The following list of Kansas Roadside Parks was published in the April 1964 issue of The Kansas School Naturalist, published by The Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia:
The Kansas Roadside Parks and Rest Areas are designed to invite weary motorists to stop for a short rest. Comfort and rest contribute to safer driving.
Overnight camping (except on Interstate Highways) is permitted, for one night only, in those parks having toilet facilities. Below is a list of the parks and facilities in each.
Abbreviations: (F) Fireplace, (T) Tables, (W) Water, (Tlt.) Toilet
US-24 12 Mi. W. Kansas City F, T.
US-24 E. US-73 Jct. F. T.
US-24 W. Belvue, F, T, W, Tlt.
US-24 & US-77 N. Riley F, T, Tlt.
US-24 2 Mi. W . Miltonvale F, T, Tlt.
US-24 at US-81 Jct. F, T, Tlt.
US-24 N. Beloit F, T, W, Tlt.
US-24 2 Mi. E. Cawker City F, T, Tlt.
US-24 at Downs F, T, W, Tlt.
US-24 & US-281 N. Osborne F, T, W, Tlt.
US-24 At Stockton F, T, W, Tlt.
US-24 At Webster Dam F, T, W, Tlt.
US-24 At Nicodemus F, T, W, Tlt.
US-24 At Hill City F, T, W, Tlt.
US-24 At Hoxie F, T, W, Tlt.
US-24 At Colby F, T, W, Tlt.
US-24 At Goodland F, T, W, Tlt.
US-24 At Kanorado F, T, W, Tlt.US-36 2 Mi. E. Troy F, T, Tlt.
US-36 W. Highland F, T, Tlt.
US-36 W. Hiawatha F, T, W, Tlt.
US-36 & US-75 3 Mi. W. Fairview F, T, W, Tlt.
US-36 E. Seneca F, T, W.
US-36 2 Mi. S. Axtell F, T, W.
US-36 5 Mi. W. Marysville F, T, W, Tlt.
US-36 E. Washington F, T, W, Tlt.
US-36 At Scandia F, T, W.
US-36 10 Mi. W. Mankato F, T, W.
US-36 At Smith Center F, T, W, Tlt.
US-36 4 Mi. W. Belleville F, T, Tlt.
US-36 At Kensington F, T, W, Tlt.
US-36 At Norton F, T, W, Tlt.
US-36 At Oberlin F, T, W, Tlt.
US-36 At Atwood F, T, W, Tlt.
US-36 At McDonald F, T, W, Tlt.
US-36 At St. Francis F, T, W, Tlt.1-35 2 Mi. S. E. Gardner F, T, W, Tlt.
US-40 S. Lecompton F, T, W, Tlt.1-70 25 Mi. W. Topeka F, T, W, Tlt.
1-70 2 Mi. W. Junction City F, T, W, Tlt.
1-70 1 1/2 Mi. N.W. Solomon F, T, W, Tlt.US-40 At Dorrance F, T, W, Tlt.
US-40 At Russell F, T, W, Tlt.
US-40 Hays By-Pass N. Side F, T, W.
US-40 Hays By-Pass S. Side F, T, W, Tlt.
US-40 2 Mi. W. Ellis F, T, Tlt.1-70 4 Mi. E. WaKeeney F, T, W, Tlt.
1-70 2 1/2 Mi. E. Grainfield F, T, W, Tlt.US-40 1 1/2 Mi. E. Oakley F, T, W, Tlt.
US-40 At Winona F, T, W, Tlt.
US-40 At Wallace F, T, W, Tlt.
US-40 Ks.-Colo. State L. F, T, W, Tlt.US-50 & US-59 S. of Ottawa F, T, W, Tlt.
US-50 & US-75 14 Mi. N. Burlington F, T, Tlt.
US-50 11 Mi. E. Emporia F, T, Tlt.
US-50 6 Mi. W. Emporia F, T.
US-50 E. Cedar Point F, T.
