Swope Park
Park
1,776 acres28.1 mi of trail
Wudchuk RunRancho D-LuxWudchuk Run Phase 7Lakeside Nature Center - Fox Hollow Nature Trail (red trail)+1
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the trailhead
Photo: Stephen Edmonds · CC BY-SA 3.0A−Outdoors
Outdoors in Kansas City
Kansas City has 198 miles of mapped trails, 0.6 for every square mile of land
The biggest trail networks: Swope Park (28.1 mi), Mark L. McHenry Park (17.6 mi), Hodge Park (7.9 mi). 89% of residents live within a half mile of a park. 12,562 acres are parks and preserves, 25 per 1,000 residents.
Ahead of 81% of U.S. towns · #20 of 247 in Missouri. What drives it
Conserved land
7%
13,924 acres · of 314.5 sq mi of land
Trails
198 mi
0.6 per sq mi of land
Park land
12,562 ac
25 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
89%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
294 mi
66 mi lanes · 223 mi paths
Lakes & rivers
60
1 beach · 15 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Kansas City?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Kansas City have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Kansas City is ahead of 81% of U.S. towns, #20 of 247 in Missouri. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; the share of residents near a park ranks highest, conserved land lowest.
A−
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Kansas City’s overall grade.
Conserved land7% of the land · typical MO town 2% · U.S. 4%B+Trails0.6 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (198 mi) · MO 0.3 · U.S. 0.4B+Park land25 acres of park per 1,000 residents (12,562 acres) · MO 11 · U.S. 13B+Parks close to home89% of residents within a half mile of a park · MO 74% · U.S. 72%B+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 81%
LessMore
Missouri towns of 2,500+ (247)Ahead of 92%
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Kansas City ranks #186 on Outdoors.
Few Missouri towns conserve much land (a typical one, 2%; the U.S., 4%), so Kansas City’s 7% is ahead of 91% of Missouri towns, while its trails per square mile lead 75% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would still be A−. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Swope Park, with 28.1 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Mark L. McHenry Park
Park
852 acres17.6 mi of trail
Brush Creek LoopMatt Quary TrailLegends LoopRidge Ride Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
Hodge Park
Managed by Kansas City Parks and Recreation
628 acres7.9 mi of trail
Twisted BranchFarmtasticHey Ride!Buffalo Trace+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
Minor Park
Park
298 acres5.2 mi of trail
River TrailConnectorHighwaterRiver Trail Alternate
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the trailhead
Longview Lake Park
Park
2,780 acres4.4 mi of trail
Shin-Ga-Wa-Sa Nature Trail
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the parking lot
Jerry Smith Park
Managed by Kansas City Parks and Recreation
281 acres3.4 mi of trail
Jerry Smith Park Trail
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
Trail of Heroes Memorial Park
Park
92 acres2.7 mi of trail
Shoal Creek Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 196 parks & preserves
Swope Park1,776 acres · 28.1 mi of trail
DirectionsMark L. McHenry Park852 acres · 17.6 mi of trail
DirectionsHodge Park628 acres · 7.9 mi of trail · Kansas City Parks and Recreation
DirectionsMinor Park298 acres · 5.2 mi of trail
DirectionsLongview Lake Park2,780 acres · 4.4 mi of trail
DirectionsJerry Smith Park281 acres · 3.4 mi of trail · Kansas City Parks and Recreation
DirectionsTrail of Heroes Memorial Park92 acres · 2.7 mi of trail
DirectionsKauffman Legacy Park40 acres · 1.9 mi of trail
DirectionsCave Spring Park38 acres · 1.8 mi of trail
DirectionsHeartland Overlook Preserve40 acres · 1.7 mi of trail · Heartland Conservation Alliance
DirectionsGillham Park50 acres · 1.6 mi of trail · Kansas City Parks and Recreation
DirectionsLiberty Memorial48 acres · 1.5 mi of trail
DirectionsBrush Creek Parkway137 acres · 1.4 mi of trail
DirectionsJacob L. Loose Memorial Park69 acres · 1.4 mi of trail
DirectionsRoanoke Park38 acres · 1.4 mi of trail
DirectionsClark-Ketterman Athletic Field Park32 acres · 1.1 mi of trail · Kansas City Parks and Recreation
DirectionsHidden Valley Park Natural Area137 acres · 1 mi of trail · Kansas City Parks and Recreation
DirectionsThe Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park29 acres · 1 mi of trail
DirectionsThe Parade23 acres · 1 mi of trail
DirectionsMill Creek Park15 acres · 0.9 mi of trail
DirectionsSwope Soccer Village59 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsSunnyside Park25 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsLinda Hall Library Arboretum15 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsAmity Woods Nature Park55 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
DirectionsSpring Valley Park29 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
9th & Van Brunt Athletic Field13 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
DirectionsBlue Valley Park246 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsLongview Lake County Park36 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsSanta Fe Trace Park95 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
Lakewood Greenway36 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsBudd Park32 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
Sycamore Park11 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Kansas City Parks and Recreation
DirectionsIlus Davis Park6 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Kansas City Parks and Recreation
