Kansas City, located in the heart of the Midwest, is a vibrant and kid-friendly city with plenty to offer families. If you're planning a Kansas City weekend trip with kids and only have 48 hours in Kansas City to experience it, you might be wondering where to start. Fortunately, there are plenty of fun and educational activities to keep your kids entertained during your Kansas City itinerary. 

Our family spent a week in Kansas City Missouri in May 2022 and had so much fun there. Now I’ve culled together my favorite activities we did in Kansas City to help you create the ultimate Kansas City itinerary for your family. 

From interactive museums and beautiful parks to tasty restaurants and thrilling attractions, this blog post will provide you with a guide on things to do with your kids during your 48 hours in Kansas City travel adventure. So, pack your bags, grab your kids, and get ready for an unforgettable experience in this underrated gem of a city!

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Top 5 Kansas City family vacation ideas

Best places to stay on a 48 hours in Kansas City trip

To experience living like a local when you travel, you can look at vacation rentals throughout the city through Airbnb. We like using Airbnb as a family because it gives us a chance to have a more homey experience when we travel. Note that if you’re not staying within the downtown area, you might want to consider renting a car.

If you’re looking for convenient places to stay in Kansas City, consider staying at hotels near the downtown Kansas City area. Some of the neighborhoods in Kansas City worth checking out are the Library District, the Power and Light District, and the Crossroads Arts District.

Here are a few highly rated family-friendly Kansas City hotel options to choose from.

Kansas City Marriott Downtown

As much as I prefer to support locally owned hotels when I travel, sometimes it’s nice to stay at a hotel chain for consistency and reliability. During our 48 hours in Kansas City, we stayed at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown, and really enjoyed our time there. The rooms were spacious for our family of four, and they offered nice views of downtown Kansas City. Plus, we really liked its convenient location, right in the heart of it all!

Rooms at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown can accommodate families of up to 4 people, and come equipped with WiFi, coffee maker, mini-fridge, in-room safe, and 24-hour room service. Families with babies can request a complimentary crib. Facilities at the hotel include an indoor pool, a gym, and several restaurants. Breakfast is available for a fee.

Hotel Indigo Kansas City Downtown

A block away from the Kansas City Marriott Downtown is the Hotel Indigo Kansas City Downtown. Just like the Marriott, Hotel Indigo is conveniently located to many of the places you want to see during your 48 hours in Kansas City.

Rooms at Hotel Indigo can accommodate families of up to 4 people, and have a boutique hotel feel. They come with free WiFi, refrigerator, and in-room safe. Hotel Indigo has a gym available for guests, and cooked-to-order breakfast is available for a fee. There’s also a snack bar available in the lobby. Families will appreciate Hotel Indigo’s convenient location and cozy, homey vibe.

Hotel Phillips Kansas City

Another downtown hotel to consider staying at during your 48 hours in Kansas City is the Hotel Phillips Kansas City. This hotel is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, which means that you’ll find many of the amenities that you’ll find at Hilton hotels: 24-hour gym, housekeeping on request, free WiFi in the rooms. There’s also a cooked-to-order breakfast available to guests for a fee.

Hotel Phillips is also a historic hotel. Built in 1930 and featuring Art Deco decor, you’ll be transported back in time when you stay at Hotel Phillips! Rooms at Hotel Phillips can accommodate families of up to 4 people.

21c Museum Hotel Kansas City

A unique hotel to stay at during your 48 hours in Kansas City is the 21c Museum Hotel Kansas City. Though it’s part of a hotel chain with 8 locations around the United States, what’s unique about the chain is that each hotel has an art museum on site. Plus, all the rooms are pet-friendly, which is perfect if you like traveling with your pet.

Individual rooms at 21c Museum Hotel can accommodate families of up to 4 people. However, connecting rooms are available too, so there are options for large families! Rooms come with WiFi, daily housekeeping, and Espresso maker. Families with babies have high chairs and cribs available to them by request.

