Overview
Hays is a town of 21,000 people (2021) in the Western region of Kansas. The largest city in northwestern Kansas, and the economic and cultural center of the region. It is also a college town, home to Fort Hays State University.
4 sights · 4 things to do · 2 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Hays
Sternberg Museum of Natural History
Contains exhibits on dinosaurs, Cretaceous sea creatures, fossils, and fossil preparation.
Fort Hays State Historic Site
Lewis Field Stadium
Buffalo Herd
The city parks department keeps a small buffalo herd across from the historic Fort Hays. Admission is free to the public, but the animals can be aggressive if provoked, so be careful.
Ellis County Historical Society
Wild West Festival
To celebrate Independence Day and to mark its early history as an Old West frontier town, the city hosts the annual Wild West Festival during the first week of July. The festival includes country and rock music concerts,…
Plan your trip
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- HYS Hays Regional Airport, Hays — 4 mi away. Directions
- DDC Dodge City Regional Airport, Dodge City — 85 mi away. Directions
- OMA Eppley Airfield, Omaha — 247 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Fort Hays State Historic Site, Lewis Field Stadium, Hays Aquatic Park
- Lunch Lomatos Pizza
- Afternoon Ellis County Historical Society, Hays Arts Center
- Dinner Augustine’s Bakery
- Evening Gella's Diner + LB Brewing Co
Day 2
- Morning Sternberg Museum of Natural History
- Afternoon Buffalo Herd
- Evening Defiance Brewing Company
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By plane
See
See Buffalo Herd
The city parks department keeps a small buffalo herd across from the historic Fort Hays. Admission is free to the public, but the animals can be aggressive if provoked, so be careful.
See Ellis County Historical Society
Do
Do Wild West Festival
To celebrate Independence Day and to mark its early history as an Old West frontier town, the city hosts the annual Wild West Festival during the first week of July. The festival includes country and rock music concerts, a carnival, a parade, a fishing tournament, baseball games, and a fireworks display. For a full schedule, visit the website.
Do Lewis Field Stadium
- Hays is a regional center of German American culture due to the number of German immigrants who settled the area in the 1870s and 1880s. As of 2010, 56.5% of the city population claimed German ancestry. The city hosts several events throughout the year that celebrate this heritage including two Oktoberfests. The Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest takes place the third week of September. Fort Hays State University and the Volga German Society hold an Oktoberfest celebration on the first or second Friday in October. In addition, Polka Fest occurs in March, and the Ellis County Historical Museum hosts German Heritage Day' in April.
- On the first weekend in December, the Kansas Historical Society holds Christmas Past at Historic Fort Hays, showcasing history programs and tours of the fort with it decorated for Christmas as it was in the late 1800s.
Buy
Eat
Drink
Drink Defiance Brewing Company
Has a taproom.
Drink Gella's Diner + LB Brewing Co
Microbrewery.
Sleep
Nearby
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.