Ready to experience one of the happiest cities in the United States? Start planning your stay in Overland Park.
About Overland Park
Overland Park is where Kansas City energy meets room to breathe.
Midwestern charm and modern convenience come together in this city designed for families, food lovers, outdoor explorers, sports fans, artists, and culture seekers.
If you’re planning a trip to the Kansas City area, here’s what you should know: staying in Overland Park makes the entire experience easier.
Easy to Navigate. Easy to Enjoy.
Ask people how they would define Overland Park and you'll hear different answers.
Some say city. Some say suburb. The truth is balanced in-between.
Less than 30 minutes from downtown Kansas City, Missouri, Overland Park keeps you close to the action while offering a noticeably more relaxed pace.
It’s less about navigating crowds and more about making the most of your time.
Discover what makes Overland Park stand out.
Fast Facts
Where is Overland Park?
Overland Park is located in northeast Kansas. It is a part of Johnson County and the second-most populous city in Kansas after Wichita.
Just southwest of downtown Kansas City, Missouri, it is one of four principal cities in the Kansas City metropolitan area and is less than 30 minutes from many of the region's major attractions, event venues, and entertainment districts.
Is Overland Park Part of Kansas City?
Overland Park is its own city and a destination in its own right.
While not a part of Kansas City, Missouri, the two are closely connected.
Overland Park is located within the Kansas City metro and offers convenient access to KCMO (as the locals call it), making it easy to visit nearby attractions.
What is Overland Park Known For?
Overland Park is known for its family-friendly attractions, extensive park system, variety of shopping districts, and nationally recognized museums.
Visitors often come for destinations like the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead and Oak Park Mall, as well as major youth sports facilities that host regional tournaments throughout the year.
Is Overland Park a Good Play to Stay?
Yes, Overland Park is a popular place to stay when visiting the Kansas City area.
Many travelers choose it for its convenient location, wide range of hotels and restaurants, reputation for safety and cleanliness, and feeling of accessible, laid-back luxury.
It also offers quick access to downtown Kansas City and the Kansas City International Airport in a setting that’s less congested and more relaxed.
Is Overland Park Family-Friendly?
Absolutely! Overland Park is widely considered a family-friendly destination.
With more than 80 parks and playgrounds, entertaining and educational kid-friendly things to do, and family-oriented hotels, staying in Overland Park helps make traveling with kids easier and fun.
Family Fun
Family time is easy in Overland Park with its mix of big attractions and everyday fun.
Spend the day exploring the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead and feeding the baby goats, find a nearby playground, then wrap up with a kid-friendly dinner and a hotel pool night.
Explore more kid-friendly things to do and start planning your visit today.
Food & Flavor
If good food is your idea of a good time, you'll love it here.
From Kansas City barbecue to globally inspired cuisine, restaurants in Overland Park serve up flavors for every appetite.
Try dishes from a James Beard award nominated chef at Of Course Kitchen, wake up early for a luxurious brunch, or feast from the buffet at The New Theatre & Restaurant.
However you choose to eat your way through town, don’t miss local favorites like the Overland Park Farmers’ Market, consistently ranked among the best in the nation.
Outdoor Adventures
Green space isn't an afterthought here.
In fact, the city was founded to be a "park-like" community, and that vision is lived out through our 80+ parks, extensive trails, and intentional open spaces including the stunning 300-acre Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.
Spend an afternoon biking along Indian Creek Trail, plan a picnic, play a few rounds of pickleball, or see everything from a new perspective in a hot air balloon with Old World Balloonery.
Built for Game Day
Sports events and tournament weekends are part of life in Overland Park. After all, we're the Home of the Heart of America Athletic Conference for a reason.
With premier facilities like Scheels Overland Park Soccer Complex and AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk, the city regularly welcomes competitors and their fans from across the region.
Here you can stay close to the fields, explore entertainment between games, and catch professional spectator sports action in nearby Kansas City — all from one convenient home base.
Arts & Culture
Overland Park is packed with creativity.
Catch live theater performances, explore exhibits at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, or wander around local art galleries and public murals downtown.
You can even get hands on to create your own works at places like Hawaii Fluid Art, House of Clay, and several other DIY artistic outlets around town.
Signature annual events like the Downtown Overland Park Art Fair add even more color to the calendar.
Shopping
Shopping in Overland Park is one of the reasons people come back again and again.
Browse local boutiques filled with one-of-a-kind finds, hunt for treasures at charming antique shops, or spend the afternoon at Oak Park Mall, the largest mall in Kansas.
If you want to accessorize your shopping with fresh air, head to centers like Prairiefire and Corbin Park, Hawthorne Plaza, Town Center Plaza, and Bluhawk, where trendy retailers sit alongside restaurants, spas, and salons.