Ideas for spending 48 hours in Kansas City

We had an unexpectedly great time visiting Kansas City. We didn’t realize how much history the city has, and how much arts and culture makes up the city. 

Here’s a sampling of the fun things we did in Kansas City to help you plan your own Kansas City itinerary.

1. Start your 48 hours in Kansas City with coffee in a trolley

The best way to start your 48 hours in Kansas City is with coffee! The Made in Kansas City Trolley Cafe - River Market is a coffee shop serving up locally roasted coffee. They source from over 12 Kansas City coffee roasters!

Opened in 2017, the Made in Kansas City Cafe not only offers coffee and tea, but also offers local goods from bakers, makers, and artists. The cafe is a sister company of local business, Made in Kansas City, and aims to support the local community by investing in its neighbors.

What’s also unique about this cafe is that it’s in a restored Kansas City trolley! Streetcars and trolleys were a big part of Kansas City. In fact, the city once had the largest streetcar system in the country. We loved the historic aspect of this coffee shop.

2. Taste authentic barbecue at Jack Stack

You can’t go to Kansas City without trying some barbecue. It’s what the city is known for! 

Our friends from Kansas City recommended Jack Stack to us. First opened in 1957 as a barbecue stand, the restaurant now has six locations throughout the city serving pork ribs, beef brisket, burnt ends, and other barbecue selections.

We enjoyed our Jack Stack barbecue at the Freight House, a historic railroad building in the Crossroads District. But you can also visit their other location in the Plaza area.

If you want to try some other Kansas City barbecue, check out these places as well:

• Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que: popular barbecue chain on the Kansas side of Kansas City
• Q39: located in the southern part of the city on 39th Avenue
• Zarda: another Kansas side of Kansas City barbecue joint serving pulled pork
• Gates Bar-B-Q: Black-owned local barbecue chain founded in 1946

Alternatively, take a Kansas City barbecue tour from Barley Bus Tours, which will take you to three places to sample barbecue.

3. Sample food at the River Market

The River Market District is one of Kansas City’s oldest incorporated districts. Located along the Missouri River, the neighborhood includes a thriving farmer’s market (known as City Market), the Arabia Steamboat Museum, and many restaurants.

The City Market is open all year long. There, you’ll find restaurants from around the world (such as Asia and the Middle East) specialty foods, and locally-owned grocery stores. The Farmer’s Market is open on Saturdays and Sundays.

Located near the City Market is the Arabia Steamboat Museum, featuring artifacts from a recovered steamboat from the 1800s. The Arabia Steamboat Museum is open Mondays to Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm. On Sundays, the museum is open from 12 - 5 pm. Tickets are $14.50 for adults and $5.50 for children aged 4-14.

4. Take a walk along the Missouri River during your 48 hours in Kansas City

The Missouri River is the longest river in the United States, and runs right through Kansas City. During the 19th century, the river served as a route towards the west territories, for families looking for new lives in the American West.

Prior to colonization, the Missouri River served as a path of trade, transport, and food for Native American tribes including the Otoe, the Missouria, the Ponca, and the Omaha. They would use the river as a path of migration. Throughout the years, it continued to be an important trade route for the United States. 

Visitors to Kansas City can take a walk along the Riverfront Heritage Trail to enjoy views of the Missouri River. Take pictures of the Missouri River at the Town of Kansas Observation Deck.

5. Bond with your family at The Escape Game

If you’re looking for a family bonding activity during your 48 hours in Kansas City, head to The Escape Game. It's an engaging escape room experience that challenges participants to solve puzzles and clues to "escape" within a set timeframe. 

Escape games are live-action adventures promoting teamwork and problem-solving. We love doing these types of experiences because they give us a chance to bond, collaborate, and test our wits in a fun, immersive setting. We played an escape room game at The Escape Game when we were in New York City. All our kids, from our adult son to our youngest son, really enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of the experience. 

