s part of the experience.
And whether you’re grabbing breakfast before a day of exploring or sitting down for dinner after a busy day in Hays, you’ll find plenty of reasons to bring your appetite.
Follow the Stories of Hays’ Historic Characters
Hays has no shortage of interesting characters.
Wild Bill Hickok. Buffalo Bill Cody. George Armstrong Custer.
These famous names from the American West all have connections to the history of Hays and the surrounding area.
As you explore the city, you’ll find reminders of its Wild West past in museums, historic sites, public art, and other attractions.
That’s one of the things that makes Hays so interesting.
Its history isn’t hidden away in one building.
Instead, pieces of the past are scattered throughout the community.
Learning about the people who helped shape Hays adds another layer to your visit and makes exploring the city even more interesting.
For history lovers, Hays offers the opportunity to step beyond the textbook and explore a place where some of the stories of the American West actually happened.
Learn About German Heritage Through Their Historic Churches
One of the most fascinating parts of visiting Hays is discovering that its history extends far beyond the Wild West.
Ellis County has a strong Volga German heritage, and one of the best ways to experience that history is by exploring the area’s historic churches.
German immigrants brought their traditions, faith, craftsmanship, and culture with them when they settled in this part of Kansas.
Today, their influence can still be seen throughout the region.
The historic churches around Hays and Ellis County are especially impressive. Many feature beautiful limestone construction, intricate details, stained-glass windows, statues, and incredible interiors.
One of the most well-known is St. Fidelis Basilica in Victoria, often called the Cathedral of the Plains.
Exploring these churches gives visitors the opportunity to learn more about the immigrant communities that helped shape this part of Kansas.
It’s also a great experience for anyone who loves history, architecture, photography, or discovering the stories behind a destination.
The Wild West may be one of the first things that comes to mind when you think of Hays, but the region’s German heritage tells another fascinating chapter of its story.
Hunt for Murals and Pete Felten Limestone Sculptures
If you love finding unique art and photo opportunities when you travel, you’ll want to spend some time searching for the murals and limestone sculptures around Hays.
The city is filled with colorful murals that bring its history and personality to life.
As you explore downtown, keep your eyes open. You may find artwork celebrating the people, places, and stories that helped shape Hays.
But the murals are only part of the city’s art scene.
Hays is also known for the incredible limestone sculptures created by Pete Felten, a local artist whose work can be found throughout the community.
His sculptures depict historical figures, animals, and scenes connected to the history and heritage of western Kansas.
Searching for Pete Felten’s sculptures can feel like a scavenger hunt.
You may find one near a historic site, another downtown, and another in an unexpected location.
And because each sculpture tells a different story, they give visitors another way to experience Hays.
The murals and statues are some of the things that make exploring the city so much fun.
In Hays, you don’t always have to visit a museum to find art. Sometimes, all you have to do is look around.
Stay Somewhere Unique at Creek Side Resort
Part of what makes a trip memorable is where you stay.
In Hays, you can make your accommodations part of the experience by staying at Creek Side Resort.
Instead of simply checking into a traditional hotel and using it as a place to sleep, Creek Side Resort offers travelers a more unique lodging experience.
It’s a great option for road-trippers, RV travelers, families, and anyone looking for accommodations with a little more personality.
After spending the day exploring Fort Hays, visiting the Sternberg Museum, walking around downtown, searching for murals, and enjoying the local food scene, Creek Side Resort gives you a place to slow down and relax.
For us, where you stay can be just as memorable as what you do.
And if you’re looking for something different during your trip to Hays, Creek Side Resort is worth considering.
Make your accommodations part of the adventure.
Use Hays as Your Base to Explore Western Kansas
One of the things that makes Hays such a great destination is its location.
Situated along I-70 in western Kansas, Hays makes a convenient home base for travelers who want to explore more of the region.
Instead of trying to squeeze everything into one quick stop, you can stay in Hays and use the city as your starting point for exploring nearby communities, attractions, and scenic areas.
This is especially appealing for road-trippers who want to experience more than just the major cities.
Spend a day exploring Hays, then head out to discover more of western Kansas before returning to town for dinner and a comfortable night’s stay.
And with places like Creek Side Resort offering travelers another lodging option, you have even more reason to slow down and turn a quick stop into an overnight—or even a weekend—adventure.
Sometimes the best road trips aren’t about getting somewhere as quickly as possible.
They’re about finding a place that’s worth stopping for.
Kansas is the Perfect Road Trip Stop
Perhaps one of the best reasons to visit Hays is simply how easy it is to add to a Kansas road trip.
Located along I-70, Hays is an easy destination for travelers crossing Kansas.
But don’t make the mistake of treating it as just another interstate exit.
Get off the highway. Stay awhile.
Spend the morning exploring Wild West history.
Visit the Sternberg Museum.
Walk the brick streets downtown.
Find the murals.
Search for Pete Felten’s limestone sculptures.
Learn about the area’s German heritage.
Enjoy a great meal.
Stay somewhere unique.
Suddenly, Hays becomes much more than a stop along the road.
It becomes the destination.
Why Hays, Kansas Should Be on Your Travel List
Hays is one of those destinations that might surprise you.
At first glance, you may see it as a convenient stop along I-70.
But spend a little time exploring, and you’ll discover a city filled with history, art, culture, food, and experiences you might not expect to find in western Kansas.
You can learn about the Wild West in the morning.
Explore prehistoric Kansas in the afternoon.
Walk historic brick streets.
Search for murals and limestone sculptures.
Visit incredible historic churches.
Enjoy a local meal.
And settle in for the night somewhere unique.
Hays brings together so many different parts of Kansas history and culture in one destination.
Wild West history. German heritage. Art. Food. Museums. Architecture. Small-town charm.
And that’s exactly what makes it worth visiting.
So, the next time you’re planning a Kansas road trip, don’t just drive through Hays.
