Discover the Charms of Abilene, Kansas: Your Best Small Town Getaway
Are you in search of a hidden gem for your next travel adventure? Look no further than Abilene, Kansas, a picturesque small town garnering accolades and capturing the hearts of travelers far and wide. Here are seven reasons why Abilene is the best small town to visit:
1. A Step Back in Time
Abilene boasts a rich history that's beautifully preserved and celebrated. It was once a bustling cowtown along the Chisholm Trail, a key stop for cattle drives in the late 1800s. Today, you can experience this history through the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, the iconic Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home, and a stroll down the historic brick streets of downtown Abilene. History comes to life here, making it a must-visit for history buffs.
2. The Eisenhower Legacy
Speaking of history, Abilene is the hometown of the 34th President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower. His legacy is beautifully honored at his Presidential Library and Museum, where you can explore his life, military career, and legacy. The museum is not only educational but also inspiring, and it offers a glimpse into the life of a great American leader.
3. Quaint Small-Town Charm
Abilene is the epitome of small-town charm. Its friendly residents, welcoming local businesses, and a strong sense of community will make you feel right at home. Stroll through historic downtown Abilene, lined with unique shops, eateries, murals and other public art. Don't forget to savor a delicious meal at a locally-owned restaurant and strike up a conversation with the locals, who are always eager to share stories and recommendations.
4. Festivals and Events
Abilene comes alive throughout the year with various festivals and events that showcase its vibrant culture. From the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo and the Central Kansas Free Fair to Abilene Downtown Antique Fest and other activities at Old Abilene Town, Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad and the Dickinson County Heritage Center that transport you back in time, there's always something happening. Plan your visit around one of these events for an extra memorable experience.
5. Natural Beauty
Surrounded by the scenic Flint Hills, Abilene offers nature lovers a haven for outdoor activities. Walk the Iron Horse Trail or bike along the gravel routes through the breathtaking landscape of rolling hills and prairies. The Dickinson County Heritage Center is another great spot to learn about the area's natural beauty and cultural heritage, and you can't miss a stop at the beautiful Eisenhower Park and Rose Garden!
6. Genuine Hospitality
One of the standout qualities of Abilene is the genuine hospitality of its people. Whether you're seeking travel advice or simply looking for a friendly chat, you'll find it here. It's a place where you can truly relax, unwind, and enjoy the simpler things in life.
7. Accessibility
Abilene's central location along Kansas I-70 (Eisenhower's Interstate System) in Kansas makes it easily accessible by car, making it a perfect road trip destination. It's also not far from larger cities like Wichita and Kansas City, so you can combine your visit with a broader exploration of the region.
Abilene, Kansas, isn't just another small town. It's a destination that combines history, culture, natural beauty, and warm hospitality into an unforgettable experience. The accolades it has received are a testament to the genuine charm of this hidden gem. So, don't just take our word for it - pack your bags and discover the magic of Abilene for yourself. You won't be disappointed by what this best small town offers.
But... you don't have to take our word for it. See what others are saying!
1. Best Roadside Attraction - TravelAwaits (2023)
Abilene, Kansas, is home to quite possibly the newest roadside attraction. The World’s Largest Belt Buckle, nestled in Eisenhower Park, was unveiled on December 21, 2022. It measures 19 feet and 10.5 inches wide, and 13 feet and 11.25 inches tall. The buckle was funded by 100 people and businesses throughout Abilene, as well as the Kansas Tourism Attraction Development Grant.
2. Best Social Media Campaign (Destination) - Midwest Travel Network (2023)
2023 Best Social Media Campaign (Destination)- Visit Abilene, Kansas
“This destination used social media to promote a world record attraction, The World’s Largest Belt Buckle. Through several social media platforms and Cameo- Visit Abilene, Kansas found themselves in publications and maps they never dreamed of.”
3. Best Small Town to Visit in the U.S. - TravelAwaits (2023)
1. Abilene, Kansas (Winner)
Located in the heart of the Sunflower State, Abilene is home to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home. This may be what pulls hundreds of thousands of visitors off Interstate 70 every year, but the town of about 6,500 is a unique mix of presidential history and Western charm.
4. #2 Best Historic Small Town - USA TODAY (2023)
No. 2: Abilene, Kansas
Abilene is the hometown of Dwight D. Eisenhower, a five-star General of the Army and 34th President of the United States – and that’s just the start of this town’s historical appeal. Besides the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, visitors can ride the state’s only operational steam locomotive, tour the historic Seelye Mansion, take a spin on the oldest known Parker Carousel and step back into the Wild West in Old Abilene Town.
5. Top 10 True Western Town of the Year - True West Magazine (2023)
9. ABILENE, KANSAS
Abilene’s frontier roots are tied to the Chisholm Trail with cowboys driving Texas Longhorn cattle to the town’s railroad spur starting in 1867.