US-50 & US-77 At Florence F, T, W, Tlt.
US-50 6 Mi. E. Newton F, T, W, Tlt.
US-50 6 Mi. W. Stafford F, T, W, Tlt.
US-50 3 1/2 Mi. W. Belpre F, T, W, Tlt.
US-50 & US-56 At Kinsley F, T, W, Tlt.
US-50 - US-56 - US-283 7 Mi. E. Dodge City F, T, W, Tlt.
US-50 3 Mi. W. Ingalls F, T, W, Tlt.
US-50 & US-156 E. Garden City F, T.
US-50 W. Garden City F, T, W, Tlt.
US-50 At Lakin F, T, W, Tlt.US-54 & US-S9 N. Ft. Scott F. T.
US-54 3 Mi. W. Fort Scott F, T, W, Tlt.
US-54 1 Mi. E. Moran F, T, W, Tlt.
US-54 W . Batesville F, T, W, Tlt.
US-54 2 Mi. W. Rosalia F, T, W, Tlt.
US-54 6 1/2 Mi. E. Augusta F, T, Tlt.
US-54 King.-Sedg. Co. L. F, T, W, Tlt.
US-54 13 Mi. E. Prall F, T, W. Tlt.
US-54 E. Greensburg F, T, W, Tlt.
US-54 At Cimarron River F, T, W, Tlt.
US-54 At Liberal F, T, W, Tlt.US-56 3 Mi. E. Baldwin F, T, W, Tlt.
US-56 - US-59 Jct. F, T, Tlt.
US-56 E. Council Grove F, T.
US-56 4 Mi. W. Lyons F, T, W, Tlt.
US-56 E. Great Bend F, T, W, Tlt.
US-56 & US-50 At Kinsley F, T, W, Tlt.
US-56 - US-50 - US-283 7 Mi. E. Dodge City F, T, W, Tlt.
US-56 At Rolla F, T, W, Tlt.
US-59 - US-56 Jct. F, T, Tlt.
US-59 - US-50 S. Ottawa F, T, W, Tlt.
US-59 S. Garnett F,T.
US-59 - K-57 N. Erie F, T, W, Tlt.US-69 At Trading Post F, T.
US-69 So. Pleasanton F, T, W, Tlt.
US-69 - US-54 N. Fort Scott F, T, W, Tlt.US-73 9 Mi. S. Atchison F, T, Tlt.
US-75 S. Leavenworth F, T.
US-75 7 Mi. N. of Holton F, T, W , Tlt.
US-75 - US-36 3 Mi. W. Fairview F, T, W, Tlt.
US-75 8 Mi. S. Topeka F, T, W, Tlt.
US-75 5 Mi. N. Lyndon F, T, Tlt.
US-75 - US-50 14 Mi. N. Burlington F, T, Tlt.
US-75 5 Mi. N. Yates Center F, T, W, Tlt.
US-75 At Neodesha F, T, W, Tlt.
US-75 S. Altoona F, T.US-77 - K-9 N. E. Blue Rapids F, T, Tlt.
US-77 - US-24 N. Riley F, T, Tlt.
US-77 - US-50 At Florence F, T, W, Tlt.
US-77 E. Douglass F, T, W, Tlt.
US-77 S. Winfield F, T.
US-77 3 1/2 Mi. S. Arkansas City F T.US-81 5 Mi. S. Belleville F, T, W, Tlt.
US-81 - US-24 Jct. F, T, Tlt.
US-81 N. Salina F, T, W, Tlt.
US-81 8 Mi. N. Lindsborg F, T, W, Tlt.
US-81 At McPherson F, T, W, Tlt.
US-81 N. Wichita F, T, W, Tlt.
US-81 8 Mi. N. Wellington F, T.US-83 S. Oberlin F, T, W.
US-83 - US-383 W. Rexford F, T, W, Tlt.US-156 S Mi. W. Larned F, T, W, Tlt.
