The Perfect Weekend in Southeast Kansas
At just two hours away from Kansas City, Southeast Kansas should be on your weekend getaway shortlist.
Southeast Kansas has a way of surprising you and this corner of the state turned out to be one of the most fun weekend getaways we’ve had. There's real history here, genuinely good food, and some weird and wonderful attractions. Here's everything you should do on a weekend trip to Pittsburg, KS and the surrounding area.
This post is sponsored by Explore Crawford County, but all opinions are my own!
Where to Stay
Base yourself in Pittsburg. It's a college town (Pittsburg State University), which means there's more dining and nightlife than you'd expect for a city of its size, and it's central to everything on this itinerary. The Airbnb options downtown put you within walking distance of most of the Saturday stops, which makes the whole day feel a lot more relaxed. We stayed here and loved it, but there are multiple options like this, this, this, and this that all look great!
Day One Itinerary:
Start your morning just outside of Pittsburg. The Well Traveled Chef in nearby Arma is a specialty culinary shop run by a local attorney who started watching cooking shows to decompress during law school and never really stopped. She found the best of both worlds when she opened this place, and it shows. Every item feels thoughtfully chosen rather than just stocked. It's small but don't let that fool you, you'll want more time than you think. This was honestly one of the highlights of our trip and a can't-miss if you're anywhere near the area.
From there, swing through Frontenac to see Heritage Hall Museum & Miners Park. The coal mining history of Southeast Kansas is genuinely fascinating, and this is one of the better museums I've come across. It was informative and robust without being overwhelming. I could’ve spent hours here!
Lunch is right across the street: Shooter's Neighborhood Grill & Bar opens at 11 AM and is exactly the kind of neighborhood bar you hope to stumble into. I had the buffalo chicken wrap and it was genuinely one of the best I've ever had — I would go back just for that.
After lunch, head into Pittsburg proper for an afternoon of downtown exploring. Don’t miss these stops:
The Literary Cat Co. is a 5-star rated independent bookshop that also happens to have cats - it's exactly as good as it sounds and I could have stayed for two hours easily. The book selection is outstanding and most of the cats are available for adoption. We fell in love with the cats and almost went home with an unexpected kind of souvenir!
Miners & Monroe is one of the best men's shops I've come across anywhere: clothing, records, accessories, and other goods with the kind of curation that takes real taste. We spent quite a bit of time here and my husband has been talking about this spot for days!
Embellish Boutique is currently undergoing an expansion and renovation, so be sure to check out the new space soon. They carry home décor, clothing, accessories, and great gift options.
And if you have anyone in your group who's into tabletop gaming, Ogre's Lair on 3rd St is a fun stop.
After shopping, over to the Miners Memorial on Walnut to learn more about the miners who worked the Weir-Pittsburg Coalfield. It's a moving bronze tribute to the 10,000+ miners who worked there, and the detail on the statue is impressive. From there, swing by Champions Plaza to see the Pittsburg State gorilla sculpture, which is basically mandatory when you're in Pittsburg. It is a Corbin Bronze sculpture so it is absolutely stunning. The artist, Tom Corbin, is a world-renowned sculptor based in Kansas City.
For dinner, you've got two strong options. Drop the H Brewing Company is the kind of place that would do well in any city and after eating there, I am sad it’s not closer to KC! It’s a beautifully renovated space with excellent craft beer and scratch pizza. The Pitt is a livelier college-town bar with great burgers and a fun energy, especially on a busy weekend. We loved both spots and honestly had a hard time choosing.
Cap the night at Main Street Axe Company. The staff are great at making first-timers comfortable and even if you've thrown axes before, this place feels different. They taught us games to keep things competitive and even brought out knives for knife throwing, which we were not expecting and absolutely loved. Bring your own food if you want, drinks are available, and it's open late on Saturdays.
Day Two Itinerary:
Today is our Route 66 driving day! First, grab breakfast at Otto's Café – it’s in the heart of downtown and it's a perfect diner. Fast, cheap, hot, and the pecan pancakes are still on my mind days later!
After breakfast, spend the whole day driving the Kansas leg of Historic Route 66. The stretch is only 13 miles but it's packed. Hit the Kansas Route 66 Visitors Center in Baxter Springs, drive across the Historic Rainbow Bridge, stop at Nelson's Old Riverton Store for a sandwich and a sarsaparilla, and make a pit stop at Gearhead Curios - the restroom alone is worth pulling over for, and that's not a joke. Don’t miss Cars on the Route is where the original truck that inspired Tow Mater actually lives. Drive through the giant Route 66 shield before you leave Galena, then follow the road all the way to the Missouri state line. You've now driven all of Route 66 in Kansas. If you want more a more detailed itinerary for the Kansas stretch of Route 66, the full guide is linked here.
Head back to Pittsburg for dinner – wherever you didn't eat on last night is waiting for you.
Day Three Itinerary:
Breakfast on Monday should be at Bob's Grill on Broadway. It's a classic short-order counter diner that opens early and it'll be packed with locals, which is always a great sign.
After breakfast, grab a coffee to go at Signet Coffee Roasters and drive out to Big Brutus in West Mineral. I cannot overstate how unprepared you will be for how large this thing is in person. It's the second-largest electric mining shovel ever built, and you can walk around and climb up inside it. Photos genuinely don't capture the scale. It's dog friendly, the staff are wonderful, and the surrounding museum has even more to see. Plan to spend at least 90 minutes there – especially if you have a history buff for a husband like I do!
From Big Brutus, wrap up at JoJo's Pizza in Girard on your way home. It's a local institution and it’s the perfect ending to a weekend this good.
Southeast Kansas is genuinely one of my favorite weekend trips we have ever taken! Everything you need is in a small radius — great local shops, food that punches well above its weight, history that most people haven't seen, and a Route 66 stretch you can drive in a day. If you've been sleeping on this part of the state, it's time to plan your trip!
