There's a whole lotta nothing between KC and Denver from what I can see. Is there anywhere decent to stop along the way?
Edit: I stopped at - 1. Junction City Sapp Bros - they have those fancy Japanese toilets and they were super clean 2. Gellas for lunch - steak sandwich was SO good and service was great. Cute lil town 3. Starbucks in Colby
Oh shit. I could never remember the name of this place and the one in aggieville closed down. Good to know there is another location.
The Cozy’s in Salina is the original, but I was def bummed when they closed their Aggieville location
Yo, they closed the one in Aggieville??? That’s heartbreaking. Been a hot minute since I was there, so I didn’t know this.
Yeah, I just went back a couple weeks ago and it's gone :(
Martinelli’s in Salina is decent.
Honestly you might have to take a shower just to get the onion off of you 😭. Worth it!! So freaking good
Don’t eat if you have high blood pressure. These are SALTY.
Can confirm. About as salty as a teenager who addresses their parents by their first names.
Born in Salina and had four of the shitmeisters under the roof at the same time. Can confirm.
Came to say this - seriously stay and eat at the counter. Ask about the flat top grill getting salvaged. Careful they will keep bringing you burgers until you say stop.
Second this
Gella’s in Hays
Came here to say this. I go to CO a couple times year and I go to Gella’s on my way out every time.
If I’m driving, I plan my westbound departure around arriving in Hays around lunchtime. Then late afternoon snack and gas stop in Colby. Dinner in Limon.
But these days I just fly.
Ditto
Gella’s is the best stop on the drive to Colorado
Thanks! Sounds like this might be my lunch stop
Grew up there. It really is the only option out there unless you take a short detour to Manhattan
I had a couple decent lunches at the Mexican place just North of the westbound I 70 off ramp in Hays.
Taco Johns? lol
That place is decent. Gutierrez always used to be the best Mexican in town but that was years ago. Nothing beats a good western KS sancho.
This would be El Dos. Best Mexican in Hays IMO.
If the Little Grill up by Tuttle Creek is still open that's 100% worth the detour. Used to go out there to ride dirtbikes. Nothing like some awesome jerk chicken and cold beer after spending the morning wrecking my poor old YZ250 haha
The natural history museum in hays is pretty great too! Cool place to enjoy an hour to break up the drive. $10 to get in and really high quality science museum.
Ah, the good ol' boob museum
I always forget about this place until I'm bonkers hungry on I-70. We decide to stop like once every five years and then I'm reminded just how damn good this place is. Good food, great beer.
Especially now that construction on the main drag to I-70 is mostly complete (pretty sure that by law it can never be fully complete).
Back in the late 90s, I made that run from Denver a couple times a year to visit my dad here in Lawrence, and over the course of about 10 years, they completely rebuilt almost every mile of I-70 through Kansas… and I was thinking “that oughta last a good 25-30 years…”.
Here we are. And now KDOT is broke.
Whomp whomp.
It’s a bit off the beaten path and because of the very limited hours doesn’t work for OP, but Fly Boys in Sylvan Grove is right up there with Gella’s in terms of being a worthy stop.
A wonderful gem.
Second this..great food and beer and not too far from the Interstate.
Not sure how much beer they will be drinking while driving on a road trip.
Not every beer is highly alcoholic..and they have a few that you can easily have 1 or 2 of and still be wide awake to finish the drive.
Came to post this. Top comment. Nice.
Also came here to say this! It's perfectly halfway and a gem of a place.
This is the answer.
Once you pass Goodland there is almost nothing until Denver.
Goodland is notorious for having a ton of police on I70.
Good to know
Limon, CO is another place to watch out for notorious police. "The Judge will have to set your trial date for this 42 in a 30mph zone, or you can pay me the $60 fine now in this envelope." I was third in a line of four cars that had come off of I-70, but the only one with an out-of-state tag. All four cars were going the same speed because we were fairly close together and slowing.
Limon city limits had a ridiculous speed trap on I70 where it dropped from 70 to 60 for no logistical reason.
~3 years ago they had to fall in line with the rest of I70 east of Denver and bump it to 70.
Scumbags
Monument rocks?
lol that not a single person has mentioned "the Oasis" at Colby.