US-156 - US-50 E. Garden City F, T.US-160 10 Mi. W . Parsons F, T, W, Tlt.
US-160 2 Mi. E. Independence F, T, Tlt.
US-160 At Oxford F, T, W, Tlt.
US-160 At Argonia F, T, W.
US-ISO W. Harper F, T, W, Tlt.
US-160 - US-281 W. Medicine Lodge F, T, W, Tlt.
US-160 - US-183 2 Mi. W. Coldwater F, T, W, Tlt.
US-160 E. Ashland F, T, W, Tlt.US-166 E. Chetopa F, T.
US-166 E. Caney F, T.US-169 N. Osawatomie F, T, Tlt.
US-169 W. Colony F, T, W, Tlt.
US-169 N. lola F, T, W.
US-169 S. Jct. 96 & 160 F, T, W, Tlt.US-183 At LaCrosse F, T, W, Tlt.
US-183 & US-160 2 Mi. S. Coldwater F, T, W, Tlt.US-270 S. Syracuse F, T, W, Tlt.
US-281 - K-191 Geog. Ctr. U. S. T, W, Tlt.
US-281 - US-24 N. Osborne F, T, W, Tlt.
US-281 At Hoisington F, T, W, Tlt.
US-281 - US-160 W. Medicine Lodge F, T, W, Tlt.US-283 - US-50 - US-56 7 Mi. E. Dodge City
US-283 At Minneola F, T, W.US-383 At Almena F, T, W, Tlt.
US-383 At Jennings F, T, W, Tlt.
US-383 At Selden F, T, W.
US-383 - US-83 W. Rexford F, T, W, Tlt.K-9 - US-77 N. E. Blue Rapids F, T, Tlt.
K-9 At Logan F, T, W, Tlt. .
K-9 At Edmond F, T, W, Tlt.
K-9 At Lenora F, T, W, Tlt.K-10 S. Merriam F, T.
K-16 2 Mi. E. Denison F, T.
K-18 N. E. Junction City F, T, W.
K-18 E. Lincoln F, T, W, Tlt.
K-18 At Luray F, T, W, Tlt.
K-18 4 Mi. W. Natoma F, T, W, Tlt.
K-18 E. Plainville F, T, W, Tlt.
K-18 N. Palco F, T, W, Tlt.
K-18 N. Bogue F, T, W, Tlt.
K-25 11 Mi. S. Atwood F, 1. W, Tlt.
K-27 6 Mi. N. Elkhart F, T, W, Tlt.
K-28 At Jamestown F, T, W.
K-42 5 Mi. S. W. Wichita F, T, W, Tlt.
K-42 1 Mi. E. Jct. K-2 F, T, W, Tlt.
K-45 Cheyenne Bottoms F, T, Tlt.
K-57 1 Mi. E. Girard F, T, W, Tlt.
K-57 - US-59 N. Erie F, T, W, Tlt.
K-57 E. St. Paul F, T, W, Tlt.
K-61 At Preston F, T, W.
K-96 At Leon F, T.
K-96 At Alexander F, T, W, Tlt.
K-96 2 Mi. E. Dighton F, T, W, Tlt.
K-96 6 Mi. E. Leoti F, T, W, Tlt.
K-96 2 Mi. E. Tribune F, T, W, Tlt.
K-99 At Alma F, T.
K-99 1 1/2 Mi. N. Hamilton F, T, Tlt.
K-191 - US-281 Geog. Ctr. U.S. F, T, W.
Sadly, many of these roadside parks have been closed, abandoned, or otherwise lost to time. In some places, the remains of the parks can still be seen along the roads (though they can be difficult to find, since the locations in the list are very imprecise).
It's more than a little depressing to see what little remains of what was once considered to be "one of the finest roadside park programs in the nation"...
Kansas Roadside Parks Map 1964
See Also
- Camping in Kansas Roadside Parks: Includes a list of known (or suspected) current roadside parks, along with GPS coordinates, plus information on bicycle camping in Kansas roadside parks.
