If you only stay in Kansas City, you’re going to miss this.

We packed up the car and drove just two hours south of KC for a weekend trip that honestly surprised all of us. Southeast Kansas might not be the first place that comes to mind when planning a family getaway, but after spending a few days here, it’s one I’d absolutely recommend.

Here’s exactly how we spent our weekend, plus tips to help you plan your own.

Thank you to Explore Crawford County for sponsoring this blog!

Where to Stay: Pittsburg, Kansas

We based our trip in Pittsburg, home of the Pitt State Gorillas, and it made the perfect central location for exploring the area. We stayed in downtown Pittsburg which was a great location right on Broadway. There are a few cute AirBnB’s all around town, but we really enjoyed our stay at the Beds On Broadway right above The Blue Spoon! We stayed in Apartment B, and it worked perfectly for our family of 5. We just brought along a portable crib.

Day One - The Pitt

After arriving late on Friday evening, we headed straight to dinner at The Pitt. The burgers and wings totally lived up to the hype (they’ve literally won awards!) and it was the perfect casual spot for a quick bite to eat. My kids shared a “nacho baby” and said it was “cheesy and yummy.” Afterwards, we walked back to the AirBnB and did a movie night with the kids.

The Pitt - 516 N Broadway St, Pittsburg, KS 66762

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Day Two - Big Brutus, Route 66, Spring Art Walk

Bob’s Grill

We started our first full day with breakfast at Bob’s Grill. It was an easy walk from our lodging, and as soon as you walk in, you can tell it’s a local favorite. It’s the kind of place locals visit every Saturday morning at the same time with their buddies. The walls are lined with football helmets, sports posters, and local legends, giving it that classic, old-school diner feel. It’s the kind of place where you just know the food is going to be good. The cook is right behind the counter, so you can actually watch your breakfast being made from scratch, which made it even better. Everything we had was delicious and super affordable. Just know there is limited seating in this small space, so you may have to wait a bit for a spot.

Bob’s Grill - 1014 N. Broadway St, Pittsburg, KS 66762

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Big Brutus

Our first stop after breakfast was Big Brutus, the largest electric shovel in the world. It might sound like just a quirky roadside attraction, but it completely exceeded my expectations.

It is massive. Truly one of those things you cannot fully understand until you see it in person. My kids were amazed by the size, and being able to climb inside and pretend to operate it made it even more fun.

We learned a few facts that made it even more impressive. It cost about $28,000 a month in electricity to run (adjusted for inflation), and it weighs 11 million pounds. They actually tried to sell it when the mine shut down, but as you can imagine, there were not many buyers for something that big.

There is also an old school playground nearby, which my kids loved. They spent time swinging and playing with the sand diggers, and it would be a great spot to pack a picnic. Inside, there is a small museum with a short film and mining artifacts that give more context to the site. Outside, you can see additional equipment, including another large shovel and a collection of antique vehicles.

If you have a kid who is into vehicles, machinery, engineering, or just really big things, this is such a fun and unique stop.

Big Brutus - 6509 NW 60th St., West Mineral, KS 66782

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Route 66 in Galena, KS

From there, we drove south to Galena, which is such a cute small town right along Route 66. It is one of three main towns along Kansas’s short 13-mile stretch Route 66, which makes it feel like a special stop. There are so many fun photo opportunities throughout town, like Mural Park, and it really has that classic road trip feel.

We stopped at Gearhead Curios, which has Doc Hudson from the movie Cars parked right outside. Inside, there is a great Route 66 gift shop, but just a heads up that it is only open on the weekends.

And the bathroom. You have to see it. It has some of the coolest car-themed details, like a gas pump for the faucet and even a urinal made out of a funnel. It is one of those quirky stops that makes the whole experience more memorable. My kids died laughing when they heard someone got MARRIED in this bathroom!

Right down the road, we visited Cars on the Route, where the original “Tow Tater” became the inspiration for “Tow Mater” from the movie Cars. If your kids love Cars, this is one of those moments they will actually recognize and get excited about. Just note that you can’t climb on any of the vehicles.