That led to illicit behavior—gambling, prostitution and violence.
“Imagine being out on the trail for days, weeks, months and then the cowboys got paid in Abilene,” said Julie Roller Weeks, Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau director. “So then lots of unsavory things were happening.”
Wild Bill Hickok was hired as town marshal in 1871 to tamp down the gunplay of the rowdy cowboys. He ended up shooting an intoxicated bar owner in front of the Alamo Saloon and then mistakenly shooting his own deputy. Both men died.
Hickok was forced to move on, but the legendary scout, lawman and gambler is still remembered in Abilene. The 78th annual Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo is set for August 1-4 in Abilene.
Old Abilene Town has a recreated Alamo Saloon with the back bar from the original saloon. The townsite also includes historic cabins, schoolhouses and churches from Dickinson County.
The Dickinson County Heritage Center features a history museum, telephone museum and the C.W. Parker Carousel National Historic Landmark. Plus, it’s adjacent to the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home.
A new attraction is touted as the World’s Largest Belt Buckle—just shy of 20 feet wide and 14 feet high. Abilene also has a giant spur at Rittels Western Wear shop and a series of four-foot-high painted cowboy boots around town.
“We try to give visitors new things to see and do to celebrate our history,” Roller Weeks said.
AbileneKansas.org
6. Best Promotion of a Historic Place - True West Magazine (2023)
Readers’ Choice: Abilene, KS
7. Destination of the Year - Midwest Travel Network (2022)
2022 Destination of The Year: Abilene, Kansas
“This Kansas destination continuously shows up in our news feeds on social media. They promote the work of content creators and showcase all that they have to offer to the world. You can visit a Presidential Library and Museum, as well as visit an award winning Midwest town.”
8. #2 Best Historic Small Town - USA TODAY (2022)
No. 2: Abilene, Kansas
Abilene is the hometown of Dwight D. Eisenhower, a five-star General and 34th President of the United States, and that’s just the start of this town’s historical appeal. Besides the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood home, visitors can ride the state’s only operational steam locomotive, tour the historic Seelye Mansion, take a spin on the oldest known Parker Carousel and step back into the Wild West in Old Abilene Town.
9. #1 Favorite U.S. Small Town - TravelAwaits (2022)
Abilene, Kansas — A Wild West town with strong ties to the cattle trade, Abilene has received the top spot for the 2nd year in a row! Learn all about why Abilene is one of the 11 Best Small Towns To Visit In The U.S.
10. #1 Friendliest U.S. Small Town - TravelAwaits (2022)
The hometown of President Eisenhower won big this year, being named the most friendly in addition to the favorite small town! Learn more about each of the 12 Friendliest Small Towns In The U.S. according to our readers
11. Best Promotion of a Historic Place - True West Magazine (2022)
The historic Chisholm Trail railhead is the perfect place for the history lover. After a tour of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum, the Seelye Mansion and the Dickinson County Heritage Center, take a ride on the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad. And don’t miss a tour of Old Abilene Town’s historic buildings and “downtown” storefronts, the always popular Old West gunfighters show, and of course, the Can-Can Girls, who kick up their heels on the Alamo Stage every Saturday night from late June to late August.
12. #4 Best Historic Small Town - USA TODAY (2021)
NO. 4: ABILENE - KANSAS
Abilene is the hometown of Dwight D. Eisenhower, a 5-Star General and 34th President of the United States, and that’s just the start of this town’s historical appeal. Besides the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood home, visitors can ride the state’s only operational steam locomotive, tour the Historic Seelye Mansion, take a spin on the oldest known Parker Carousel and step back into the Wild West in Old Abilene Town.
13. Best U.S. Small Town - TravelAwaits (2021)
Small towns are great places to explore when getting to know a region, and our readers didn’t disappoint when voting for their favorites. Have you been to all of these great towns? If not, carve out some time this summer; you won’t regret it!
Best U.S. Small Town
Abilene, Kansas
14. #2 Best Historic Small Town - USA TODAY (2020)
Abilene is the hometown of Dwight D. Eisenhower, a 5-Star General and 34th President of the United States, and that’s just the start of this town’s historical appeal. Besides the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood home, visitors can ride the state’s only operational steam locomotive, tour the Historic Seelye Mansion, take a spin on the oldest known Parker Carousel and step back into the Wild West in Old Abilene Town.
15. Coolest Small Town in Kansas - Far and Wide (2020)
Why Abilene Is the Best
While Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th president and 5-star general, wasn't born in Abilene, he did spend many years here, and it's where you'll find his excellent presidential library and museum. It's also where he was buried.
Eisenhower was an aficionado of the town's Wild West history and famous native son, "Wild Bill" Hickok, another feature that makes Abilene an intriguing destination.
