(Above: Kate, Jennifer, and Lori at Flint Hills Books)
A few weeks ago, we drove out to Salina for a date night and concert. We're not able to get away very often because of young kids and running a business – so we decided to take the long way home to see a few Kansas bookstores while we had the chance.
From Kansas City, we drove west on I-70 to Salina, then south to Wichita, and headed back north to Overland Park on I-35. We stopped at 16 bookstores that weekend. By the time we made it home, the car was packed full of goodies and we felt inspired by all the new faces and places we saw along the way.
I took my trusty 35mm camera with black and white film to snap some good ol' road trip photos. If you're ever out in southeastern Kansas, add a few of these spots to your itinerary:
Flint Hills Books
Council Grove, KS
Flint Hills Books sits in a historic 1887 bank building, on a corner of Main Street in Council Grove – smack in the middle of the Flint Hills. If you think Kansas terrain is boring, you should visit simply for the scenic drive into town.
The team is kind and community-focused – some of our favorite bookstore friends we have met. The store is small, but beautifully restored and is packed with plenty of books, art, and local goods you will enjoy.
Middle Ground Books
Emporia, KS
Middle Ground is about 90 minutes south of O.P., right off I-35. Emporia is a college town (home of Emporia State University), which is why I think the used book section is so *fire emoji*. The entire upstairs section is used books: old textbooks, art, history, nature, fiction, and more.
Downstairs is a good variety of new titles, a Goodnight Moon themed kids' section, and a small cafe nestled in the back corner.
5-stars. I loved this store. Will return.
Red Fern Booksellers
Salina, KS
Red Fern Booksellers is the classiest bookstore on this list. The craftsmanship of the bookshelves is beautiful and I really loved their selection of new releases and coffee table books.
This is a top-notch bookstore. It's right in the mix of Downtown Salina – walking distance to many other shops and restaurants. (Try "Big Nosed Kate's" for a late night sandwich that falls apart immediately but is still worth the mess.)
Ad Astra Books & Coffee
Salina, KS
Speaking of walking distance from Red Fern... Ad Astra Books & Coffee is just down the street in Downtown Salina. (This place is perfect the morning after a concert at the historic Stiefel Theater.)
We grabbed a coffee and breakfast burrito and read the local newspaper surrounded by walls of used titles. They have some really interesting books here from all genres, as well as board games to play with your crew!
I got an old book about the Joe Montana era Chiefs. Pretty cool.
Twice Told Tales
McPherson, KS
Used books need love, too! You can probably tell that I get more excited about used books than new, so I loved Twice Told Tales.
We chatted with the owner (she's lovely!) and bought several treasures: books, candles, and stickers. McPherson is a great town! We ate a delicious lunch and hit an antique store on the way out, which added more boxes of books to our haul. Whoopsies.
Al's Old & New Books
Wichita, KS
Honestly, I could have spent two days in this place. I don't know Al's story – but, based on the overwhelming number of books, its obvious that this place has been here a LONG time.
The shelves are packed 8 ft. high with everything from sci-fi, Kansas history, sports, cinema, Japanese art volumes, classics, and rare books.
This was my favorite store in Wichita. A hidden-gem that I hope to visit again soon.
Watermark Books
Wichita, KS
Watermark is a Kansas staple. They have just about any title you're looking for, professional booksellers, big-name author events, and a coffee shop to boot.
ICT Books
Wichita, KS
Okay, so hear me out. What if I told you that inside this sketchy strip mall is hundreds of pallets filled with hardback books, paperback books, movies, and CD's – AND everything is $1.25?
I picked up the first two seasons of Seinfeld on DVD and a giant stack of vintage classics. ICT Books is a must-visit for any book-loving bargain hunter.
Blush Bookstore
Wichita, KS
Blush Bookstore is a romance-centered bookstore that's small but has a great vibe. You can find some titles here that you might not see in other "general interest" stores, their sideline items are great, and the upstairs loft is a cute lounge for those itching to take a selfie on a floral sofa.
Dean's 1/2 Price Books
Topeka, KS
As one commenter told us on insta, "Dean's is the OG."
Dean's 1/2 Price Books has been open for more than 50 years and has a unique and casual vibe. Rows of paperbacks are stacked flat so you can read the covers without tilting your head. All the store signage is made from old Kansas license plates. It smells like a small-town library and has re-runs of detective shows playing behind the desk – both of which I consider a good thing.
Round Table Bookstore
Topeka, KS
Round Table Bookstore is in the NOTO Arts District, a fun strip of antique stores, record stores, and gift shops in North Topeka.
This store has a nice selection of both new and used books, a few tables and furniture for hanging out, and the upstairs is a sort of "bargain attic" where you can uncover good deals.
Rivendell Book Store
Abilene, KS
Rivendell Book Store, located in Abilene, is really big for a small-town bookstore. The inside has a unique flavor and layout (I loved this... we believe every local shop should have its own style) and they have a surprising amount of games and toys, in addition to new and used books of all genres.
Monstera's Books
Overland Park, KS
Our store counts as "eastern Kansas", right? After your roadtrip through the prairie, don't forget to stop by and tell us about it.
See you soon, neighbor!
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Follow Justin's work on Instagram at @justinwieners and @hotdogdesignstudio. This dude is technically not even an employee of the bookstore, but you can usually find him dropping off packages, pricing old books, or chatting behind the counter with neighbors on Saturdays.
