Kansas Road Trip: Lindsborg, Kansas

Please note: Since plans can change on short notice, be sure to use the links in each post to double-check all events before you go.

Just an hour north of Wichita is the quaint Swedish town of Lindsborg, Kansas. It is nicknamed “Little Sweden USA” and if you are looking to get out and explore, this cute town has something for everyone. 

Swedish phone booth in Lindsborg, KS. Photo: Emily Schuster

Swedish phone booth in Lindsborg. Photo: Emily Schuster

How to Get There

Lindsborg is about an hour north of west Wichita and easily accessible from Interstate 135. It’s close to Coronado Heights and Maxwell Wildlife Refuge if you want to take a couple of short detours, and you’ll pass right by McPherson, Kansas as well. 

Things to Do in Lindsborg

Go Shopping

Last year I was able to go on a quick day trip to Lindsborg with my daughter. We started our day by strolling through downtown. We enjoyed listening to the melodic sounds of Swedish folk music wafting through the air as we wove our way in and out of cute little boutiques and artist studios. There are so many fun shops to explore in Lindsborg!

Take a Selfie with the Herd of Wild Dalas

Painted Dala in Lindsborg (aka Little Sweden) Kansas. Photo: Emily Schuster

Painted Dala in Lindsborg (aka Little Sweden) Kansas. Photo: Emily Schuster

We also enjoyed checking out all of the painted dalas and taking selfies with them. Dalas are a traditional Swedish wooden horse. They have become synonymous with all things Sweden and in the town of Lindsborg they can be found everywhere: souvenirs, city signs, on businesses and even on police cars! Many of the painted dalas can be found up and down main street so they are easy to view as you shop. Pick up your own maps and guides at the Lindsborg Convention and Visitors Bureau on 104 E. Lincoln St. or at the Certified Travel Information Center on 118 N. Main Street.  You can also download your own copy of The Herd of Wild Dalas. 

Besides the dalas, there is an intricately painted phone booth, wall murals, decorative doors and more that are fun to pose by along main street!

Visit the Old Mill Museum

The Old Mill museum in Lindsborg preserves the early heritage of McPherson County and includes a collection of historic buildings – including, of course, the water-powered mill.

The Old Mill Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is only $2 per person. Visit the Old Mill Museum website for more information. 

Take a Walk on Valkommen Trail

This trail anchored by the Valkommen bridge is 3.25 miles long and follows the old Union Pacific and Missouri Pacific rail beds. It is free and open to the public year-round. 

Visit Coronado Heights

…and sunflowers! If you’re visiting Lindsborg in late August or early September, you should totally make a stop at the Peterson Farm Bros sunflower fields, because it is right outside of Lindsborg.

Lindsborg is also near the Coronado Heights picnic area, which Kansans usually refer to as the “fort” or “castle.” There’s some speculation that this hill is where the Spanish explorer Coronado ended his search for the seven cities of gold, but the stone fort-like structure that sits at the top of the hill was not built by him. It was built in the 1930s as a picnic area for the community and named in honor of Coronado. 

Svensk Hyllingsfest

Svensk Hyllingsfest is a big biennial celebration of Lindsborg’s Swedish culture and heritage. The town is filled with folks in traditional Swedish garb with art, ethnic music, Swedish folk dancing, and smorgasbord. Festival buttons are only $5 and most events are included in that price. Visitors to the festival have said it’s a great time and full of fun things to do for the whole family. 

The next Svensk Hyllingsfest is scheduled for October 8 & 9, 2021. 

Places to Eat in Lindsborg

There are lots of yummy places to eat in Lindsborg! Since we were visiting on a Sunday, many places were closed. NOTE: The Brickhouse Grill is permanently closed. (Thanks to readers Deserei and Edwin who let us know in the comments!) Fortunately, there are many other places to grab a bite to eat in Lindsborg! I have heard that Ol Stuga and The Swedish Crown Restaurant are both good. I’ll have to try them out the next time I’m in town!  

Parks, Playgrounds and Trails

We drove by Swensson Park, but didn’t have time to stop this trip. It looks like so much fun! There is a Viking ship, a castle, a rocket ship, a climbing wall and lots of slides and other structures to climb on. I learned from the Lindsborg City website, that this one-of-a-kind play structure is called Viking Valley Playground and was built by over 1,500 volunteers! I can’t wait to take the kids back to play on it. 

Lindsborg also has other parks and a 4.5 mile paved walking/biking trail called the Välkommen Trail that meanders through the city. We did not have time to explore this trail after our day of shopping, but it looks like a great place to explore with a skate park and a refurbished raiload bridge to see. Here is a map of the trail. 

Lindsborg’s Midsummer’s Festival

Every June, the city of Lindsborg celebrates their Swedish heritage with a big Midsummer Festival. You can enjoy Swedish dancing demonstrations, live local music, local cuisine and arts and crafts.  (The 2020 Midsummer Festival was online due to Covid-19 restrictions.)

Places to Explore Near Lindsborg

After you’ve explored Lindsborg, here are some places to check out nearby:

The Coronado Heights Castle is just outside of Lindsborg.

• Coronado Heights

If you feel like traveling a little further, you can see the sites below, which are each about 30 minutes away from Lindsborg. 

• Mushroom Rock State Park and Kanopolis Lake State Park
• Maxwell Wildlife Refuge and McPherson State Fishing Lake

More Kansas Road Trips:

Henry’s Candy Company in Dexter, KS

Cowley State Lake and Waterfalls

Monument Rocks and Lake Scott State Park in Western Kansas

Kansas Road Trip Travel Essentials (Definitely check this out. You’ll need all these things!)