Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway
A 77-mile drive linking Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, two big wetlands on the Central Flyway in central Kansas.
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length76.7 miles[1]
- Drive timeAbout 90 minutes of driving, or five hours to enjoy it[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsNot verified
- Start and endNear Hoisington, KS and near St. John, KSNearest towns to the ends of the U.S. DOT route line
- Fees and passesNone[1]
- Best seasonNot verified
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesNot verified
- Seasonal closuresNot verified
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.
About the drive
This byway connects two of the most important wetlands in the middle of the country: Cheyenne Bottoms, near Great Bend and Hoisington, and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge to the south.
Both sit on the Central Flyway, the migration route waterfowl and shorebirds follow across the plains, so spring and fall migration bring big flocks. Bring binoculars and drive the refuge roads slowly.
It's about 90 minutes of driving, but plan more time for wildlife stops.
Stops along the way
-
Hoisington
Town near the north end of the byway.
Official information · 38.51807, -98.77815 · about 0.2 mi from the route line
-
Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area
Large inland marsh managed by the state, next to a Nature Conservancy preserve.
Official information · 38.47558, -98.65463 · about 2.7 mi from the route line
-
Quivira National Wildlife Refuge
Federal refuge with salt marshes and sand prairie.
Official information · 38.15089, -98.49122 · about 0.5 mi from the route line
-
St. John
Town near the south end of the byway.
Official information · 38.00224, -98.7601 · about 3.9 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Summer Street Stroll Farmers MarketGreat Bend, KS · about 5.5 mi from the route
- Arlington Farm and Art MarketArlington, KS · about 18.7 mi from the route
- Larned - Hillside Farmers' MarketLarned, KS · about 21.1 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Sources
- America's Byways: Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area (Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).