Famous for its barbecue, jazz heritage, and fountains, Kansas City sits on Missouri’s western edge, straddling the border with Kansas. With downtown near the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers, the modern day city encompasses 320 square miles, making it the 23rd largest city, by total area, in the United states. Major suburbs include the Missouri cities of Independence and Lee’s summit, as well as the Kansas cities of Overland Park and Olathe.
One of our preferred areas for running in Kansas City is the area known as Country Club Plaza, about 4 miles from downtown. In addition to parks, paths, and lovely residential areas, there are lots of hotels, restaurants, shops and galleries. Running in downtown Kansas City is OK, with an easy grid of wide, straight boulevards. We’ve also included some routes in K.C. suburbs that are major business travel destinations, such as Overland Park.
Thanks to wide, straight boulevards, Kansas City is fairly easy to navigate. Yet, while it’s a great city for running, a car is needed unless your trip has you staying mainly downtown or in the Plaza area. There is a good bus from downtown to the Plaza. Note also that the airport is far from downtown, and really far from corporate office locations in Overland Park.
The Plaza
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Modeled after one of the premier architectural features of Seville, the Plaza is both an artistic and architectural delight.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Full Route Info” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”black” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.responsivewebsitedesignvermont.com%2F~greatruns%2Fkansas-city-the-plaza%2F||target:%20_blank”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3782″ onclick=”custom_link”][vc_column_text]Trolley Track Trail
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Popular among walkers, runners, strollers, dogs, and bikers, this path starts off at the Plaza, and runs to Brookside and the Waldo.
[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Full Route Info” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”black” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.responsivewebsitedesignvermont.com%2F~greatruns%2Fkansas-city-trolley-track-trail%2F||target:%20_blank”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3787″ onclick=”custom_link”][vc_column_text]Brush Creek
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]This is a pleasant run highlighting some beautiful wildlife areas along the creek, and a huge waterfall. [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Full Route Info” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”black” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.responsivewebsitedesignvermont.com%2F~greatruns%2Fkansas-city-brush-creek-loop%2F||target:%20_blank”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3791″ onclick=”custom_link”][vc_column_text]Wyandotte County Park
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]With 1500 acres, and a 400 acre lake, this tranquil park is perfect for running, hiking, fishing, boating and horseback riding.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Full Route Info” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”black” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.responsivewebsitedesignvermont.com%2F~greatruns%2Fkansas-city-wyandotte-county-park-trails%2F||target:%20_blank”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3792″ onclick=”custom_link”][vc_column_text]Indian Creek Bike Trail
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Starting at Foxhill South Park, this 7 mile trail runs through a number of neighborhood parks on Overland Park’s eastern side. [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Full Route Info” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”black” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.responsivewebsitedesignvermont.com%2F~greatruns%2Fkansas-city-indian-creek-bike-trail%2F||target:%20_blank”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3793″ onclick=”custom_link”][vc_column_text]Blue River Parkway Trail
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Starting at Minor Park, the Blue River Parkway has 12+ miles of trails that wind along both banks of its namesake river, on the southern outskirts of Kansas City.
[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Full Route Info” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”black” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.responsivewebsitedesignvermont.com%2F~greatruns%2Fkansas-city-blue-river-parkway-trail%2F||target:%20_blank”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3788″ onclick=”custom_link”][vc_column_text]Three Park Loop
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]This 4.8 mile, scenic route will loop you around three parks: Havens Memorial Park, David Brewer Park, and Wollman Park. [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Full Route Info” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”black” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.responsivewebsitedesignvermont.com%2F~greatruns%2Fkansas-city-havens-memorial-park-loop%2F||target:%20_blank”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3794″ onclick=”custom_link”][vc_column_text]Riverfront Heritage Trail
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The Riverfront Heritage Trail is a fully accessible fifteen-mile route, beginning at the riverfront and winding through the oldest and most historic parts of Kansas City.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Full Route Info” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”black” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.responsivewebsitedesignvermont.com%2F~greatruns%2Fkansas-city-riverfront-heritage-trail%2F||target:%20_blank”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section icon=”atlantis-share” title=”Iconic Routes” tab_id=”1469591421238-54878169-f965″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3781″ onclick=”custom_link”][vc_column_text]The Plaza
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Modeled after one of the premier architectural features of Seville, the Plaza is both an artistic and architectural delight.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Full Route Info” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”black” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.responsivewebsitedesignvermont.com%2F~greatruns%2Fkansas-city-the-plaza%2F||target:%20_blank”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3782″ onclick=”custom_link”][vc_column_text]Trolley Track Trail
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Popular among walkers, runners, strollers, dogs, and bikers, this path starts off at the Plaza, and runs to Brookside and the Waldo.
