Jesse James museum visit

Question

My friend & I are visiting Kansas city next July for a couple of days with plans to visit Jesse James Museum & birthplace. We are also visiting a couple of Cemeteries, Pioneer & Shotwell, but as 1st time visitors we aren't sure where in Kansas City to base ourselves & if there are other places of interest. We are flying into the International airport & neither of us have access to transport so will primarily be used Taxis/Uber or public transport. Would it be better to stay near the airport & taxi into town or stay closer to town for the couple of days before we fly out to Atlanta. Thank you for any help with this.

Answer

For first-time visitors to Kansas City who want to visit the Jesse James Museum, his birthplace, and local cemeteries like Pioneer and Shotwell, your choice of lodging can make transportation and sightseeing much easier. Since you’ll be relying on Uber, taxis, or public transport, staying closer to the central part of Kansas City rather than near the airport is generally the better option.

Staying centrally allows you to minimize travel time to most historical and cultural attractions and gives you more flexibility without needing a rental car. Downtown, the Crossroads Arts District, or near Country Club Plaza are all convenient locations for accessing museums, historic sites, and good dining options.

Suggested areas to stay:

Downtown Kansas City: Close to many restaurants, attractions, and easy Uber/taxi access. Downtown hotels often provide comfortable accommodations and are within reasonable distance to historic sites.
Crossroads Arts District: Trendy area with boutique hotels, art galleries, and dining options. It’s slightly south of downtown and still centrally located for travel around the city.
Country Club Plaza: More residential, with upscale shopping and restaurants. Offers a quieter stay while still being reasonably close to attractions via Uber or taxi.

Other places of interest to consider while in Kansas City:

National WWI Museum and Memorial: One of the top-rated attractions in the city and centrally located.
Kansas City Union Station: Historic train station with museums, science center, and restaurants.
Kansas City River Market: Farmers’ market, shops, and dining, a fun place to wander and explore local flavors.
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: World-class art museum with beautiful outdoor sculpture garden.
Historic West Bottoms: Offers antique shops and is near some old historic sites related to Jesse James and early Kansas City history.

If you stay downtown or near the Crossroads, it will be easy to take Uber or taxis to the Jesse James Museum and his birthplace, as well as the cemeteries. The airport is about 20–25 minutes from downtown by car, so staying central avoids unnecessary travel early in the morning or late before your flight.

Overall, prioritizing central Kansas City will maximize your time exploring without the hassle of long commutes from the airport.

Jesse James museum visit

More Kansas City Travel Questions

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions