Just three hours from Kansas City, you'll find one of the best family attractions in the Midwest. My family of five recently visited Exploration Place in Wichita, Kansas, and it completely blew our minds!

We made the drive from Kansas City for the day, and it was absolutely worth it. If you're planning a weekend in Wichita, I would definitely set aside a full day for Exploration Place. The brand-new Adventure Playscape takes an already amazing science museum to a whole new level. We could have spent our entire visit outside.

Think The Gathering Place in Tulsa, Science City in Kansas City, and the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson all rolled into one incredible destination.

In this guide, I'll walk you through our entire visit. I'll share what we loved, what surprised us, and a few tips to help you plan your own trip. Between the giant outdoor Adventure Playscape, hands-on science museum, dome theater shows, and affordable admission, this is one destinations for a family day or weekend trip from Kansas City.

This blog is sponsored by Exploration Place!

The Adventure Playscape Is Worth the Trip Alone

There is no other playground within three hours of Kansas City quite like the Adventure Playscape at Exploration Place in Wichita, KS.

The six-acre outdoor play area includes 10 incredible playgrounds and climbing structures. There is something for babies, toddlers, and kids. I especially loved that so much of the playground celebrates Kansas - sunflowers, Flint Hills, aviation, farming, and more. Since the Adventure Playscape it is part of Exploration Place, your admission includes both the outdoor play area and the museum.

The entire Adventure Playscape is fenced from the main roads and is part of Exploration Place. There are accessible play features throughout the park, like ramps, rubber surfacing, adaptive swings, and play sets. If you need more information on accessible features, check their FAQ page or call!

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One of my favorite areas was the Sunflower Meadows playground for ages 2- 5. My daughter loved climbing through the giant sunflowers and riding the adorable bumblebee. My only hope is that they will replace the mulch with the same rubber surface or turf used throughout the rest of the playground.

My kids loved exploring all of the Kansas-themed play structures. There is a large combine harvester and a crop sprayer that doubles as a swing set at Agriculture Overlook, plus a large bison to climb inside, foggy Flint Hills to run through, and a TreeTop Climber. Did you know Wichita is known as the Air Capital of the World? The aviation section fits the city perfectly with airplanes, a rocket ship, and airport-inspired play areas.

My kids' favorite part was the long metal slides at Slide Hill, built into the playground terrain. They are fast and so much fun. Just be careful if your kids head over from the water play area because they will absolutely fly down those slides!

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Don't Skip the Water Play Cascades

The Water Play Cascades may have been our family's favorite part of the entire visit. This is so much more than a splash pad. I loved seeing kids work together to move water throughout the landscape. They can crank giant screws to move water uphill, create little streams, build pools, and experiment with how the water flows.

My kids spent so much time here. They loved working together to change the direction of the water and seeing what happened next. I definitely took my shoes off and wandered around with them a bit to cool off!

If you're visiting during the summer, don't skip this area. It’s open from mid-spring to mid-fall. Bring swimsuits, towels, sunscreen, and water shoes or sandals. Large family restrooms are located nearby, so it is easy to change before or after playing.

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You Never Have to Leave for Lunch

One thing I really appreciated was that we never had to leave for lunch! We ate at Graze Outdoor Café. It is located inside the Adventure Playscape near the Water Play Cascades. The menu includes pizzas, sandwiches, kids’ meals like chicken nuggets, ice cream, drinks, and snacks. I was pleasantly surprised by all of the affordable food options. You are also welcome to pack your own lunch, drinks, and snacks if you prefer!

The seating area by Graze Café has picnic tables with trees for shade. It was nice to sit down in the shade while still being close enough to watch the kids play at Water Play Cascades.

Later in the afternoon, we grabbed popcorn from the Snack Lab inside the museum before heading into the dome theater. They have a variety of hot snack items plus other quick options and drinks.

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The Indoor Science Museum Is Just as Impressive

After spending almost three hours outside, we headed inside to cool off. We were still only halfway through our day!

Your admission includes the Adventure Playscape, all of the indoor exhibits, dome shows, laser shows, live science demonstrations, and the rotating special exhibit, currently Finding Titanic: Secret Mission. This is different than most Kansas City area museums where you pay extra to visit these additional shows and exhibits. I loved that it was included in the admission cost!

During our visit, we explored the limited-time Titanic exhibit, watched a constellation show inside the dome theater, enjoyed a Taylor Swift laser show, and still had plenty of time to experience the interactive science museum. When I told my husband we would probably spend the whole day at Exploration Place, he didn't believe me. Seven hours later, he admitted he was wrong.

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When you step inside the science museum, you enter the Health Inside Out exhibit. My kids got to sit on a fart chair, and they were immediately sold on this museum! Plus, they got to scream at the top of their lungs to measure sound, play a giant Operation game, dance as a skeleton, and push on giant teeth.

One of my kids' favorite exhibits was Where Kids Rule. It is a giant medieval castle where kids can climb inside, defend their fortress, wear costumes, and embrace imaginative play. They played in this area the most!

My baby loved Kansas Kids Connect. This area is designed specifically for children ages five and under. It was the perfect place for him to explore and play. There is a small tractor to repair, a market, air tunnels with play scarves, and a Kansas-inspired play set.

The aviation exhibit was another favorite. My kids climbed inside an airplane, built paper airplanes, tested how they flew, and pressed what felt like a million buttons. Honestly, what kid doesn't love pressing buttons?

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A few Exploration Place details

All-Ages

This really is a destination for all ages. Babies, toddlers, elementary-age kids, teens, and even adults will all find something to enjoy. Between the outdoor playgrounds, science exhibits, dome planetarium shows, laser shows, and seasonal exhibits like Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission, there is enough to keep everyone entertained.

Time Commitment

We left Kansas City around 7:30 a.m and arrived around 10:30 a.m. Then we stayed until closing at 5:00 p.m. During the summer, Exploration Place offers extended evening hours on select days. I would plan to spend at least four to five hours here. We easily spent almost seven hours. We were outside for nearly three hours before we even stepped inside the museum.

Parking

Parking is free at Exploration Place. The entire property is stroller-friendly and I was always able to find a restroom with a changing table when I needed it.

Ways to Save

If you live in Kansas, you can even visit Exploration Place for free through Sunflower Summer from July 9 - August 2, 2026! If you have a Science City membership, you can gain free admission to Exploration Place through the ASTC Travel Passport!

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What used to be an amazing science museum just got an incredible upgrade! Exploration Place is now a full day destination. Between the Adventure Playscape, Water Play Cascades, interactive museum, dome theater, affordable admission, and on-site dining, it offers an experience that is hard to find anywhere else within driving distance of Kansas City.

We made the trip for the day, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. If you're looking for a family road trip that is fun, educational, and completely worth the drive, add Exploration Place in Wichita, KS to your list. I have a feeling your kids will be asking when they can go back too.

Make it a full weekend trip to Wichita by adding Exploration Place to this guide: Visit Wichita - A Perfect Family Getaway from Kansas City

Where to stay in Wichita:

Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview Wichita

Hotel at Old Town

Hyatt Regency Wichita

Home 2 Suites Hilton

7/7/2026 - Gabrielle Isom

Exploration Place in Wichita, KS - A Must Visit Family Destination From Kansas City

The Adventure Playscape Is Worth the Trip Alone

Don't Skip the Water Play Cascades

You Never Have to Leave for Lunch

The Indoor Science Museum Is Just as Impressive