DirectionsKessler Park344 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Kansas City Parks and Recreation
DirectionsPenn Valley Park113 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsHyde Park31 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsBlue Valley Recreation Center Park25 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsNoble Park15 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
Winner Park15 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
Frank Theis Mall13 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsCarl Migliazzo City Park11 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department
Crews Square10 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
Observation Park10 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsProspect Plaza Park8 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsMontgall Playground6 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
Columbus Square Park4 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsLittle Blue Trace Nature Preserve483 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Jackson County Parks + Rec
DirectionsLittle Blue Valley Park92 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Board of Parks Commissioners of KC MO, 4600 East 63rd Trafficway, Kansas City, MO 64130
DirectionsWinnwood Park19 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsMaple Park19 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsJames A. Reed Park10 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Blue Hills Park10 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Hospital Hill Park10 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsAshland Square10 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Holmes Park8 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Ermine Case Junior Park8 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsLykins Square6 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsMcCoy Park4 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Independence Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department
Michael Gunn Park at Platte Meadows99 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsKenneth Road Soccer Complex69 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsWaterworks Park42 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · KC Parks and Rec
DirectionsMartin Luther King Jr. Park27 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsSaeger Woods Conservation Area23 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Missouri Department of Conservation
San Rafael Park21 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsBerkley Riverfront Park11 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Port KC
DirectionsGambril Tract Park11 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Sheffield Park8 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Iser Park8 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Independence Plaza Park6 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Scott Park4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsDivine Mercy Park4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Divine Mercy Park INC
Kemp Park4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Harmony Park4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
18 Broadway Park2 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsKansas City University Community Park2 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Kansas City University
DirectionsPlatte Purchase Park139 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsAnne Garney Park103 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsTown Fork Creek Greenway65 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Anita B. Gorman Park42 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsWilbur H. Dunn Park19 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Tower Park19 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Daniel Morgan Boone Park15 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Riverfront West13 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Port KC
DirectionsPark Forest Park13 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Westwood Park11 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Troost Park10 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsThe Grove Park10 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Blues Park8 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Terrace Lake Gardens Community Park6 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Garrison Square4 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsCancer Survivors Park4 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsRomey Hills Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsDunbar Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Longfellow Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsFrank Vaydik Park116 acres
DirectionsBig Blue Battlefield Park107 acres
Big Shoal Greenway103 acres · Kansas City Parks & Recreation
DirectionsBlue River Athletic Fields90 acres
DirectionsTiffany Hills Park80 acres
DirectionsWaterwell Athletic Complex69 acres
DirectionsEnglewood Park57 acres
DirectionsLittle Blue Trace County Park52 acres
DirectionsAlex George Park50 acres
DirectionsHidden Valley Park North Area50 acres · Kansas City Parks and Recreation
DirectionsBriarcliff Greenway44 acres
DirectionsSearcy Creek Greenway44 acres
DirectionsBridge Point Park36 acres
DirectionsCleveland Park36 acres
DirectionsChouteau Park32 acres
DirectionsWest Rock Creek Park31 acres
DirectionsVineyard Park29 acres
Kernoodles Park29 acres
Timber Valley Park25 acres
South Oak Park25 acres
DirectionsSunset Park23 acres
Northeast Athletic Fields21 acres
