Visit the Land Institute
Request a Tour
We offer weekly tours led by a member of our research team every Friday starting at 10:30 a.m. We look forward to meeting you and sharing the story of our work.
Driving Directions
From Kansas City International Airport to Salina (via Interstate 70)
180 miles, about 3.25 hours driving time.
From KCI, north on Highway 29 to Exit 17 (2 miles).
South on Highway 435, to Exit 12 (19 miles).
West on Interstate 70 Kansas Turnpike for 47 miles to Exit 182 from turnpike at Topeka.
Continue west on Interstate 70 (111 miles) to Exit 250.
From Interstate 70 to The Land Institute
Exit 250 off of Interstate 70 to Interstate 135 South in Salina.
Exit 88 off of Interstate 135, Water Well Road (south of Salina).
East/left to 2440 E Water Well Rd, The Land Institute (2.5 miles).
From Wichita Airport to Salina (via Interstate135)
90 miles, about 1.75 hours driving time.
From airport, right on Kellogg St (about 1 mile), exit to Interstate 235.
North on Interstate 235 to intersection with Interstate 135 (9 miles).
North on Interstate 135 toward Salina (75 miles) to Exit 88.
From Interstate 135 to The Land Institute
Exit 88 off of Interstate 135 on Water Well Rd (south of Salina) to exit stop sign.
East/right to 2440 E Water Well Rd, The Land Institute (2 1/2 miles).
From Salina Municipal Airport, on Arnold Avenue, Salina, Kansas
5 miles from the terminal parking lot go east on Bailey (1 mile).
South/right on Centennial (1-1/2 mile).
East/left to 2440 E Water Well Rd, The Land Institute (3-1/2 miles)
Salina Lodging and Transportation Information
The motels we have listed are less than 5 miles from The Land Institute. However, there are over 30 motels, bed & breakfasts, and camping facilities in the Salina area.
You may phone us for additional lodging or campground information, or contact the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce: PO Box 586, Salina, KS 67402-0586, (785) 827-9301, www.salinakansas.org.
For accommodations in the surrounding area, contact the Lindsborg Chamber of Commerce (about 18 miles from The Land Institute) at (785) 227-3706, www.lindsborgcity.org; or the City of Abilene (about 30 miles away) at (785) 263-2550, www.abilenecityhall.com.
General Information
Salina
The city population is about 45,000. It serves north central Kansas as a center for shopping, health care, and services. The Land Institute is about 8 miles from the original downtown, 5 miles from the regional shopping mall, 4 miles from the city limits, and about 5 miles from the Salina Airport.
The Land Institute
The Land Institute is in a rural area on a gravel road, with some suburban homes nearby mixed with farmlands, yet close to town. The Institute is in the Smoky Hill Uplands, gently rolling land a little elevated over the flat Smoky Hill Valley and Salina.
The Land Institute comprises about 650 acres of land including 92 acres of farmland on both banks of the Smoky Hill River, about 90 acres of upland farmland, land devoted to plant nursery plots, and more than 200 acres of hilly native and restored prairie, all within 2 miles of the office.
Prairie Festival Camping
Prairie Festival camping facilities at The Land Institute are primitive. You are welcome to camp on our grounds on Friday or Saturday nights during Prairie Festival. For the safety of campers and a good night’s sleep for all, please try to arrive before dark.
Camping at The Land Institute is on a first-come, first-served basis. Most campers will sleep in tents in the bison pasture north of Water Well Road (the bison will be moved for the weekend!) or in sleeping bags under the open Kansas sky. A few brave souls may sleep in their cars (oh, my aching back) or pickup truck under a tarp or camper shell.
For our friends who will be traveling cross-country in motor homes, travel trailers, or fifth wheels, we have listed below the two campground-RV parks in Salina. There are no electrical or water hookups at The Land Institute, and very few level places to park.
We also offer one solar shower near the camping and parking area. It is also quite primitive! Musical instruments are welcome, but please leave your pets at home.
Transportation
Flights
The Salina Regional Airport (SLN) has direct daily flights to and from Denver International and Chicago O’Hare airports through United. The two nearest major airports are located in Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) in Wichita, Kansas, about 90 minutes south of Salina on interstate I-135, and Kansas City International Airport (MCI), about 3 hours east of Salina on I-70. Manhattan Regional Airport (MHK), about 70 miles east of Salina on I-70, has several flights to major hubs, such as Chicago and Dallas. The prices are often comparable or beat those of Wichita.
Bus Service
Greyhound Bus Service
McDonald’s, 125 E Diamond Dr, Salina, KS 67401, (785) 376-1777. Online ticket information: www.greyhound.com. Hours of operation subject to change; please call to verify hours before making travel arrangements.