It's not an Oasis.
it's excellent if you have dogs though, there's a little fenced in dog park there right next to the gas pumps and the food.
makes the 8 hour drive much easier with pups, because mine can easily go the 4-5 hours it takes to get to Colby for the dog park without needing a potty
There's a Sonic in Oakley that has a dog park right next to where you can park and order. You can just sit in your car and eat while your dog does it's thing lol.
I will do anything to not stop in Colby. I've spent a lot of time in western Kansas, but colby is the windiest frickin place on earth.
Took a trip from KC to DEN last year. Everyone in our group talked about stopping there. So we did... and I'm still baffled as to what it was about that place that people were glorifying.
what it was about that place that people were glorifying
Wheat Jesus, obviously
Or, Supply Side Jesus
They have City Chinese at the oasis
I remember when they tried to make the outlet mall across the road a thing. That was doomed to fail from the start. Outlet malls are such an idiotic concept.
but it does have Wheat Jesus
I stop there every time I drive through (about 4 times per year), but only because at this point I know exactly what it is and where it is😂 there and the gas station next to the Russell stovers in Salina also have dog parks, which is very helpful!
Hey there’s a Starbucks!
Braums in Salina for A+ milkshakes and slightly above average fast food
I have a coworker that would pick up 4 gallons of milk from there every time he went to emporia. He was obsessed with their groceries
Braum's is fine but everyone in Springfield where I went to college fucking loved it! I loved the one that I could get a gallon of milk at the drive through window. Lol
I will always make a stop, my husband thinks I’m ridiculous. It’s a divisive food chain apparently 😂
For me, it's Braum's, Whataburger, and then In-and-Out for regional burger chains.
The price on a double scoop waffle cone can't be beat.
It’s the thing I have missed more than I thought I would after moving up here. They have the best banana split I’ve ever had
I feel like you should mention at an unbelievably reasonable price as well!
The Cozy Inn in Salina if you like little burgers with lots of onion (like white castle). That place was so cute and the food was delicious.
And if you go, order from the window outside and sit on the picnic table to eat. Don't go inside or take them if your car or you will smell like onions FOREVER.
That's not your problem, that's everyone else's problem
The Konza prairrie outside of Manhattan (2-ish hours west of KC) is immediately off of the highway, and will give you a better taste of the Flint Hills than you get from I-70. Go North on the Hwy 177 exit, and drive most of the way into Manhattan, but turn left onto McDowell Creek Rd just before you go over the river. You drive along the river flood plain amongst farms until you get to the actual Konza (https://maps.app.goo.gl/Yc5ciTz3VrAMBeFDA). When you're done, you can continue west on McDowell Creek Rd without backtracking. There's an on ramp to the highway when you get there.
This looks beautiful! Thanks for the suggestion
If you’re going that route, might as well go over the river into Manhattan and hit So Long Saloon for raspberry black bean dip and a burger!
So Long Saloon is a fucking gem. Anything on the menu is great. Wash it down with some Nancy's. Go over to Auntie May's too, that's just a cool little bar. Oh or go out to Little Grill by Tuttle Creek for what's probably the best jamaican food in Kansas. Low bar, I know, but worth the trip.
I’ve made this drive a million times it seems like.
First stop Junction City
Second Hays
Third Goodland
Fourth Limon
Then to Denver.
The Sapp Bros. in JC has top notch bathrooms. I only live 30 min from there and will sometimes stop on roadtrips if I even have the inkling to go.
I second this. Also gotta stop at the A&W for a root beer cream freeze.
NEVER GO TO HAYS KS
The band I play in just played a rad show in Hays believe it or not. It’s really not that bad these days. Coming from someone who used to live just outside of there too, trust me I know it’s history. It’s almost quaint now?
They also have Made From Scratch in Wilson, it has good food and German dishes. They had a lunch buffet when we stopped in.
In a strange way, western kansas is a hell of a lot nicer than eastern Colorado. Go figure.
There is literally nothing worth stopping for in eastern Colorado.
(Maybe Limon has something, but by the time I get there I just want to press on and finish the drive.)
There is absolutely nothing in Limon either.