DirectionsChaumiere Woods21 acres
DirectionsDavidson Park21 acres
DirectionsWillow Brooke Park19 acres
Barry-Platte Park19 acres · Platte County
DirectionsLongview Tract Park17 acres
Seven Oaks Park17 acres
DirectionsYvonne Starks Wilson Park17 acres
DirectionsWoodneath Farms Park17 acres · Woodneath Farms Homeowners Association
Bannister Park17 acres
Troost Lake Park15 acres
Rock Creek Park15 acres
DirectionsCooley Park15 acres
DirectionsFairview Park15 acres
North Hills Park15 acres
Highland View Park15 acres
Ivanhoe Park15 acres
Brookhill Park15 acres
DirectionsGolden Oaks Park13 acres
Mulkey Square Park13 acres
DirectionsNorth Platte Brooke Park11 acres
Klapmeyer Park11 acres
DirectionsThomas J. Kiely Park11 acres
DirectionsFairfield Park10 acres
North Congress Greenway10 acres
DirectionsNorth Saint Clair Park10 acres
Line Creek Meadows Park10 acres
Brown Recreation Area10 acres · Jackson County Parks and Recreation
DirectionsPalmer Park10 acres · Kansas City Parks Department
DirectionsCentral Park8 acres
Crestview Park8 acres
Sherrydale Park8 acres
Van Brunt Park8 acres
Woodsmoke Park8 acres
DirectionsBrookside Park8 acres
Chouteau Greenway Park8 acres
DirectionsArleta Park8 acres
DirectionsJarboe Park8 acres
Blenheim Park6 acres
Barry Road Park6 acres
DirectionsBelvidere Park6 acres
DirectionsCorrington Park6 acres
North Congress Playground Park6 acres
DirectionsFox Hill Park6 acres
Ruskin Way Park6 acres
Morgan Tract Park6 acres
Essex Park6 acres
DirectionsCypress Park6 acres
Green Hills Park6 acres
Southmoreland Park6 acres
DirectionsWashington Square Park6 acres
DirectionsGage Park6 acres
DirectionsSanford Brown Plaza6 acres
Countryside Park6 acres
DirectionsStrathbury Park4 acres
Oak Park4 acres
Northwood Park4 acres
Russell Majors Waddell Park4 acres
DirectionsAmber Meadows Park4 acres · Amber Meadows HOA
DirectionsKarapat Park4 acres
DirectionsThe Concourse4 acres
Somberbrook HOA4 acres
Terrace Park4 acres
Eastwood Park4 acres · Kansas City Parks and Recreation
Indian Mound4 acres
Chelsea Park4 acres
Ingles Park4 acres
Indiana Park4 acres
DirectionsSheila Kemper Dietrich Park4 acres
Arno Park4 acres
Happy Rock Park2 acres
DirectionsFreeway Park2 acres · Kansas City Parks and Recreation
Penguin Park2 acres
DirectionsWarford Park2 acres
Paseo Green Park2 acres
DirectionsNorthview Trail2 acres
Sycamore Knoll Park2 acres
DirectionsArbor Villa Park2 acres
Highland Acres Lakeside Heights Park2 acres
DirectionsManheim Green Park2 acres · Kansas City Parks and Recreation
Leon M. Jordan Memorial Park2 acres
Who protects it
13,924 conserved acres
7% of Kansas City’s land. Who manages Kansas City’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city9,891 ac
Army Corps of Engineers2,664 ac
County1,012 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits302 ac
Private owners40 ac
Not recorded208 ac
Local Park · 9,818 acRecreation Management Area · 2,664 acLocal Recreation Area · 1,316 acPrivate Conservation · 273 acLocal Other or Unknown · 27 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longview Recreation Area Recreation Management Area | Army Corps of Engineers | 2,664 | Open |
| Swope Park Local Park | Town or city | 1,778 | Open |
| Tiffany Springs Park Local Park | Town or city | 829 | Open |
| Hodge Park Local Park | Town or city | 477 | Open |
| Sports Complex Park Local Park | County | 409 | Open |
| Kessler Park Local Park | Town or city | 315 | Open |
| Teetering Rocks Executive Links Golf Course Local Recreation Area | Town or city | 306 | Open |
| Jerry Smith Park Local Park | Town or city | 290 | Open |
| Little Blue River Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 273 | Closed |
| Tiffany Greens Golf Club Local Recreation Area | Town or city | 264 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
640 places to go in Kansas City
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Kansas City
1 beach without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Public pools in Kansas City
Amber Lakes Pool
DirectionsCarriage Hill Estates Swimming Pool
DirectionsCastaway Cove (Adult Pool)
DirectionsCoconut Cove
DirectionsDavidson Farms Swimming Pool
DirectionsGrove Park PoolIn The Grove Park
DirectionsHot Tub
DirectionsMontclair Swimming Pool
Directions5 more public pools
North Creek Village Pool
DirectionsSurf City Wave Pool
DirectionsSwope PoolIn Swope Park
DirectionsThe Coves North Swimming Pool
DirectionsThe Coves Swimming Pool
DirectionsPlus 2 public pools without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Playgrounds in Kansas City
15 and the Mahomies PlaygroundIn Martin Luther King Jr. Park
DirectionsDavidson Elementary Playground
DirectionsGillham SpraygroundIn Gillham Park
DirectionsHodge Park PlaygroundIn Hodge Park
DirectionsKarapat Park Playground
DirectionsKarnes playgroundIn Roanoke Park
DirectionsManheim Green Park PlaygroundIn Manheim Green Park
DirectionsNorth Congress Playground
Directions8 more playgrounds
North Hampton Park Playground
DirectionsNorthview Trail Playground
DirectionsPenguin ParkIn Penguin Park
DirectionsPlay Tree House
DirectionsSan Rafael PlaygroundIn San Rafael Park
DirectionsSensory Room
DirectionsSprayground
DirectionsVariety KC Playground
Directions519 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Kansas City
Penn Valley Off Leash Dog ParkIn Penn Valley Park
DirectionsRiver Market Dog Park
DirectionsSoHo Lofts Dog Park Area
DirectionsSoHo Loft Dog Park
DirectionsThe Barking Lot
DirectionsWest Terrace Park Dog ParkIn Ermine Case Junior Park
DirectionsPlus 14 dog parks without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Kansas City
KC Riverfront Park
DirectionsPlus 14 boat launches without a name on the map.