Airport Shuttle Service
In a Rush Shuttle Service LLC
104 W Avenue C, McPherson, KS, (620) 245-7116.
Public Transportation
Salina offers a fixed route public transportation system called CityGo. The fleet of six handicapped accessible buses serves more than 65 percent of the city, with more than 115 bus stops throughout town. The 3 routes serve different sections of the city; 4 transfer points allow you to change easily from one to another.
Hours of service are 6am – 9pm Monday – Friday, from 9am – 5pm on Saturday, and no service on Sunday. During weekday peak hours (6 – 9am and 3 – 6pm), the service runs at 30-minute intervals; non-peak times and all day Saturday it runs hourly. Fees are $1 per trip, or a $2 one-day pass. For a detailed map of service areas, stops and a schedule please visit www.salinacitygo.com.
Rental Cars
Hertz Rent-A-Car
(785) 827-7237 or (800) 654-3131. Hours: 7:30am – 6:00pm weekdays, 8:00am – 2:00pm weekends.
Enterprise Car Rental
(785) 825-1100 or (800) 261-7331. Hours: 7:30am – 6:00pm weekdays, 8:30am – 12:00pm noon on Saturday. Closed Sunday.
Taxis
Yellow Cab and All-Radio Cab Co. (same company)
(785) 827-4646 or (785) 825-4646, 7am – 10 pm
Sunflower
(785) 826-1881, 24 hours
A-One Taxi Service
(785) 827-7433, 24 hours
For further listings: www.salinakansas.org.
Lodging
Hotels – Motels
A more complete listing of Salina’s available accommodations can be found here. The following motels have accessible rooms and are within 3 miles of The Land Institute. They are also within 2 miles of grocery stores, restaurants, and malls. The lodgings marked with a * offer special rates during Prairie Festival.
Best Western Plus Midwest Inn & Suites
745 W Schilling Rd, Salina, KS 67401
(785) 493-9800
Candlewood Suites
2650 Planet Ave, Salina, KS 67401
(785) 823-6939 or (888) 226-3539
Comfort Suites (more economical to book online, or if a Choice member)
715 W Schilling Rd, Salina, KS 67401
(785) 404-6944
Country Inn & Suites
2760 S Ninth, Salina, KS 67401
(785) 827-1271
Courtyard By Marriott
3020 Riffel Dr, Salina, KS 67401
(785) 309-1300
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott * (mention Prairie Festival – special rate on standard king)
2455 Virginia Dr, Salina, KS 67401
(785) 515-5333
Hampton Inn
410 W Schilling, Salina, KS 67401
(785) 823-9800
Hilton Garden Inn Hotel Salina
3320 S Ninth, Salina, KS 67401
(785) 309-0440
Holiday Inn Salina * (mention Prairie Festival – special rate on standard king)
3145 S Ninth, Salina, KS 67401
(785) 404-6767
La Quinta Salina * (mention Prairie Festival – 20% off best available rate)
201 East Diamond Drive, Salina, KS 67401
(785) 827-9000
Rodeway Inn & Suites
3932 S Ninth, Salina, KS 67401
(785) 404-6777
Super 8
705 W Schilling Rd, Salina, KS 67401
(785) 376-4101
Bed & Breakfasts
There are several B&B’s in the area – none are within a 3-mile radius of The Land Institute. For a more complete listing, please visit the Kansas Bed and Breakfast Association.
C & W Ranch, LTD
4000 S Halstead Rd, Smolan, KS 67456
(785) 668-2352 (5.70 miles)
Seasons of the Fox Bed & Breakfast
505 N Second St, Lindsborg, KS 67456
(800) 756-3696 (17.25 miles)
Studio Apartment/Vacation Home
Tradhuset and Vetehuset
Luxurious studio apartments in downtown Lindsborg, KS. Fully equipped kitchen, bathroom w/ large shower, washer & dryer. Sleeps 4. Reservations: (855) 872-3487.
Campgrounds & RV Parks
KOA of Salina
1109 W Diamond Dr, Salina, KS 67401. (785) 827-3182 or (800) 562-3126. Open year-round. Office hours: 8am – 8pm.
Kanopolis State Park
Located northwest of Marquette, Kansas, at 200 Horse Thief Rd, 33 miles southwest of Salina. Daily vehicle permits and camping permits required, with senior and handicapped discounts available (details on website linked above). From Salina, take Highway K140 west and K141 south or US81 (9th St) to Lindsborg, K104 west to K141, then north 5 miles. Office hours: 8:00am – 4:30pm. (785) 546-2565.