16. Most Beautiful Small Town in Kansas - House Beautiful (2020)
You can't help but know a lot about history when you live in Abilene, the hometown of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and home to five museums ranging from The Greyhound Hall of Fame to the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad.
17. #8 Best Historic Small Town - USA TODAY (2019)
No. 8: Abilene - Kansas
Abilene is the hometown of Dwight D. Eisenhower, a 5-Star General and 34th President of the United States, and that’s just the start of this town’s historical appeal. Besides the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood home, visitors can ride the state’s only operational steam locomotive, tour the Historic Seelye Mansion, take a spin on the oldest known Parker Carousel and step back into the Wild West in Old Abilene Town.
18. #1 True Western Town of the Year - True West Magazine (2018)
Abilene, Kansas
Abilene only needed five years to enter Western Legend. Between 1867 and 1871, Texas cowboys drove longhorn cattle to Abilene on the Chisholm Trail, and after a shave and maybe a new hat, the young men naturally sought amusements, often with six-shooters.
As the Kansas Historical Quarterly noted, “If their fancy told them to shoot, they did so, in the air or at anything they saw, and a plug hat would bring a volley from them at any time, drunk or sober.”
Modern Abilene has done a first-rate job of preserving those wild times, especially in its celebration last year of the 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail. For that reason, we name Abilene our top Western Town for 2018.
At Old Abilene Town, tourists gather on Main Street to watch summertime gunfight re-enactments, or sip sarsaparilla while watching Can Can dancers at the Alamo Saloon. What a hoot!
The re-enactment group is named after Wild Bill Hickok, who served as marshal in the 1870s. Relive 19th-century train travel with a ten-mile excursion ride, hosted by the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad.
19. Best Weekend Getaway - KANSAS! Magazine (2018)
The description of Abilene as the "Best of the Midwest" or "The Best Small Town in Kansas" is not merely a slogan or hype. If you're looking for a getaway that's educational and entertaining, Abilene fits the bill. From Eisenhower's boyhood home and museum to Seelye Mansion and the Dickinson County Heritage Center, this town is a smorgasbord of rich, well-preserved history. Mix in art, the grand entertainment of the Great Plains Theatre, outstanding dining offerings, quaint specialty and antique shops, lovely parks and gardens, and you have a rare gem with which few places can compare. Accommodations range from budget hotels to elaborate bed and breakfasts. Whether you live a hop, skip and a jump away, or are traveling from out of state or overseas, Abilene is a destination you don't want to miss.
20. Best Small Towns to Visit - Smithsonian Magazine (2017)
The Old West doesn’t feel quite so old in Abilene, Kansas. People come from all over the world to Abilene to get a sense of the cow town where a handful of rough-and-tumble characters used to drive thousands of cattle coming up from Texas. The work was dangerous but profitable: If you successfully herded the animals through the oft-tumultuous terrain, avoiding natural disasters and unsavory characters, you’d collect a rich reward.
“You hear the stories of the gladiators and great heroes, this was our version of it,” says Dickinson County Heritage Center director Michael Hook. “It was these lawless guys who had no fear and they knew what they were getting into.”
Abilene’s rich pioneer traditions will be front and center this year in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail with various events and activities that has earned the town another call out on this list. If you can, be there on September 1-3, when the town will host “Trails, Rails & Tales.” The festivities will feature cowboy poet Red Steagall, along with a host of other storytellers, musicians and re-enactors. During the three-day event, cowboys will once again drive longhorns through the streets, loading them up on the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad.
When the cattle aren’t occupying a seat on the train, consider taking a ride on it yourself. Run by volunteers, the steam engine treks to the nearby town of Enterprise through the timeless Smoky Hill River Valley. Another way to get a feel for Abilene? Visit the Heritage Center, or if you don’t mind a little kitsch, step into the living history of Old Abilene Town, which still serves up sarsaparillas in the saloon, sells artisan crafts in the general store and recreates gunfights on Main Street. If you're in Abilene in August, the Central Kansas Free Fair is a summer tradition full of things to check out from the Demolition Derby to the Wild Bill Hickok PRCA Rodeo.
Abilene has history around every corner. It’s the town where President Dwight D. Eisenhower was raised, and so in the “five-star” museum district, a tour of the Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum is a must. You can also get a feel for what life was like at the turn-of-the-century in Abilene by taking a tour of the Seelye Mansion, which is still lit with original Edison light bulbs. A less expected spot to visit on your trip? The Greyhound Hall of Fame, which explores the fascinating history of the canine and evolution of the racing industry.
When you get hungry, stop into the Three One One (located where else but 311 N. Spruce Street), a local favorite that serves up fresh fish tacos. Or eat like Ike did at Mr. K’s Farmhouse (formerly Lena’s). Definitely don’t miss the chance to sample some of the fried chicken during your stay; the historic Brookville Hotel has been serving up its iconic family-style dinner since 1915.