Waterfalls in Kansas City
Line Creek Double FallsIn Frank Vaydik Park
DirectionsPlus 8 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Kansas City
African Plains ViewpointIn Swope Park
DirectionsAfrican Plains ViewpointIn Swope Park
DirectionsAfrican Plains ViewpointIn Swope Park
DirectionsChimpanzee ViewpointIn Swope Park
DirectionsElephant OverlookIn Swope Park
DirectionsGorilla OverlookIn Swope Park
DirectionsPrairie Observation DeckIn Jerry Smith Park
DirectionsScarrit PointIn Kessler Park
DirectionsPlus 16 scenic views without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Kansas City
Organized Youth CampgroundIn Longview Lake Park
DirectionsParking and Camping area
DirectionsWorlds of Fun VillageCedar Fair Entertainment Company
DirectionsPlus 2 campgrounds without a name on the map.
Disc golf in Kansas City
Blue Valley Park Championship CourseIn Blue Valley Park
DirectionsBlue Valley Park Junior CourseIn Blue Valley Park
DirectionsHidden Valley Disc Golf CourseHours: Mon–Sun 5 am – 12 am · In Hidden Valley Park North Area · Kansas City Parks and Recreation
DirectionsOak Park High School 9 HoleHours: sunrise-sunset · North Kansas City Schools
DirectionsCommunity gardens in Kansas City
Children's Mercy Community GardenChildren’s Mercy Kansas City
DirectionsKansas City University Community GardenIn Kansas City University Community Park · Kansas City University
DirectionsManheim Gardens
DirectionsPendleton Heights Community Garden
DirectionsSoHo Loft Rooftop Garden
DirectionsValentine Community Garden
DirectionsPlus 14 community gardens without a name on the map.
Trails & water
25 named trails and 60 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 85.2 miHorses · 24.5 miUnpaved · 103.6 mi
Wudchuk Run7.3 mi
River Trail5.4 mi
Brush Creek Loop4.4 mi
Jerry Smith Park Trail3.8 mi
Connector3.5 mi
Rancho D-Lux3.2 mi
Underworld3.2 mi
Matt Quary Trail3.1 mi
Legends Loop2.4 mi
Shin-Ga-Wa-Sa Nature Trail2.1 mi
15 more trails
HOP Loop
2.1 miTwisted Branch
2.1 miA2B
2.1 miRidge Ride Trail
1.9 miBo Ho Ca
1.7 miHi-Fi
1.7 miWagon
1.7 miThe Glades
1.7 miStonewall
1.6 miLakeside Nature Center - Fox Hollow Nature Trail (red trail)
1.5 miAnalog
1.5 miBasement
1.5 miFarmtastic
1.4 miUpper Wudchuk Phase 8
1.4 miHighline
1.2 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Alex George LakelakeBales LakeBerlin ReservoirreservoirBreen LakeBriarcliff LakelakeBuccaneer BayDillingham PondpondElephant Watering HolepondFountain in Mill Creek ParkFrancis Bell LakereservoirGlen LakepondGray LakelakeGreen LakeKauffman Legacy LakepondKernodle Park Lake - LowerreservoirKernodle Park Lake - UpperreservoirKernoodle LakereservoirKernoodle LakesreservoirLake of the EnshrinersreservoirLake of the WoodsreservoirLittle Blue River LakesreservoirLongview LakereservoirLoose Park PondMeyer Circle Sea Horse FountainpondMirror PoolNumber 91 LakelakeOakwood LakelakePenn Valley LakepondRed Fox Farm LakereservoirRiss LakereservoirSampson LakelakeSea Lion PoolShady LakereservoirSpirit of the Northland FountainpondSpring Lake LowerreservoirSpring Valley LakeStevens LakeSunken FountainTerrace LakereservoirThe LagoonoxbowThe Lakes Apartment Community LakelakeTroost LakeUnity LakereservoirWhite Rock LakereservoirWilburn CreekpondWilliam T. and Charlotte Kemper Memorial FountainZajic LakereservoirBlue RiverBrush CreekBuckeye CreekEast CreekEast Fork Shoal CreekFishing RiverIndian CreekLine CreekLittle Blue RiverLittle Cedar CreekMill CreekPrairie CreekShoal Creek
Biking & sports
294 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
66 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
223 mi
off-road bike paths
4.8 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Wudchuk RunBike route