The Escape Game has five different scenarios to choose from. Each scenario - from uncovering art heists to underwater research missions (which is what we did) - is meticulously designed and has varying levels of difficulty.

Since the experience does require problem solving, communication, and critical thinking, I recommend this for families with kids ages 10 or older (The Escape Game recommends 13 years or older).

6. Learning fun at Science City during your 48 hours in Kansas City

Museums make a great learning resource for worldschooling! So for families who love learning (like us!), a visit to Science City is a must. Located at Union Station, Science City is packed with interactive exhibits and fun activities for kids. We spent an afternoon there and had so much fun doing the brain puzzles, the genetics exhibit, and trying out the energy exhibits.

There are over 300 interactive exhibits at Science City, covering almost 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. There’s also a Planetarium with daily public shows. And after your visit to Science City, spend some time walking through the historic Union Station. This former railroad station, over 100 years old, now contains restaurants, a theater, and other attractions. 

Science City is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm. On Sundays, the museum is open from 12 -5 pm. Tickets to Science City are $15-$16.

Find out how you can travel and learn with your kids.

7. Connect with baseball history at the Negro Leagues Museum

In the 1920’s, baseball was a segregated sport, reflective of what American culture was like back then. Only white players were allowed to play in the major leagues, so black players (and other communities of color) created their own leagues. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum showcases the history of the Negro Leagues, and highlights the players who made that league important.

This museum is located in the 18th and Vine District, a historically black part of Kansas City. The exhibits at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum are packed with information. But one of my favorite parts of the museum is the Field of Legends, a baseball diamond with sculptures of famous Negro Leagues players.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and on Sundays from 12 - 5 pm. Tickets to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum are $10 for adults and $6 for kids aged 5-12.

8. Find your groove at the Jazz Museum

In the same building as the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is the American Jazz Museum. This museum highlights the history of jazz music in the United States. It also pays homage to some of jazz music’s greatest talents, such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Benny Goodman.

Many of the exhibits are interactive, and let you listen to various jazz music clips. You really learn a lot about jazz! And there’s a jazz club at the museum, so you can watch a live music performance.

Like the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, admission to the American Jazz Museum is $10 for adults and $6 for kids aged 5-12. Hours of operation for the museum are 10 am to 5 pm on Tuesdays to Saturdays, and 12 to 5 pm on Sundays.

9. Get your buzz on at Cafe Cà Phê

We fell in love with Vietnamese coffee when we were sampling food in Hanoi back in early 2020. The richness of the flavors and the relaxed feeling of Vietnamese coffee culture really drew us in! So when I found out Kansas City had a Vietnamese cafe, owned by a first generation Vietnamese American, we had to check it out.

Cafe Cà Phê does not disappoint. While they don’t have egg coffee on the menu, they do have a fantastic selection of coffee drinks that will give you the kick you need to get you going. We liked the coffee drink with ube syrup, a nod to our family’s Philippines connection! You can find Cafe Cà Phê at their brick and mortar store on 5th Street, just east of City Market.

10. Spend an afternoon at Country Club Plaza

For an afternoon snack during your 48 hours in Kansas City, head to Country Club Plaza. It’s one of the first outdoor shopping areas in the United States, modeled after the plazas of Seville, Spain. It even has a replica of La Giralda, a bell tower at Seville Cathedral.

Built in 1922, Country Club Plaza has fountains and sculptures, along with high end stores, locally owned boutiques, and restaurants. It’s a great place to get a bite to eat or go shopping for some Kansas City souvenirs. 

We liked getting bubble tea at Bruú Café. They have a creative assortment of teas and smoothies, along with tapioca balls and jellies.

If you’re in the mood for a unique tour, book a segway tour of Country Club Plaza from Greenville Glides. The tour takes you from the Country Club Plaza to nearby Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

11. Get souvenirs at Made in KC Store

On the topic of souvenirs, one of the best places to go at Country Club Plaza for souvenirs is the Made in Kansas City Store. This store features goods from local makers!

