Food & Drink
MO · Metro pop. 2.2M
Kansas City
Barbecue smoke, jazz echoes, and the romance of the rails.
A postcard from the city
Union Station still anchors Kansas City — a Beaux-Arts cathedral that survived the 1970s only because the city rallied to save it. The jazz clubs, the barbecue, the WWI Memorial tower above downtown — everything else is a short ride out from that hall.
Rails Midwest · City Guide
Kansas City straddles the state line with swagger, claiming both the best barbecue in America (not Kansas City, Kansas — Kansas City, Missouri) and a jazz legacy second only to New Orleans. The 18th and Vine Historic District pulses with music and history, while the Power and Light District captivates with neo-historic energy. Union Station — the 1914 Beaux-Arts terminal, third-largest in the United States when it opened — still anchors downtown; unlike St. Louis, Amtrak actually still uses it. This is a city that understands the romance of rail travel and the spirituality of slow food.
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Orient yourself
Kansas City at a glance
The station, airport, and places worth walking to — tap a pin.
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Our picks
Our Recommendations
Where to stay · near Kansas City Union Station
Hotels
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What to do · book ahead, skip the line
Experiences
Food & Drink
Culture
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Getting here & around
Getting to & around Kansas City
Flying in from abroad, connecting from elsewhere in the US, arriving by Amtrak — and then getting around once you’re here, without renting anything.
By Air
Fly into Chicago O'Hare (ORD) — a major US hub with non-stops from most US cities and European capitals — then take Amtrak from Union Station to Kansas City.
MCI → downtown
The new Terminal opened in 2023. KCI Shuttle and RideKC Bus 129 run to downtown in about 45 minutes; rideshare typically $35–45.
By Train — Amtrak
Amtrak's Missouri River Runner connects Kansas City directly to St. Louis (about 5h 40m, two daily) and onward to Chicago via a St. Louis transfer. The Southwest Chief also calls at Kansas City Union Station once daily in each direction on its Chicago–Los Angeles run. Union Station itself, built in 1914 and restored in the 1990s, is both the working Amtrak terminal and a full-on destination — the Grand Hall alone is worth half a morning.
Connecting on Amtrak: The Missouri River Runner runs from St. Louis twice daily into KC Union Station (Hermann is a flag stop along the way). The Southwest Chief calls at KC on its Chicago → Los Angeles run.
Public Transportation
The KC Streetcar is free and stops at Union Station — step off your Amtrak train and onto it — running north through downtown to the River Market, with a Riverfront extension added in 2026. RideKC buses cover the rest of the city. Note that KC's long-running zero-fare experiment ended: bus fares returned on 1 June 2026, contactless tap-to-pay only, no cash on board. The streetcar stays free.
KC Streetcar (free)RideKC buses
Good to know
Questions travelers ask
How do I get to Kansas City by train?
Fly into Chicago O'Hare (ORD) — a major US hub with non-stop service from most US cities and most European capitals — then take Amtrak from Chicago Union Station to Kansas City. See the Getting there section above for the specific trains and typical journey times.
How many days do I need in Kansas City?
Two to three days suits most travelers — enough to explore food & drink, music, culture, and to hit the main neighborhoods without feeling rushed. Add a day if you want to take a day trip out.
Can I visit Kansas City without a car?
Yes — every destination we cover is walkable from its Amtrak station or well-served by local transit. Kansas City's downtown is large and transit-connected, and ride-share fills the gaps.