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As someone who has always loved maps and geography, finding interesting geographical points in Kansas is something I love. As Doug and I explore Kansas, we find many interesting boundaries and markers because the history of Kansas lends itself to these thanks to its central location. We’ve even made special trips just to visit some of these.
1. Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri Tri-state Point
This is a quick stop that is easy to access from Joplin or from I-44. It’s right next to Downsteam Casino Resort. This is actually where we began our Kansas Travel Adventures when we decided to start writing about them. You can see my entire post about this one here!
2. Kansas-Oklahoma-Colorado
Visiting far southwest Kansas gave us the opportunity to see the next tri-state point on our list. It’s located outside Elkhart Kansas on State Line Road, a dirt road but well maintained. This is a much less populated area than where we found the first tri-state point. There is a marker in the road and a windmill with markers, so you won’t miss this one. I loved the feeling that I could be in what are probably my three favorite states at the same time, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Colorado. You definitely won’t see the Rockies from here!
3. Kansas-Nebraska-Missouri
These three states meet in the middle of the Missouri river, and as far as we could see, there is nothing marking the spot. We had to drive down some sketchy dirt roads to get there. You can see the area from an overlook in White Cloud, Kansas. They claim that on a clear day you can see Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, and Iowa, but the four don’t all meet together. Using this overlook is a better option than trying to get to the river, in my opinion.
We have haven’t made it out to the Kansas-Colorado-Nebraska tri-state point yet, but we will!
4. The Geographical Center of the Continental United States
The United States Coast and Geodetic survey determined that the center of the continental US was near Lebanon, KS, in 1918. That’s in the far north central region of the state. There is a nice marker and a small chapel there which makes for great photos ops. It’s a quiet stop in a rural area, nothing flashy here.
This point has had a number of pop culture references in the last few years. Bruce Springsteen featured the chapel in a Super Bowl commercial, Neil Gaman references it in American Gods, and the bunk in Supernatural is in Lebanon, KS. Most small towns in Kansas never get that kind of recognition!
However, this location is no longer the geographic center of the United States as a whole. The center shifted farther north, Belle Fourche, South Dakota, when the US added Alaska and Hawaii.
5. The Highest Geographical Point in Kansas
The highest point in Kansas is probably not what you would expect. Mt. Sunflower is just basically the middle of a field. It is only 4,039 feet above sea level, making it a fairly low “highest point.”
Obviously, the name “Mt. Sunflower” becomes pretty ironic when you actually see the site. It is privately owned, but the owners are fine with people visiting the marker there. It’s a cool photo op if you enjoy unique places.
6. Lowest Geographical Point in Kansas
The lowest point in Kansas is the Verdigris River, which is in the next county over from where we live. A sign has just recently been placed here, so we went out to see it. As you cross the bridge from Coffeyville Kansas into South Coffeyville, Oklahoma, a sign tells you where to turn to get to the lowest point. It’s just a mile or two along that road, right on the west side of the bridge across the river.
7. The Largest Lake in Kansas
Milford Lake in Geary County, has a surface area of 15,700 acres and 163 miles of shoreline. It’s one of the most popular outdoor areas in Kansas with lots of family friendly ameneties. With Milford State Park, it provides full-service camping and fantastic fishing! The wildlife and bird photography opportunities are plentiful and the park provides:
- cabins for rent
- opportunities to bring your horses and trail ride
- playgrounds
- day use shelters
- group camping areas
- a full service marina facility
- an ADA Fishing Dock
Final thoughts
Kansas is known for its wide-open plains, but it’s full of unique places that are worth seeking out. From standing in three states at once to visiting the highest point in the state, these geographic spots offer fun and memorable stops for anyone who enjoys a quirky photo op, a good road trip or a bit of map-based exploration.
If you enjoy discovering places like these, you might also like exploring some of the small towns and hidden gems across Kansas. Check out my guide to things to do in Parsons, Kansas with kids for more family-friendly activities, or browse my recommendations for the best places to eat in Parsons, Kansas or Pittsburg if you’re planning a visit to southeast Kansas.
If you like cool destinations like the ones listed in this post, you won’t want to miss Big Brutus!
I’ll be adding more unique locations like these as we continue our Kansas travel adventures!