Excuse me? The gorilla statue in the playground? Is that not your favorite part of the drive?
The disrespect to Oscars is ridiculous.
Spent a lot of time in Limon, there's nothing there worth stopping for, except for gas and to take a piss.
Your food choices are fast food chains, truck stop garbage, or really mediocre Mexican.
They just opened a QT in Burlington
A bunch of winding state highways that piss you off on the way to Colorado Springs.
It's the roads. I-70 in eastern Colorado is in absolutely horrid shape. It's literally a state embarrassment for CO.
Yep. I drove to Colorado (from Kansas) last summer with my kids. As we approached the border I was said "Hey, kids we are almost in Colorado. Nice, we are in Colorado!" and instantly I-70 turned to shit. It made me laugh.
The roads are sure as shit better. The moment you cross the border into CO, at least for that first 20 miles or whatever, you might as well drive into the gravel on the shoulder to get a smoother ride. The whole thing needs to be completely repaved, but they just keep adding speed bumps to cover potholes I guess.
In Flagler, on the north east corner of the overpass and the highway, there’s a little old style burger joint. Has an old Cadillac parked in front. I-70 Diner maybe?
Just stoped there over the weekend because it had EV super chargers outside of the diner. Sadly diner wasn’t yet opened for the day when we got there. But there is a nice coffee shop next door.
Yup. I-70 Diner.
Checkered floors, great burgers and fries. Came here to say this.
The gas station there was surprisingly nice. Not like the sketch one where some dude invited high school girls to leave with him.
The Alma Creamery and rest stop makes their own cheese, has awesome fried pies, and has a sit-down Sonic. Also amazing bathrooms.
Those fried pies are so legit too.
I would say Braums in Salina but I am biased.
Biased toward deliciousness, maybe
That I am.
You won’t find joy past hays. That’s why gellas is the answer. You’ll hit Salina too early.
Edit: though I’ve recently been told to try The Elephant Bistro & Bar in Hoxie Ks. You’d have to jog north a bit off the interstate to check it out. Would definitely confirm they were open before committing to the detour.
Double edit: another detour for a break would be monument rocks in gove county. It’s like someone left a Star Trek set out in a pasture. I was so grumpy my gal insisted on taking the time. But it’s actually worth a stop.
Cozy Inn - Salina, KS
The Dish Room in Burlington, CO - high quality steaks for small town prices. Paid $32 for prime rib with sides a few weeks ago and it was delicious. If you need a place to sleep, the Chapparal Motor Inn, also in Burlington, is a great value. $50ish for a surprisingly nice room. My husband and I have dubbed Burlington the true oasis on the plains and stop every time we go through.
I can’t recommend this place enough!! I’m trying to find excuses to head back to this area, the food was sooooo good!
Don't stop. There be monsters.
I second this
Just get up and leave about 4AM tomorrow, and you'll be in Denver around noon for lunch. :)
Center Pivot Brewery in Quinter, KS! Surprisingly good food.
Defiance Brewing
Hickory Hut BBQ in Salina. Used to work in Salina over the summers and loved that place. The Slammer was my go to. Definitely worth a stop.
We always stop in Colby, KS for Taco John's then on to Denver for Cheba Hut!
CHeBA Hut. 🤤🤤🤤🤤Best subs ever.
I used to make that drive every weekend for about half a year. Except I’d turn off 70 at Limon to go down to Colorado Springs.
Honestly? Fuckin nothing especially after Hayes it’s like 4 hours of typical Kansas and atypical Colorado after that. And you don’t really see the Rockies until you’re within an hour or so of Denver.
I’d drive till I had to fill up in Hayes then drive until Limon and fill up again. There’s a Braums in Salina if you like it.
I used to make that drive every weekend for about half a year. Except I’d turn off 70 at Limon to go down to Colorado Springs.
This would make most men go to pieces after the third trip.
You have no idea
You don’t see any of the most beautiful parts of KS on this drive, I wouldn’t exactly call it “typical Kansas” but I understand we don’t have the Rockies.
My favorite part of that road trip was slowing for every damn town... 5 miles of 65, then 45, then 35, then 25, then "downtown", then 5 miles of 65, then 45...
