Follow the Kansas Gunsmoke Trail: A True Western Adventure

Saddle up for a legendary road trip through the heart of Kansas’ Wild West on the Kansas Gunsmoke Trail! This unforgettable journey takes you through Abilene, Hays, Dodge City, and Wichita—all rich with cowboy lore, frontier history, and Old West charm. With Abilene and Dodge City named the Best True Western Towns to Visit, there’s no better time to hit the trail and relive the days of cattle drives, gunfights, and larger-than-life legends.

Stop #1: Abilene – The Town That Tamed the West

As the first Cowtown of the West, Abilene was where the Chisholm Trail ended, and thousands of cattle were loaded onto trains to be shipped east. Today, Abilene keeps its cowboy spirit alive with top attractions:

• Old Abilene Town – Stroll the boardwalk, watch thrilling gunfight reenactments, and visit a working saloon straight out of the 1800s.
• Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad – Hop aboard a historic train and ride the rails like pioneers of the past.
• World’s Largest Belt Buckle – Snap a photo with this record-breaking tribute to cowboy culture.
• Dickinson County Heritage Center – Ride an original 1901 C.W. Parker Carousel and explore the town’s frontier history.

Enjoy a meal at a local steakhouse before continuing your journey west!

Stop #2: Hays – The Wild Frontier

Hays was once a rowdy frontier town, home to Buffalo Bill Cody and Wild Bill Hickok. Today, it blends Old West history with modern charm:

• Fort Hays Historic Site – Explore the original frontier fort that protected settlers from raids and housed some of the West’s most famous scouts.
• Boot Hill Cemetery – Visit the final resting place of outlaws and frontiersmen who met their fate in Hays’ wilder days.
• Downtown Hays – Filled with local breweries, western shops, and cowboy history, it’s the perfect place to experience frontier hospitality.

Stop #3: Dodge City – The Wickedest Town in the West

No western adventure is complete without a visit to Dodge City, a town so wild it needed legendary lawmen like Wyatt Earp to bring order. Walk in the footsteps of outlaws and cowboys at these can’t-miss stops:

• Boot Hill Museum – Step onto the streets of the Old West, watch a shootout, and see a saloon show.
• Dodge City Trail of Fame – Follow the footprints of real-life and Hollywood cowboys along this historic walking trail.
• Long Branch Saloon – Enjoy a drink where real cowboys once gathered for a night of storytelling and revelry.
• Santa Fe Depot & Visitor Center – A beautifully restored railroad depot that tells the story of how trains tamed the West.

Stop #4: Wichita – The Cowboy Crossroads

Wichita played a major role in cattle drives as one of the most important Cowtowns of the 1870s. It’s still a hub of western heritage, with top stops like:

• Old Cowtown Museum – Step into a living history town filled with authentic 1800s buildings, costumed interpreters, and staged gunfights.
• Delano District – Once a rowdy area filled with saloons and cattlemen, today it’s a vibrant shopping and dining district with a Wild West feel.
• The Keeper of the Plains – This stunning riverside monument honors the Native American heritage of the region.
• Sedgwick County Historical Museum – Discover Wichita’s transformation from a lawless Cowtown to a thriving Kansas city.

Hit the Trail and Experience the Old West

The Kansas Gunsmoke Trail is your chance to walk the same streets as Wild Bill Hickok, Wyatt Earp, and Buffalo Bill Cody while experiencing the best of Kansas’ western history. Whether you're a history buff, a cowboy at heart, or simply looking for an unforgettable adventure, this trail is your ticket to the past.

Ready to blaze your own trail? Plan your trip now at KansasGunsmokeTrail.com and experience the Best True Western Towns in America!