Visit Abilene Kansas

Visit Abilene Kansas Named Best Small Town to Visit by Smithsonian Magazine and Best Historic Small Town by USA TODAY. Dwight D.

Named one of the "Top 20 Best Small Towns to Visit" by Smithsonian Magazine, we invite you to visit the first Abilene*, Abilene, Kansas, and experience all it has to offer. The Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is a department of the City of Abilene. The role of the CVB is to market Abilene’s assets to visitors and help them plan their visits. The goal is to generate economic growth in

Abilene through tourism.

-----------------------------------------

Why Abilene?

#3 Best Historic Small Town - USA TODAY (2024)

Top 10 True Western Town of the Year by True West Magazine (2024)

Best Promotion of a Historic Place by True West Magazine (2024)

Best Social Media Campaign (Destination) - Midwest Travel Network (2023)

Best Roadside Attraction in the U.S. (World's Largest Belt Buckle) - by TravelAwaits (2023)

Best Small Town to Visit in the U.S. by TravelAwaits (2023)

#2 Best Historic Small Town by USA TODAY (2023)

Top 10 True Western Town of the Year by True West Magazine (2023)

Best Promotion of a Historic Place by True West Magazine (2023)

#2 Best Historic Small Town by USA TODAY (2022)

#1 Best Small Town to Visit in the U.S. by TravelAwaits (2022)

#1 Friendliest Small Town to Visit in the U.S. by TravelAwaits (2022)

Best Promotion of a Historic Place by TrueWest magazine (2022)

#1 Best U.S. Small Town by TravelAwaits (2021)

#2 Best Historic Small Town by USA Today (2020)

Coolest Small Town in Kansas by Far and Wide (2020)

Most Beautiful Small Town in Kansas by House Beautiful magazine (2020)

#8 Best Historic Small Town by USA Today (2019)

#1 True Western Town of the Year by TrueWest magazine (2018)

Best Weekend Getaway by KANSAS! magazine (2018)

Best Small Towns to Visit by Smithsonian magazine (2017)

Learn more at www.AbileneKansas.org/news

-----------------------------------------

"The proudest thing I can claim is that I am from Abilene." Eisenhower
June 22, 1945

-----------------------------------------
*Abilene, Texas, was named after Abilene, Kansas, in 1881.

Welcome to Abilene!
06/08/2026

Welcome to Abilene!

💕⛪
A warm and cozy welcome to our cast for Church Basement Ladies! ☕🥧
Come see them live and in action starting June 19th to June 28th!
Tickets on sale now at greatplainstheatre.com!
⛪💕

Need trip inspiration? Check out these suggestions!
06/08/2026

Need trip inspiration? Check out these suggestions!

These Pennsylvania day trips are ideal for World Cup travelers who want to experience scenic towns, history, and attractions nearby.

🚶‍♀️🇺🇸 America Likes Walking Trails!Looking for fresh air, beautiful scenery and a little adventure? The Iron Horse Trai...
06/08/2026

🚶‍♀️🇺🇸 America Likes Walking Trails!

Looking for fresh air, beautiful scenery and a little adventure? The Iron Horse Trail offers one of the best ways to experience the Kansas outdoors.

Stretching between Abilene and Enterprise, this scenic trail follows alongside the historic railroad, giving walkers, runners and cyclists a chance to enjoy wide open skies, peaceful views and the beauty of the Smoky Hill River Valley. Along the way, you may even spot the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad rolling past. 🚂

Whether you are looking for a relaxing stroll, a morning workout or a new place to explore, the Iron Horse Trail is a great reason to get outside and enjoy the journey.

Lace up your shoes and hit the trail!

Because America likes walking trails! 🚶‍♀️

🤠 America Likes Roadside Attractions!Big things happen in small towns, and in Abilene, they come with a buckle!The World...
06/07/2026

🤠 America Likes Roadside Attractions!

Big things happen in small towns, and in Abilene, they come with a buckle!

The World’s Largest Belt Buckle has become one of Kansas’ favorite photo stops and was even named Best Roadside Attraction in the U.S. by TravelAwaits. Standing tall in Eisenhower Park, this larger-than-life tribute to the Chisholm Trail and cowboy culture is a must-see for road trippers and curious travelers alike.

Not surprisingly, visitors often discover the buckle through Roadside America - Offbeat Quirky Tourist Attractions and Atlas Obscura before making the stop to see it for themselves. And once they do, the cameras come out! 📸

Pull over, snap a photo and experience one of America’s favorite roadside surprises.

Because America likes the World’s Largest Belt Buckle! 👢

🔗 www.WorldsLargestBeltBuckle.com

🎨🇺🇸 America Likes Murals!History and art come together in this colorful downtown tribute to one of Abilene’s proudest mo...
06/06/2026

🎨🇺🇸 America Likes Murals!

History and art come together in this colorful downtown tribute to one of Abilene’s proudest moments.

“Ike Wins,” created by artist William Counter and completed on November 5, 2022, marks a historic milestone exactly 70 years to the date that Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidential victory made front-page news in the Abilene Reflector.

And Abilene was certainly proud of its hometown hero. In the 1952 Presidential Election, nine out of 10 Abilene voters cast their ballot for Ike, helping celebrate the local boy who grew up to become President of the United States.

Today, the mural is a favorite photo stop in downtown Abilene and a vibrant reminder of a historic moment that brought national attention to Abilene.

Take a stroll, snap a picture and celebrate a little presidential history.

Because America likes murals! 🎨

06/05/2026
Would you have ever guessed that Abilene Parks and Recreation is responsible for more than 4,000 plants at Eisenhower Pa...
06/05/2026

Would you have ever guessed that Abilene Parks and Recreation is responsible for more than 4,000 plants at Eisenhower Park & Rose Garden and planters around town? Now that's impressive!

Visitors love viewing all of the beautiful plants and flowers!

06/05/2026

📸 America likes picture-perfect road trips!

Looking for the best small-town photo spots in Kansas? You might be surprised what you’ll find in Abilene.

From Wild West boardwalks and historic trains to presidential landmarks, murals, prairie sunsets, beautiful flowers and the World’s Largest Belt Buckle, Abilene is packed with photo-worthy moments around every corner!

Whether you’re a serious photographer, content creator, or just filling your camera roll with vacation memories, we rounded up some of the best places to snap the perfect shot.

📷 Which Abilene spot is your favorite to photograph?

Read the blog: https://abilenekansas.org/blog/2026/06/05/photography-best-small-town-photo-spots-in-kansas-start-in-abilene

Visitors can't leave town without stopping at Russell Stover! What's your favorite chocolate?
06/02/2026

Visitors can't leave town without stopping at Russell Stover! What's your favorite chocolate?

Address

201 NW 2nd Street
Abilene, KS
67410

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

(785) 263-2231

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Visit Abilene Kansas posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category