20 days in United States Itinerary

Topeka is the capital city of the U.S. Start off your visit on the 28th (Mon): engage your brain at Flint Hills Discovery Center, contemplate the long history of Beecher Bible and Rifle Church, and then examine the collection at OZ Museum. Here are some ideas for day two: take an in-depth tour of Museum of History, explore the engaging exhibits at Kansas Children's Discovery Center, then explore the world behind art at Mulvane Art Museum, then ponder the world of politics at Kansas State Capitol Building, and finally pause for some serene contemplation at First Presbyterian Church.

To find maps, reviews, other places to visit, and more tourist information, you can read our Topeka vacation planner.

Kansas City to Topeka is an approximately 1.5-hour car ride. August in Topeka sees daily highs of 90°F and lows of 68°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 30th (Wed) to allow time to travel to Wichita.

Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Cosmosphere and Museum of World Treasures. Kids will appreciate attractions like Tanganyika Wildlife Park and Exploration Place. Get out of town with these interesting Wichita side-trips: Chase County Courthouse (in Cottonwood Falls) and Strataca (in Hutchinson). And it doesn't end there: contemplate the long history of Old Cowtown Museum, don't miss a visit to The Keeper of the Plains, and see the interesting displays at Frank Lloyd Wright's Allen-Lambe House.

For other places to visit, where to stay, reviews, and tourist information, use the Wichita trip planner.

Getting from Topeka to Wichita by car takes about 2.5 hours. In August, daytime highs in Wichita are 92°F, while nighttime lows are 70°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 1st (Fri) to allow time to travel to Denver.

Aptly nicknamed the "Mile-High City," Denver sits at an altitude of 1,600 m (5,280 ft) above sea level, located right where the Great Plains give way to the Rocky Mountains.

Escape the urban bustle at Flatirons and Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center. Explore hidden gems such as The Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave and Roxborough State Park. Venture out of the city with trips to Idaho Springs (Argo Gold Mill and Tunnel & St Mary's Glacier). There's lots more to do: take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Lookout Mountain, admire the masterpieces at Denver Art Museum, examine the collection at Colorado Railroad Museum, and contemplate the long history of Molly Brown House Museum.

To see other places to visit, maps, traveler tips, and other tourist information, go to the Denver vacation trip planner.

Fly from Wichita to Denver in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. The time zone difference when traveling from Wichita to Denver is minus 1 hour. Prepare for a bit cooler weather when traveling from Wichita in September: high temperatures in Denver hover around 79°F and lows are around 53°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 4th (Mon) so you can catcht the bus to Colorado Springs.

Stunning Garden of the Gods Park scenery, blue skies and the glory of Pikes Peak-America’s Mountain have attracted visitors to Colorado Springs for more than a century.

Step out of the city life by going to Helen Hunt Falls and Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center. Kids will enjoy Garden of the Gods and Battlefield Colorado. There's much more to do: take in the dramatic natural features at Red Rock Canyon, admire all the interesting features of Pikes Peak, see the interesting displays at Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center, and stroll through Manitou Springs Incline.

To see ratings, maps, and tourist information, use the Colorado Springs trip generator.

Getting from Denver to Colorado Springs by bus takes about an hour. Other options: drive; or fly. In September in Colorado Springs, expect temperatures between 79°F during the day and 51°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 7th (Thu) early enough to drive to Canon City.

Part of Colorado's Royal Gorge Region, Cañon City straddles the Arkansas River.

Step off the beaten path and head to Zipline and Tunnel Drive. When in Canon City, make a side trip to see Bishop Castle in Westcliffe, approximately 1h 05 min away. There's more to do: relax and float downstream with a rafting and tubing tour and cruise along Skyline Drive.

To see where to stay, reviews, and other tourist information, read Canon City itinerary planner.

Traveling by car from Colorado Springs to Canon City takes 1.5 hours. In September, daily temperatures in Canon City can reach 83°F, while at night they dip to 49°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 10th (Sun) to allow enough time to travel to Rapid City.

South Dakota's second-largest city, Rapid City has for many years served as a gateway to the West.

South Dakota Air and Space Museum and Museum of Geology are good opportunities to explore the local culture. You'll visit kid-friendly attractions like Storybook Island and Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf. Take a break from Rapid City with a short trip to Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, about 34 minutes away. Pack the 12th (Tue) with family-friendly diversions at Rushmore Tramway Adventures. And it doesn't end there: get your game on at Cosmos Mystery Area, view the masterpieces at Prairie Edge Trading Co & Galleries, pause for some serene contemplation at Chapel In the Hills, and admire all the interesting features of Big Thunder Gold Mine.

To find other places to visit, traveler tips, more things to do, and tourist information, use the Rapid City travel planner.

You can do a combination of taxi and flight from Canon City to Rapid City in 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of taxi and bus. When traveling from Canon City in September, plan for a bit cooler days in Rapid City, with highs around 77°F, while nights are about the same with lows around 47°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 14th (Thu) to allow time to travel to Omaha.

A major transportation hub, Omaha was once considered little more than a stopping point on a pioneer's journey west.

Kick off your visit on the 14th (Thu): explore the engaging exhibits at Omaha Children's Museum and then admire the masterpieces at Joslyn Art Museum. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 15th (Fri): get engrossed in the history at The Durham Museum, then examine the collection at Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum, and then immerse yourself in nature at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park.

For maps, reviews, and tourist information, use the Omaha vacation trip planner.

Getting from Rapid City to Omaha by flight takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a bus. Due to the time zone difference, you'll lose 1 hour traveling from Rapid City to Omaha. Plan for a bit warmer nights when traveling from Rapid City in September since evenings lows in Omaha dip to 56°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 16th (Sat) early enough to go by car back home.