The Made in Kansas City Store (which is the parent company of the Made in Kansas City Trolley Cafe) offers vendor booth style displays of each local maker. There’s an assortment of hand made crafts, goods, and food to choose from. We loved buying the locally crafted chocolates. So sweet!

There are several Made in KC stores all throughout Kansas City. So even if you don’t get to Country Club Plaza, you’ll be able to find your local souvenirs somewhere in the city.

12. Take a walking tour of Kansas City

We love taking walking tours to learn the history of a city and get a feel for its streets. And one of the best neighborhoods to do a walking tour is the Crossroads District. This neighborhood is known for its artistic vibes, full of restaurants, boutiques, and galleries celebrating local art.

If you’re in the mood for a walking tour, check out these two highly rated tours to book for your 48 hours in Kansas City.

Crossroads and Westside Sunset Hike

Kansas City Crossroads Art District and Westside Urban Hike

And speaking of art, be sure to check out the Parade of Hearts while you’re spending your 48 hours in Kansas City. This is a free public art installation in the city featuring giant hearts decorated by local artists.

13. See larger than life books at the Central Library

Book lovers will enjoy visiting the Central Library, part of the Kansas City Public Library. There’s a rooftop terrace where you can take a view of the city. 

The highlight of the library is the Community Bookshelf, a larger than life art installation featuring giant book spines of famous books such as Catch-22, The Lord of the Rings, Winnie-the-Pooh, Green Eggs and Ham, and Fahrenheit 451. The Community Bookshelf is actually part of the library’s parking garage. So if you’re not in the mood to stroll through the library, you can still enjoy looking at these larger than life books on the street. 

Check out more great destinations in the United States!

Bonus ideas: Other ideas for spending 48 hours in Kansas City

We didn’t get to do everything we wanted to do during our 48 hours in Kansas City. There are just too many things to pack into such a short Kansas City itinerary. 

If you have more time in Kansas City, here are some other ideas for things to do in Kansas City with your kids:

• See animals at the Kansas City Zoo
• Watch the Royals play at Kauffman Stadium or the Chiefs play at Arrowhead Stadium
• Visit the Kansas City Kansas side 
• Play at LEGOLand Discovery Center
• Check out marine life at SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium
• Learn about the Federal Reserve Bank at the Money Museum
• Honor fallen heroes at the National WWII Museum and Memorial
• Enjoy art at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art
• Take a distillery tour of Kansas City craft brews

Suggested Kansas City itinerary ideas 

I’ve provided some fun ideas to fill your 48 hours in Kansas City trip. You don’t have to do everything on this list. Instead, feel free to mix and match, based on your family’s preference. 

Also, whether you’re planning to be in Kansas City less than 2 days or more than 2 days, use these suggestions as a base for your own Kansas City itinerary. Here are some alternative Kansas City itinerary ideas, based on the suggestions I provided above.

Quick itinerary for 24 hours in Kansas City

While I recommend spending at least 2 days in Kansas City to get the most out of the city, you can still have fun if your time in Kansas City is limited.

If you only have one day in Kansas City, here’s a Kansas City itinerary that will pack in the highlights:

• Morning coffee at Cafe Ca Phe
• Breakfast at a River Market restaurant
• Morning exploration at the Arabia Steamboat Museum
• Lunch at City Market
• Afternoon visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the American Jazz Museum
• Dinner at Jack Stack

Best itinerary for 2 days in Kansas City

For a 48 hours in Kansas City itinerary that will pack a punch, here is my suggested itinerary.

First day:

• Breakfast at the Made in KC Trolley Cafe
• Walk along the Missouri River
• Exploration at the Arabia Steamboat Museum
•  at City Market
• Afternoon visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the American Jazz Museum
• Dinner at Joe’s KC

Second day: 

• Morning coffee and light snacks at Cafe Ca Phe
• Walk through the River Market neighborhood
• Morning visit to Science City
• Lunch at Jack Stack at the Freight House
• Afternoon snacks and souvenirs at Country Club Plaza
• Dinner at Crossroads Arts District

Itinerary for 3 days in Kansas City

If you have three days in Kansas City, make the most of it by catching a game or visiting a museum. Here’s my suggested Kansas City itinerary for families.

