Transportation and Maps

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Where the Heck Is Lawrence?

The very heart of flyover country, Lawrence, Kansas is located 20 miles east of Topeka (Kansas) and 35 miles west of Kansas City (Missouri), along I-70.

To get to Lawrence:

• By air:
  Lawrence is 35 miles west of Kansas City and is served by Kansas City (Missouri) International Airport (MCI). The airport is not a hub for any airline, and is served by Delta, United, American, Southwest, Continental, USAirways, Northwest, Frontier, AirTran, Air Canada, and -Yes!- Midwest Express (morning flights have fresh hot chocolate chip cookies!). All major car rental agencies are present.
  
  Airport Shuttles:
  There are two major airport shuttles:
  Kansas Transportation Services, Inc., (877)-942-0544 runs vans from the airport every 90 minutes from 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. to arrive in Lawrence approximately 1 hour later. We have contracted with them for a special worm meeting rate of $45 round-trip per person, and they will bring you directly to Naismith Hall. You must call them in advance and tell them that you are with the Midwest Worm Meeting in order to take advantage of this rate. Return trips depart Lawrence every 90 minutes from 4:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (e.g. at 1:30 p.m., 3:00, and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday June 13) to arrive at the Kansas City Airport one hour later.
  
  In addition, Kansas City Roadrunner, (800)-747-2524, runs vans from the airport at 6:00 & 10:15 a.m., and 12:45, 2:15, 4:45, 6:45, and 9:30 p.m. arriving at the Lawrence Holiday Inn ("Holidome") about 1 hour later (and continuing westward). Return trips are scheduled to depart Lawrence at 4:25, 6:45, 9:10, and 11:45 a.m. and 2:10, 4:45 and 7:45 p.m., to arrive at the airport in just under an hour. Fares are $25 per person each direction ($50 round-trip) and reservations are required. Since these trips start 90 miles west of Lawrence, (in Manhattan, KS, home of Kansas State University), times are not quite as exact here.
• By car:
  
  • From the airport:
    From the airport rental agencies, turn right onto Bern St., then right onto Mexico City Ave. Go about 1 mile to I-29/I-435 westbound to Topeka/St. Joseph.
    Take I-29 about 1 mile, then exit (right side) onto I-435 to Topeka/Kansas.
    Take I-435 approximately 20 miles, over the mighty Missouri River into Kansas, to I-70 west (right exit). When you pass Cabela's (and can see the Kansas Speedway Nascar Track over the horizon), you are getting close!
    Take I-70 West, the Kansas Turnpike, approximately 25 miles to Lawrence. This is a toll road ($1.35 for cars).
    Get off at Exit 202, West Lawrence, the 2ndLawrence Exit.
    After the toll booth, continue straight, under a bridge, and the road becomes Iowa Street.
    Take a left at the 4th traffic ligth after this onto 19th Street.
    Naismith Hall is on your left just after the next stoplight (Naismith Street).

    Airport Vicinity

    
    

    Kansas City Region

    
  • From the north:
    Take I-29 south to I-435, then I-435 south to I-70 (towards Topeka).
    OR: Take I-35 south to state highway 291, then 291 west to I-435 West, then I-435 south (towards Topeka).
    Take I-435 approximately 20 miles, over the mighty Missouri River into Kansas, to I-70 west (right exit). When you pass Cabela's (and can see the Kansas Speedway Nascar Track over the horizon), you are getting close!
    Take I-70 West, the Kansas Turnpike, approximately 25 miles to Lawrence. This is a toll road ($1.35 for cars).
    Get off at Exit 202, West Lawrence, the 2ndLawrence Exit.
    After the toll booth, continue straight, under a bridge, and the road becomes Iowa Street.
    Take a left at the 4th traffic light after this onto 19th Street.
    Naismith Hall is on your left just after the next stoplight (Naismith Street).
  • From the east:
    Either take I-70/I-670 through downtown Kansas City.
    I-70 becomes the Kansas Turnpike outside of Kansas City. This is a toll road ($1.35 for cars).
    Exit at the West Lawrence, the 2ndLawrence Exit.
    After the toll booth, continue straight, under a bridge, and the road becomes Iowa Street.
    Take a left at the 4th traffic light after this onto 19th Street.
    Naismith Hall is on your left just after the next stoplight (Naismith Street).
    
    OR: To avoid downtown Kansas City traffic, take I-70 to I-470 south, which runs into I-435.
    Take I-435 west through Overland Park to state highway K-10 west. K-10 becomes 23rd street in Lawrence.
    Take a right at the stoplight on Massachusetts St. (the next stoplight after the light at Haskell Indian Nations University).
    Turn left on 19th Street. Naismith Hall is located on the right just before the 2nd stoplight (at Naismith Street).
    
    
  • From the south:
    Take I-35 (Kansas Turnpike) north and exit at I-435 west (south of Kansas City).
    Stay on the right; take the second exit to state highway K-10 west. K-10 becomes 23rd street in Lawrence.
    Take a right at the stoplight on Massachusetts St. (the next stoplight after the light at Haskell Indian Nations University).
    Turn left on 19th Street. Naismith Hall is located on the right just before the 2nd stoplight (at Naismith Street).
  • From the west:
    Interstate 70, the Kansas Turnpike. This becomes a toll road east of Topeka ($.75 toll to Lawrence).
    Exit at West Lawrence (next exit after the LeCompton/Lawrence exit).
    After the toll booth, continue straight, under a bridge, and the road becomes Iowa Street.
    Take a left at the 4th light after this onto 19th Street.
    Naismith Hall is on your left just after the next stoplight (Naismith Street).

  Lawrence Area

  
  

  Lawrence

  
  
• By private plane:
  Lawrence Municipal Airport (LWC) is located 2 miles north of town, and has a 5700-foot lighted runway with ILS.
  Unicom 123.0.
  Taxi service is available from the airport.
  
• By train:
  Amtrak serves Lawrence at the Santa Fe Railroad Station on 7th and New York Streets.
  The Southwest Chief westbound serves Lawrence daily around midnight, at 12:18 a.m., eastbound at 5:28 a.m.
• By covered wagon:
  The University of Kansas lies approximately 35 miles west of Westport along the Oregon Trail.
  Don't take the Santa Fe trail, that runs slightly south of town!
  
• By boat:
  We double-checked; you are indeed out of luck there. The Kansas River ("The Kaw") is deep enough and connects to the Missouri, but frequent small dams render it unnavigable. It can be portaged, however.