We grabbed lunch at Cars on the Route (yum!) and then went over to the Centennial Arch. Here you can take fun photos under the Route 66 sign, see Luigi and Sheriff from the Cars movie, and stretch your legs before heading back to Pittsburg.

Mural Park - 700 S. Main St, Galena, KS 66739

Gearhead Curios - 520 S. Main St, Galena, KS 66739

Cars on the Route - 119 N. Main St, Galena, KS 66739

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Literary Cat Co.

Back in Pittsburg, we stopped at The Literary Cat Company to meet the resident cats and browse the bookstore. A cat was even adopted while we were there! Bring some quarters to buy a treat to feed the cats. My kids each picked out a book to be their trip souvenir and to give them something to do on the drive home.

This ended up being my daughter’s favorite part of the entire trip, which I expected because she LOVES cats. It felt like such a simple stop, but those are always the ones that stick the most.

Literary Cat Co - 915 N Broadway St, Pittsburg, KS 66762

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Spring Artwalk & El Caballo De Oro

We happened to be visiting during the annual Spring Artwalk, and it made the whole evening feel extra special with Broadway Street full of visitors.

There were kid-friendly activities set up throughout downtown, like coloring, chalk, and face painting, which kept my kids happy the entire time. My daughter also got to meet a princess walking around, and that was definitely a highlight for her.

We spent time wandering, exploring the craft and art booths, and listening to a live band. If you miss the Spring Artwalk, you can come back for the annual Fall Artwalk or Holiday Art Market!

For dinner, we walked to El Caballo de Oro, which is right across from a playground. A Mexican restaurant is always a win for our family, and this one had everything we love: tacos, nachos, quesadillas, Mexican Coca-Cola…yum! After dinner, the kids played on the playground, and then we walked back to our lodging.

El Caballo de Oro - 111 N Pine St, Pittsburg, KS 66762

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Day Three - Otto’s Cafe & Wilderness Park

Otto’s Cafe

On our last day, we grabbed pancakes with all the sides at Otto’s Cafe. My kids devoured their chocolate chip pancakes! This is another local favorite with a diner’s vibe, and we were able to walk to it from our lodging. I loved having these downtown dining options!

After breakfast, we stopped by the Pittsburg State University campus. We found visitor parking and walked around the beautiful campus. It has mature trees, statues, and historic buildings. They were even hosting a limited-time 2026 FIFA World Cup Kansas City countdown clock on the campus, so we had to commemorate the trip by visiting it!

Before leaving, we made one final stop in Frontenac.

Otto’s Cafe - 711 N Broadway St, Pittsburg, KS 66762

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Wilderness Park - Frontenac

When I first heard “Wilderness Park,” I pictured a playground with a nature theme. But it turned out to be something even better - a beautiful wooded area with peaceful trails.

My kids loved getting to explore the different paths and have the freedom to wander. It was calm, quiet, and the perfect way to wind down after a full weekend while still letting everyone move and play.

All of the trails are fairly short, with the longest around 1.4 miles, which made it really manageable with kids. We spent about an hour there before loading up and heading home, and it felt like the perfect ending to our trip.

Wilderness Park - 907 W McKay St, Frontenac, KS 66763

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Great Weekend Trip from Kansas City

What I loved most about this trip was how easy, affordable, and close Southeast Kansas is to Kansas City. It is close enough to Kansas City to make for a simple weekend getaway, but different enough to feel like a true change of pace. There is a mix of unique attractions, small town charm, and kid-friendly stops that make it ideal for families.

And honestly, it is the kind of place you only discover when you decide to take the detour.

If you have been looking for an easy weekend trip from Kansas City that is fun, affordable, and a little unexpected, this is one to add to your list.

4/22/26 - Gabrielle Isom

2-Hour Weekend Trip from Kansas City: Family-Friendly Things to Do in Southeast Kansas (Pittsburg, Galena, West Mineral)

Where to Stay: Pittsburg, Kansas

Day One - The Pitt