Travel Tools

3 Steps to a Successful Trip to the Wild West

Here are 3 steps to plan a successful trip to the Wild West in Dodge City, Kansas this year!

1. Book your hotel

Check out our online booking source, to compare hotel rates and book your stay (just select the dates you want below our homepage slideshow). BOOK A ROOM.

We have many great transportation options including our newest airline, Boutique Air, supplying direct flights between Dodge City and Denver.

2.  Plan what you want to see

We have lots of great attractions you will not want to miss during your stay.

Depending on the time of year you visit, some attractions are only available by appointment, so be sure to check out our website for updates, under the EXPERIENCE tab, or you can always call our Visitor Information Center at 1-800-OLD-WEST.

While planning your trip, keep in mind that Dodge City Days, the second largest festival in Kansas, takes place the last week of July and first week of August. Check out their Facebook page for the most up-to-date information on the events including our PRCA Wrangler Gold Tour Rodeo, the largest High Noon Gunfight of the season at Boot Hill Museum, the Dodge City Days Western Parade, the Longhorn Cattle Drive through the middle of downtown, and much more!

3.  Get the heck INTO Dodge!

Once you roll into town and get situated in your hotel, check out the Visitor Information Center at 400 W. Wyatt Earp Blvd., in front of the Boot Hill Museum. Our staff will make sure you don’t miss anything during your stay. Below are a few ideas for your trip depending on what season you stay with us.

Attractions Available All Year Round:

The iconic Boot Hill Museum, open year round, has an amazing collection of artifacts from the Old West. Tour all 30 exhibits and take a step back in time to the lawless Dodge City. Check out the summer attractions below to see what is so special about this place when the weather is warmer.

The Trail of Fame is a must see all year round (weather permitting)! Start at the Visitor Information Center with a walking tour map (guided tours are also available – just ask the front desk) that will take you through the historic downtown by several bronze statues and medallions in the sidewalk (our own Hollywood-like Walk of Fame) of famous Dodge Citizens, fictional and nonfictional alike. The newest statue was installed July 2017 of the Matt Dillon character from Gunsmoke, James Arness. He stands proudly just outside of the Visitor Information Center.

A new, unique attraction in town, the Boot Hill Distillery, is located inside a historic building with a past you will want to hear about. Every grain in every sip of the distillery’s products are grown locally. Enjoy a soil-to-sip experience in their Tasting Room after a tour. Book a tour or check their hours on their website. While you are at the distillery, be sure not to miss out on the hand-crafted brews at Dodge City Brewing located just down the hill (known as "Booze Hill by the locals) from the distillery. Along with their specialty brews, the brewery also offers fresh brick-oven pizza. The distillery and brewery are the only ones of their breeds in Southwest Kansas, and they offer one-of-a-kind experiences as well.

The Depot Theater Company, located inside the Historic Santa Fe Depot, boasts a large performance schedule all year long. Most performances are accompanied by a memorable meal served by the performers themselves. Buy tickets and check out their schedule online.

Try your luck at the Boot Hill Casino & Resort. This western themed casino features over 600 electronic gaming machines, 18 table games, two live poker tables, a 150-seat casual dining restaurant known as Firesides at Boot Hill, and Cowboy Cafe for a light fare on-the-go.

The United Wireless Arena is the place to go for live entertainment in Southwest Kansas. From country music concerts to bridal expos, they host it all. See what’s coming soon at the United Wireless Arena.

Summer Vacation Must-Sees

A great place to start your summer vacation in Dodge City is with a Historic Trolley Tour. These hour long, air conditioned trolley tours (we are thankful for AC in Southwest Kansas as it can get mighty hot in the summer time) start at the Visitor Information Center where you also buy your trolley tickets. Ask about our veterans’ discount and seniors’ discount (50 years old and older… we age fast here in the Wild West). Tours are available at 9 AM, 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3 PM from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day (subject to change).

Dodge City puts on a show for its’ guests all summer long with gunfights and variety shows daily at the Boot Hill Museum. Enter and buy tickets through the “Great Western Hotel.” There are also 30 amazing exhibits you do not want to miss and, of course, the infamous Boot Hill Cemetery is a must see.

Cool off from the dusty trail at the Long Branch Lagoon Water Park. The water park was built in 2016 with lots of amazing features, and I can say from experience, the slides will take your breath away! Other features include a lazy river called the Cowboy Creek, the Wrangler Rapids wave pool, a competition-sized lap pool, a shallow pool area and structure called Fort Splash (great for young children) and much more!

The Mueller Schmidt House (aka Home of Stone) is the oldest house in Dodge City. A tour of this house will paint a vivid picture of how the two families that lived there got on. There is also an impressive collection of history and artifacts of pioneer women featured there as well. Tours are given daily in the summertime (by appointment during the off season).

TheKansas Teacher’s Hall of Fame and Gunfighters Wax Museum features a one-room school house and a western themed wax museum you won’t soon forget! Please contact the Hall of Fame or the Visitor Information Center for hours.

 This is just a taste of what summertime brings to Dodge City, and of the attractions available throughout the year.