[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Full Route Info” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”black” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.responsivewebsitedesignvermont.com%2F~greatruns%2Fkansas-city-trolley-track-trail%2F||target:%20_blank”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3790″ onclick=”custom_link”][vc_column_text]Brush Creek
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]This is a pleasant run highlighting some beautiful wildlife areas along the creek, and a huge waterfall.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Full Route Info” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”black” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.responsivewebsitedesignvermont.com%2F~greatruns%2Fkansas-city-brush-creek-loop%2F||target:%20_blank”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3791″ onclick=”custom_link”][vc_column_text]Wyandotte County Park Trails
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]With 1500 acres, and a 400 acre lake, this tranquil park is perfect for running, hiking, fishing, boating and horseback riding.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Full Route Info” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”black” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.responsivewebsitedesignvermont.com%2F~greatruns%2Fkansas-city-wyandotte-county-park-trails%2F||target:%20_blank”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3792″ onclick=”custom_link”][vc_column_text]Indian Creek Bike Trail
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Starting at Foxhill South Park, this 7 mile trail runs through a number of neighborhood parks on Overland Park’s eastern side.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Full Route Info” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”black” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.responsivewebsitedesignvermont.com%2F~greatruns%2Fkansas-city-indian-creek-bike-trail%2F||target:%20_blank”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3394″ onclick=”custom_link”][vc_column_text]Blue River Parkway Trail
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Starting at Minor Park, the Blue River Parkway has 12+ miles of trails that wind along both banks of its namesake river, on the southern outskirts of Kansas City.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Full Route Info” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”black” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.responsivewebsitedesignvermont.com%2F~greatruns%2Fkansas-city-blue-river-parkway-trail%2F||target:%20_blank”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3395″ onclick=”custom_link”][vc_column_text]Havens Memorial Park Loop
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]This 4.8 mile, scenic route will loop you around three parks: Havens Memorial Park, David Brewer Park, and Wollman Park.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Full Route Info” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”black” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.responsivewebsitedesignvermont.com%2F~greatruns%2Fkansas-city-havens-memorial-park-loop%2F||target:%20_blank”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3396″ onclick=”custom_link”][vc_column_text]Riverfront Heritage Trail
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The Riverfront Heritage Trail is a fully accessible fifteen-mile route, that begins at the riverfront and winds through the oldest and most historic parts of bi-state Kansas City.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Full Route Info” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”black” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.responsivewebsitedesignvermont.com%2F~greatruns%2Fkansas-city-riverfront-heritage-trail%2F||target:%20_blank”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3398″ onclick=”custom_link”][vc_column_text]Blackbob Road Trail
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The Blackbob Road Trail travels through the community of Olathe, south of Kansas City. The route features Black Bob Park and Heritage Park.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Full Route Info” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”black” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.responsivewebsitedesignvermont.com%2F~greatruns%2Fkansas-city-blackbob-road-trail%2F||target:%20_blank”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Weather and Climate” tab_id=”1468895756935-a3f67eaf-4251″][vc_column_text]Kansas City has typical midwestern weather: hot and humid summers, and cold, dry winters. Kansas City gets an average of 37 inches of rain per year, and 18 inches of snow. Average highs in July high are around 90F and the January low is about 20F. May and June are the wettest months. Spring and summer weather can feature thunderstorms and severe weather. Humidity is moderate to high during summers, with a comfort index of 34 out of 100, where higher is more comfortable.
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STAY
Kansas City is very spread out. There are clusters of hotels near downtown, the Plaza, and some more towards Northeast Kansas City. The map below displays several hotels near downtown and Northeast Kansas City.
Running Stores and Group Runs
There’s a great network of locally owned running stores in Kansas City. See below for details:
Downtown –
Run 816 — Group runs on Sunday mornings at 6:30am. Water on course provided.
Fleet Feet Sports Kansas City — Group runs on Saturdays. 7:00am. 5 and 10 mile routes available.
Blue Springs –
The Running Well Store — Group runs (periodically) on Tuesdays. 6:00–8:00pm. Free.
Overland Park –
KC Running Company — Group runs on Sundays. 7:00–8:00am.
Gary Gribbles’s Running Sports — Various group runs available. Click here for dates.
Events
Groundhog Run. 5k/10k. February. Subterranean Race
Trolley Runs. Annual 4-mile race. Draws over 12,000 runners
UMKC Hospital Hill Run. June. Half marathon. Hilly. 5k and 12k options
Humana Kansas City Marathon. November. Loop course that passes every city landmark.
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