It gets really old, really quick. Cruise control is out of the question and you can guarantee speed traps abound...
I normally prefer 2 lane roads to interstates, but not that one. That one sucks.
There is a Starbucks at a truck stop in Colby. I think it's exit 58. Some trips, it's the thing that keeps me going.
There is an interesting stop at exit 76 in Oakley in the gas station called Mittens. It has a bunch of displays of wildlife from around western Kansas. Good to get up and get some steps after sitting for the 5ish hours it takes you to drive that far.
https://www.mitteninc.com/wildlife-travel-center#wildlife-exhibit
Bunker Hill truck stop... get a Bierock.
Stop at Las Hefas in Hays. This place opened up about a year ago and the food is super home made! Tastes like you are eating at a friend’s house and their mom was cooking. Or you can try the Golden-Q. Their burgers are delicious. Ignore all the people saying to stop at the Cozy Inn in Salina. Those burgers are disgusting and not even my dogs will eat them.
If you need to stop at Salina - do get coffee and pastries at Ad Astra books and coffee or Blacksmith coffee.
Haha my wife would agree with you about Cozy inn. But that only makes both of you wrong. 🤣
Stop at Bennet Colorado after Limon for gas it's usually like 20-30 cents cheaper. There's a place called Handi's in Stratton Colorado that makes some good hamburgers. A little far for a stop starting from KC though for lunch.
Maridays in Russell. Use to have great food.
Spangles in Salina
Dish Room - Burlington, CO
Add another vote for the Cozy Inn, you need to experience it at least once. It’s a unique slice of Americana.
Taco Grande in Hays. It’s just cheap Mexican but I love it so much.
Salina, Colby, and Limon are the stops we always make on that drive. The Oasis in Colby
The Dish Room in Burlington
Just made this trip last Monday but in reverse. Cozy Inn in Salina is 10/10
The cozy inn at Salina. It’s a small “famous” restaurant that makes little hamburgers. Similar to white castles if you’ve ever had them. Fun fact: The grill they use is the original grill and it has a lot to do with the great flavor. A second location opened and closed because the flavor was just not there because they were using a newer grill.
Little Jerusalem
Hit the natural history museum in Hays. It’s a great spot to stretch your legs and see what used to live in Kansas. Last time we went through there was a fascinating exhibit of fossils/creatures from the Middle East, too.
If ya feel like detouring there’s a bar and grill in plainville called the handlebar and it’s supposed to be great too!
I can not recommend enough diverting a bit to Lucas, KS. Check out the Garden of Eden, the home and art of an… eccentric man, who also happens to be embalmed there and you can view his body. More importantly, go to The Worlds Largest Museum of the World’s Smallest Versions of the Worlds Largest Things, which is somewhat self-explanatory. (For example they have the smallest version of the world’s largest ball of twine).
And just on the other side of I-70 is Wilson, KS, which has the Midland Railroad Hotel and Restaurant, as well as the Worlds Largest Czech Egg, which ironically does not have a small version at the museum
If you get around Limon about dinner time, Oscar’s. Been stopping there, for years. It’s very good.
Oscars is the best. The only issue is we usually leave back to KC early so it’s still closed.
Guy & Mayes in Williamsburg for ribs beans and fries.
Good place, but not on I-70.
Denver
Pack a lunch.
Place called Handi’s in Stratton, CO has a great chocolate malt and a pretty good burger
Is there a braums en route?
I can usually make it to Burlington before I have to get gas, but Colby and Oakley are good places to stop also. I think they built a QT thirty minutes outside of Denver in Bennett
Interpretive Paint Mines to stretch your legs.
Depending on the area or time of day tays burger shack .it's the f'in bomb it can be pretty busy at dinner around 630 I'm not sure on lunch but its the bomb. Also the sauce they got plankton whold leave Krabs for the stuff
Family did a trip to Breckinridge last year and we stopped at a breakfast place in Hays, KS. Checking google and I'm 99% sure it was Pheasant Run. I don't recall what I ordered, but I remember enjoying it.