First day:

• Breakfast at the Made in KC Trolley Cafe
• Walk along the Missouri River
• Exploration at the Arabia Steamboat Museum
•  at City Market
• Afternoon visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the American Jazz Museum
• Dinner at Joe’s KC

Second day: 

• Morning coffee and light snacks at Cafe Ca Phe
• Walk through the River Market neighborhood
• Morning visit to Science City
• Lunch at Jack Stack at the Freight House
• Afternoon snacks and souvenirs at Country Club Plaza
• Dinner at Country Club Plaza

Third day:

• Breakfast at Crossroads Arts District
• Walking tour of Crossroads Arts District
• Lunch at Gates Bar-B-Q
• Museum time at LEGOLAND or Nelson- Atkins Art Museum, or catch a sports game 
• Dinner at River Market

Things to know for your 48 hours in Kansas City itinerary

Before jumping into your Kansas City itinerary planning, it’s helpful to know a few things about Kansas City. 

As a midwestern city, Kansas City can get pretty muggy and hot during the summer months (June to September). And in the winter months December to January), temperatures can get below freezing. The best time to visit Kansas City are in the spring (May-June) and the fall (September-November).

Take a look at these other travel tips to prepare for your 48 hours in Kansas City.

History primer for a 48 hours in Kansas City trip

According to this article, the area now known as Kansas City makes up the ancestral lands of the Osage, Kaw (Kansa) and Otoe-Missouria. In the 1830’s, other tribes like the Shawnee, Delaware, Munsee, and Potawatomi were forced into this area. And then in the 1850’s many of these indigenous groups were forced to leave.

Early European settlers came to Kansas City in the 1700’s and quickly made the area popular for fur trading. And in the 1800’s, Kansas City was a jumping off point for westward expansion. 

During the Civil War, Kansas City was the site of several battles. And about a century later, during the civil rights era, Kansas City joined other cities in being the site for boycotts and protests against racism. 

Today, Kansas City is a diverse city, with a mix of whites, Blacks, Latinx, and Asian communities. All these groups contribute to the city’s culture. If you want to dive more into history to prepare for your Kansas City weekend itinerary, check out these books:

A History Lover’s Guide to Kansas City

Kansas City Jazz: From Ragtime to Bebop

Racism in Kansas City: A Short History

Getting in and getting around during your 48 hours in Kansas City 

If you’re planning to fly into Kansas City, the main airport is Kansas City international Airport. This airport services destinations like Albuquerque, Denver, Baltimore, New York City, and Los Angeles. International destinations include Toronto, Canada and Cancun, Mexico.

By land, you can get to Kansas City by train or bus. Alternatively, you can drive into Kansas City. Having a car is also convenient for getting around Kansas City. You can rent a car via Expedia to get you to all your Kansas City itinerary activities.

Ubers are also available for hire in Kansas City. And if you’re trying to get around the downtown area, you can hop on the free street car that runs along Main Street.

Making memories during your 48 hours in Kansas City 

From exploring interactive museums and beautiful parks to savoring delicious food and experiencing thrilling attractions, this Midwestern gem has something for everyone in the family. Our family had so much fun doing research for this post on spending 48 hours in Kansas City. My hope is that you have just as much fun doing all the things we did … and more!

With a little planning, you and your family can experience the best Kansas City weekend getaway in just two days. We hope this Kansas City itinerary has inspired you to explore and make lasting memories with your loved ones in Kansas City. 

Planning to use Kansas City as a starting off point for a family gap year? Use my ebook, Hey Kids, Let's Go Travel! for family travel advice on planning and prepping for a family gap year.

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