By Vanessa Whiteside on March 31, 2026
3 Must-See Quirky Attractions for Your Next Kansas Road Trip
Kansas drivers are accustomed to road trips on long stretches of highway. But every once in a while, there is an offbeat roadside attraction worth stopping to see up close.
These photo-worthy pit stops satisfy road-trippers’ curiosity and tap into a desire for a unique travel experience. Which one will you visit?
World’s Largest Salt Shaker
Lyons
A meal tastes better with a little salt, right? In Lyons, the pantry staple was discovered in the 1880s. Active underground salt mines put the town on the map.
Towering at 15 feet tall, the World’s Largest Salt Shaker is Lyon’s newest tourist attraction. The diner-style shaker is a nod to the Lyons Salt Company’s mining history. The community dedicated Salt Miners Park in 2025, where a vibrant mural painted by Brickmob reads, “Worth our weight in salt.”
In addition to the larger-than-life salt shaker, one can seek out the uniquely painted salt mine carts placed around town. The steel carts used in the public art project were donated by local mining companies.
World’s Largest Salt Shaker
West Commercial and East Avenue, Lyons
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Hot and Cold Water Tower Gardens
Pratt
As the story goes, high school students painted the temperature labels “hot” and “cold” on Pratt’s water towers in 1956.
The town’s roadside attraction morphed into a sought-after stop for tourists who want a closer look at the storage tanks. A few years ago, Pratt residents planted native plants and trees at the bases of the towers and installed benches, creating an inviting space for locals and tourists to enjoy a quiet moment or a picnic. Hand-painted brick markers denote tree species, and two American flags billow in the Kansas wind.
Hot and Cold Water Tower Gardens
101-199 Green Street, Pratt
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World’s Largest Ball of Twine
Cawker City
Twine is often used to bind hay into stackable bales. The folks in Cawker City found another use for it.
The World’s Largest Ball of Twine was started by local farmer Frank Stoeber, who began winding twine on his farm in 1953. Neighbors contributed to the growing ball, and when it grew beyond expectations, the sisal twine mound was moved to a shelter downtown. The Guinness Book of World Records awarded Stoeber’s creation the title in 1973. Today, it weighs more than 27,000 pounds.
Cawker City hosts live music, food trucks and a poker run during the Twine-athon in the third weekend of August. Attendees are encouraged to add sisal twine to the ever-growing ball, increasing its massive size.
World’s Largest Ball of Twine
US Highway 24 and Wisconsin Street, Cawker City
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