If you leave early, you can get to Denver in one day with minimal night driving. It isn't even going to be a grueling drive, just about 10 hours with stops. In my big beefy V-8 I can make it to at least Wakeeny, then a stop for gas at Limon and then Denver. I drive solo, though. So I control bathroom stops, food stops, etc...
That's just me, though. I love to bomb through the plains as quickly as possible because the real treat is driving west of Denver through the gorgeous Rockies.
Runza for food. No, wait. That’s I-80 in Nebraska. Doh!
I am literally heading back tomorrow from the same trip. Don't have any suggestions for the drive. But, My Brothers Bar is definitely worth a look.
Bogey’s and Cozy Inn in Salina and/or Gella’s in Hays.
There’s an old A&W in Russel, KS (about midway point) it’s been there for ages and actually tastes like A&W should because it’s never been partial Long John Silvers.
If you want to stop earlier I’d stop in Salina and definitely consider Cozy Inn’s. There’s also a fast food diner type place called Spangles that also absolutely slaps!
We always stopped in Hays, there's a brewery there called Gellas or Liquid Bread I think.
We typically do a pit stop in Junction City, KS. There's a few places just off the highway. Qdoba, Freddy's, and some BBQ, etc...
Good grounds in Goodland, KS has some decent sandwich offerings. Coffee is pretty good too.
Usually I’d recommend the I-70 Diner in Flagler, CO. But they changed ownership (and hours) and quality fell all the way off.
There once was a great old style diner in Colby, but I can’t recall the name and I don’t know if they’re still around. I’m a ton of help.
Hays ks has a really cool dinosaur museum. If you want the name of it, I’ll do some sleuthing for you.
Go to uncle in Denver. Best ramen ever.
After Salina, there isn’t much till Denver. It’s like being at the end of the world there.
I always stop by Taqueria Fresnillo in Salina, KS for their Birria Tacos. Their Birria Consomé is thicker than any other place I’ve been to and it’s to die for.
Another vote for Bogeys in Salina
Hays KS is a good break point. Best options there. Past that and pickings are slim.
There used to be a little diner just across the border on high seventy right as soon as you get into CO, right off of the highway. I think it's close now but man.They had the best burgers and the best food and the guy that owned it was like the nicest guy ever.
Edit: I found an old pic on fb, it's called burger delight, it's in Stratton CO and it may still be operating.
Salina would be a great stop for a break. For sure try either Cozys or Bogies if you like burgers. Martinelles for Italian, Carol Lee's donuts downtown for a sweet treat, and Ad Astra's coffee house for a pick me up.
The Dish in Burlington CO.
Following because we will do this trip in June.
No
It’s a little out of the way but the farm and oddfellows in Minneapolis KS is pretty cool. Brewery, coffee shop and a pickleball court I think. Cool game room in the basement. https://www.thefarmminneapolis.com/. Think it was like 20 minutes north of I70.
Tropical Mexican Restaurant in Wakeeney KS
Good suggestions!
I always stop in hays and get jimmy johns, then limon. Gets me to denver just fine.
Gas stations. I’ve made this trip probably 50 times - during the day and at night. Grew up in KC, skied a ton in CO growing up, moved to Denver for 5 years, now back in KC. The drive is not tons of fun, but it’s easy and mindless. 10 mph over will cut off a decent amount of time, allegedly. Typically I stop at Love’s and QT.
Anywhere along the 70? Where else?
Hays Kansas golden q!!!
There’s no food but, it’s a little detour, stop by Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park and Monument Rocks!
Hays museum and it’s a good halfway point. Super cheap if not free some days!
Google maps/Apple Maps
The scariest old abandoned farmhouse you can find
See the carousel in Burlington
Wait... You do more than stop for gas and restroom breaks? If I get hungry I'll grab a snack when I stop for one of those but usually I'm straight through.
Cozy Inn or Bogey's in Salina, KS. are both worth a stop. Taco Grande on Hays, KS for fast food Mexican.
Stop at Gellas in Hays
I’m here to second cozy inn in salina. It’s always my go to stop for that drive.
Cozy Inn, Salina KS. Old school onion burgers. Surprisingly good. If it’s nice out, enjoy the patio. Unless you plan on driving for 10 hours with your windows down, DO NOT eat them in your car! 😀