Union Station

Union Station is a fantastic place to roam with your children and get lost in the historic beauty of this Kansas City landmark. There are many things to do at Union Station. You could spend a few hours or the whole day seeing all they have to offer. You can roam the halls or visit one of their unique attractions.

Overall we like Union Station because:

• Beautiful, historic Kansas City landmark where you could spend an hour or an entire day with your family. There are various attractions to visit, but just walking around the building and enjoying its beauty is equally entertaining.
• Ages: All Ages
• Cost: FREE
• Hours: Building is open daily from 6am to midnight. Individual attraction hours vary

Enjoy the Grand Hall

If you are looking for something free to do on a dreary or hot KC day, head to the Grand Hall. Your little ones will enjoy running around the Grand Hall while listening to music pumped in through speakers on the light posts. At the end of the Great Hall is access to the Freight House Bridge. It is a large bridge which spans the train tracks and connects to the Freight House parking lot.  This is a perfect spot to watch the trains and enjoy the unique view of downtown.

AmTrak and The Link

There are many things to do if you child enjoys trains. You can visit the AmTrak station and watch trains coming in and out of town. There are various pictures and small models of trains throughout the building.

Currently, access to The Link, a covered walking bridge which connects Union Station, Crown Center, and the Hyatt-Regency is being upgraded. When finished, you will be able to use The Link to access Crown Center and other buildings in the area.

On Mondays

If you are not in the mood for visiting some of the museum attractions and just looking for a place to go to get out of the house – be sure to visit Union Station on a Monday. The attractions are closed, but the building is open. So, there are fewer people around.

Restaurants inside Union Station:

• Pierpont’s (fancy – not for kids)
• Time Square Concessionaire
• The Harvey House Diner

Parking Tips:

You have to pay for parking. There is short-term metered parking at the front of the build for train passenger pick-up and drop-off. Longer-term covered parking is on the west side of the building. You access it between the National Archives building and Union Station.

Parking Costs:

• 0-30 min Free
  30 min – 1 Hour $1
  1 Hour – 1.5 Hours $2
  1.5 Hours – 2 Hours $3
  2 Hours – 2.5 Hours $4
  2.5 Hours – 8 Hours $5
  More Than 8 Hours $10/day max

Bring bills. They do take credit cards, but the machine is not always working and there is not a regular parking attendant on duty.

Other Free Union Station Attractions: reviewed on this site

• The Model Train Exhibit

Other Union Station Pay-for-Activities or Attractions: reviewed on this site

• Science City
• The Irish Museum
• Gottlieb Planetarium