Shawnee district, Kansas, United States

Places to visit near Topeka

Topeka is a city in Shawnee district, Kansas, United States, home to about 127,265 people. Within 50 km by road there are 184 places to visit — 74 churches, 37 forts & heritage, 18 museums and 12 lakes, dams & reservoirs. The must-see places are Sumner Elementary School (1 km), Brown V Board of Education National Historic Site (1 km) and Ward-Meade Park and Botanical Gardens (2 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Topeka on the map

Topeka at a glance

Location
Shawnee district, Kansas, United States
Population
about 127,265
Coordinates
39.0483° N, 95.6780° W
Places within 50 km
184 (31 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for forts & heritage; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for churches and museums

Top places to visit near Topeka

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Topeka: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

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Things to see near Topeka, by type

Churches near Topeka

89 churches within 100 km of Topeka. The closest is First Presbyterian Church (1 km); the best-known is Westboro Baptist Church (5 km). Best time: year-round.

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Forts & heritage near Topeka

46 forts & heritage within 100 km of Topeka. The closest is Kansas Veterans' Memorial (1 km). Best time: october to february.

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Museums near Topeka

25 museums within 100 km of Topeka. The closest is Charles Curtis House Museum (1 km); the best-known is Great Overland Station (3 km). Best time: year-round.

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Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Topeka

20 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Topeka. The closest is Lake Shawnee Park (9 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

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Hill stations & viewpoints near Topeka

17 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Topeka. The closest is Burnett Mound (8 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

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Wildlife, forests & gardens near Topeka

15 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Topeka. The closest is Sumner Elementary School (1 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

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A one-day trip from Topeka

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 14 km on the road.

  1. Start in Topeka
  2. 1 km Brown V Board of Education National Historic Site · nature spot, Shawnee
  3. 4 km Washburn Park · nature spot, Shawnee
  4. 4 km Sumner Elementary School · nature spot, Shawnee
  5. 1 km Ward-Meade Park and Botanical Gardens · garden, Shawnee
  6. 1 km Great Overland Station · museum, Shawnee
  7. 3 km Back to Topeka

Plan a longer trip from Topeka — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Topeka

No traveller has reported from around Topeka yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Topeka

    All places near Topeka by distance

    Within 15 km of Topeka

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Topeka by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Churches7489First Presbyterian Church (1 km)
    Forts & heritage3746Kansas Veterans' Memorial (1 km)
    Museums1825Charles Curtis House Museum (1 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs1220Lake Shawnee Park (9 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints1417Burnett Mound (8 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens915Sumner Elementary School (1 km)
    Parks811Auburndale Park (4 km)
    Other attractions89Kansas State Capitol (1 km)
    Waterfalls33Wakarusa River Falls (42 km)
    Beaches & coast11Bloomington Beach (39 km)
    Temples01Hindu Temple & Cultural Center of Kansas City (99 km)

    Topeka: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Topeka?

    Sumner Elementary School (nature spot, about 1 km), Brown V Board of Education National Historic Site (nature spot, about 1 km), Ward-Meade Park and Botanical Gardens (garden, about 2 km), Great Overland Station (museum, about 3 km), Washburn Park (nature spot, about 4 km), Westboro Baptist Church (church, about 5 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Topeka?

    184 places on Spotwander: 74 churches, 37 forts & heritage, 18 museums, 12 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 14 hill stations & viewpoints.

    Which is the nearest church to Topeka?

    First Presbyterian Church, about 1 km by road; Assumption Catholic Church (0 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest fort to Topeka?

    Kansas Veterans' Memorial, about 1 km by road; Fort Simple (1 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest museum to Topeka?

    Charles Curtis House Museum, about 1 km by road; The Heartland Orthodox Christian Museum (1 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Topeka?

    Start in Topeka, visit Brown V Board of Education National Historic Site, then Washburn Park, then Sumner Elementary School, then Ward-Meade Park and Botanical Gardens, then Great Overland Station, and drive back — about 14 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Topeka?

    October to February for forts & heritage; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for churches and museums.

    Towns near Topeka

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Topeka’s location and population from GeoNames. Data sources & credits.