7 miRiver TrailBike route
4.5 miRancho D-LuxBike route
3.2 miUnderworldBike route
2.6 miUpper WudchuckBike route
2.4 miA2BBike route
2.1 miTwisted Branch LoopBike route
2.1 miCourts & fields
241Tennis
192Baseball
148Basketball
144Soccer
50Pickleball
46Football
27Beach volleyball
10Equestrian
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →333 places on the National Register, 2 of them National Historic Landmarks
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 81 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Wornall HouseBuilding · listed 1969
About itAlexander Majors HouseBuilding · listed 1970
About itNew York Life BuildingBuilding · listed 1970
About itBoley BuildingBuilding · listed 1971
About itScarritt Building and ArcadeBuilding · listed 1971
About itUnion StationBuilding · listed 1972
About itCoates House HotelBuilding · listed 1972
About itLouis Curtiss Studio BuildingBuilding · listed 1972
About itKelly's Westport InnBuilding · listed 1972
About itCol. John Harris HouseBuilding · listed 1972
About it321 more on the History page.
When to get out
April is the best month for walking in Kansas City
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.7 | 10.7 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 14.3 | 14.9 | 14.7 | 13.7 | 12.4 | 11.1 | 10.0 | 9.4 |
| High (°F) | 39 | 45 | 56 | 66 | 76 | 85 | 89 | 88 | 80 | 68 | 54 | 43 |
| Rain (in) | 1.1 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 4.0 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 1.6 |
January is the driest month (1.1 in) and July the warmest (highs of 89 °F). 5.4 inches fall in May, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 89 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Kansas City →
Next door
Kansas City and its neighbors
Kansas City has the most mapped trails of the 8 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Kansas City198 miIndependence46 miLee's Summit38 miLiberty13 miBelton3.6 miUnity Village2.4 miRaytown0.8 miClaycomo0.0 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | 7% | 0.6 | 25 | 89% | A− |
| Independence | 5% | 0.6 | 19 | 74% | B+ |
| Liberty | 3% | 0.4 | 19 | 95% | B+ |
| Claycomo | 1% | under 0.1 | 7 | 99%+ | C |
| Raytown | 1% | 0.1 | 3 | 53% | C− |
| Unity Village | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Belton | 3% | 0.2 | 14 | 72% | B− |
| Lee's Summit | 11% | 0.6 | 31 | 79% | A− |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Kansas City
Where can I hike in Kansas City?
The longest trail networks: Swope Park, 28.1 miles; Mark L. McHenry Park, 17.6 miles; Hodge Park, 7.9 miles; Minor Park, 5.2 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Kansas City is conserved land?
7% of its land, against a typical 2% for a Missouri town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Kansas City’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at Swope Park (on leash), Minor Park (on leash), Longview Lake Park (on leash) and Jerry Smith Park (on leash). For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Kansas City?
294 miles of bike routes are on the map: 66 of painted or protected lanes, 223 of off-road paths and 4.8 of shoulders and shared lanes. Named routes: Wudchuk Run, River Trail and Rancho D-Lux.
Is there public land near Kansas City?
52,293 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Kansas City or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 14,526 of them inside the city line.
How much outdoors does Kansas City have?
Ahead of 81% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #20 of 247 in Missouri. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Kansas City neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →