On my most recent trip to Pawhuska, Oklahoma I went a little out of the way to drive the Flint Hills Scenic Byway — definitely a good choice! This was one of the most stunning drives I have taken in awhile and I just had to share it with you. This route takes you through the Flint Hills, the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, on to Osage County and the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, through a lot of charming old cow towns, ending in Pawhuska, Oklahoma — a great cowboy town and home of the Pioneer Woman. If you’re looking for fun ways to get outside and explore our beautiful country this summer, this road trip is for you!

(Side note: this route does require gravel travel, fording rivers, and loose bison, and 4WD is highly recommended — especially on the rainy days.)

I-70 > CASSODAY - FLINT HILLS SCENIC BYWAY

The route starts by heading south on Exit 313 off of Interstate 70 in Kansas. This will be your first glimpse of the Flint Hills. Once you reach Council Grove, you’re officially at the start of the Flint Hills Scenic Byway. You’ll stay on this route for its entire 103 miles, passing through Strong City, Cottonwood Falls, Bazaar, Matfield Green, and Cassoday. Some key stops along the way will be the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Pioneer Bluffs, Lower Fox Creek School, and more. The Scenic Byway ends in Cassoday, but this is only about half way to Pawhuska.

CASSODAY > CAMBRIDGE

From Cassoday, stay on Highway 177 south until you get to Highway 54, where you’ll head east towards Rosalia. Near Rosalia you’ll take SE Satchell Creek Road (if you’re up for gravel and fording rivers), or head two miles further east to SE Flinthills Road (which then turns into SE Rosalia-Keighley Road and then SE Gray Road). When you hit Highway 400, head to SE Stony Creek Road and take that through Latham all the way to Cambridge. Just north of Cambridge, be sure to follow signs to the stone arch bridge (on 275th Road).

CAMBRIDGE > PAWHUSKA

From Cambridge, head east on Highway 160 to Road 8. Turn south on Road 8 and take this all the way across the Kansas border into Oklahoma and the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. This road will put you right in the middle of ranch life and you’ll want to watch for cattle in the road. Once you hit the border, Road 8 turns into CR4201, which you’ll follow all the way to the Barnard Chapman Ranch Headquarters, home of the Tallgrass Prairie Visitor Center. From there you’ll take CR 4201 and follow the main road all the way into Pawhuska. This is your best chance to see bison roaming the land.

Once you’re in Pawhuska, take time to shop and grab a bite to eat at the Pioneer Woman Mercantile and check out the many other great shops in town! If you’re looking for other things to do while you’re in town, visit the Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce site for a full list of ideas.