Union Station
Union Station
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view










Top ways to experience Union Station and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
573 within 3 miles
Attractions
147 within 6 miles
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2,550 reviews
Excellent
1,482
Very good
803
Average
205
Poor
40
Terrible
20
traveltheworld012
Rochester, MN13,560 contributions
Mar 2023
We happened to be at a antique shop in West Bottoms where we chatted with the owner of the shop. He said we should go visit the Union Station which was built in 1914 after the original Kansas City Union Depot located in West Bottoms which used to be the original downtown but flooded badly in 1906.
Anyway, we drove out to see the Union Station on our last day in KC, Thursday, March 9, 2023. It is an amazing building rivaling the Union Depot in Chicago, not quite Grand Central Station in NY, but still well worth a visit. It is free to visit the station public areas, but you must pay for parking if staying more than 30 minutes. There are several event areas and exhibits but those are also require paid admission. We were only staying for an hour or so. We viewed as much as we could for free. Great place to visit on a rainy day.
Anyway, we drove out to see the Union Station on our last day in KC, Thursday, March 9, 2023. It is an amazing building rivaling the Union Depot in Chicago, not quite Grand Central Station in NY, but still well worth a visit. It is free to visit the station public areas, but you must pay for parking if staying more than 30 minutes. There are several event areas and exhibits but those are also require paid admission. We were only staying for an hour or so. We viewed as much as we could for free. Great place to visit on a rainy day.
Written March 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alicia J
1 contribution
Oct 2021 • Couples
My brother and I had purchased tickets for the 4pm Auchwitz Exhibit because we were flying into Kansas City that day. I feel we got ripped off in only getting to spend 2 hours there. We were not able to watch videos, listen to our personal devices, see, and read everything. After 1 hour, we were at station 22 of 66 stations. At that point we felt rushed.
Cons:
NOT enough seating for the videos. One hard bench that seats two is ridiculous!
Rooms are kept too warm.
Stupid that women cannot bring in their purse.
4pm ticket holders have to rush through.
No gift shop for books, memorabilia.
Pros:
Beautiful building to walk around
Awesome personal devices to listen to!
Beautifully set up.
Very affordable! In fact, was worth more.
Cons:
NOT enough seating for the videos. One hard bench that seats two is ridiculous!
Rooms are kept too warm.
Stupid that women cannot bring in their purse.
4pm ticket holders have to rush through.
No gift shop for books, memorabilia.
Pros:
Beautiful building to walk around
Awesome personal devices to listen to!
Beautifully set up.
Very affordable! In fact, was worth more.
Written October 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert B
Plattsmouth, NE495 contributions
Jan 2023
We drove to KC for the Maya display and really enjoyed the presentation. It was very informative and had a ton of really cool pieces. I really liked the larger tablets that showed life in the Mayan times. I would suggest a few hours for the display and to really take the time to read and learn about the life of the Mayans. Union Station is always a cool location and it is fun to just walk around and take in the beauty of the building. There is also really cool areas that provide information about the construction and history of the building.
Written January 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barbara M.
1 contribution
Dec 2020
Disappointed. Brought my 4 grandchildren; we have often come to see the free model train exhibit; if there was an event in the large hall, people could still access the model train exhibit by going thru the outdoor walkway - but today, after walking thru the cold, the door to get in was locked 😳! Closed to general public unless you pay extra fees for the Christmas event. With 75% less income since covid, the parking fee had also increased from the usual $5. to $10. Made me think of “no room at the inn” for baby Jesus. But thankfully He had a barn to go to, and we went for a snack across the street.
Written December 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
M M
1 contribution
Dec 2022
We went to the Holiday Reflections and I couldn't of been more disappointed. As you first enter, more than half of the evergreen forest lights were out, the model train exhibit, plus the mini train were closed due to technical difficulties, and it just ended up being a bunch of Christmas themed selfie and photo stations with long lines and over crowding. the VR sleigh ride was additional cost with long lines as well. Overall I was sorely let down.
Written December 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
parasols2
Detroit, MI120 contributions
Sep 2022
There was a wedding reception that was going to take place later in the evening im the main hall- I was able to get a pic, even though it was roped off. Very beautiful- they did a great job restoring it. There are restaurants and a shop or two inside. It is walking distance to the WWI museum - we didn't go inside that, but outside, up the hill and steps gives you the iconic cityscape view of Kansas City.
Written September 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Meghann R
3 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
We took our 6-year-old specifically to see the Epic Road Trip — and were very disappointed. The animatronic dinosaurs were cool, but there was no connection to the Road Trip part — not even “fossils of this Dino were found here!” The dinosaurs weren’t necessarily to scale, and there was almost no educational information about them. Finally, it only took us 20 minutes to walk through the display that cost us nearly $40 to see. Very disappointing for the price, and overall just a poor display.
Written August 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
easyout2015
Umatilla, FL21 contributions
Jun 2022
Do to a limited amount of time, we decided to briefly check out the Union Station. We spent about 20 minutes inside the facility to observe and appreciate the classic architectural design. The place oozes with a historical feel and perspective. Wish we could have stayed longer.
Written June 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Evelyn
Wichita, KS5 contributions
Mar 2021
Science City is such a fun place for kids of all ages! I took my 12 year old daughter, but I saw many families in there with babies up to teens all smiling and enjoying their time. It's fun for parents too. Lots to do here, worth the money!
Written July 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carrie
Tucson, AZ192 contributions
Feb 2020
Hubby and I went to Union Station after the Chiefs won the SuperBowl to get pics by all of the neat lighted signs that had been put up in the building. Navigating around the inside of the building was easy and the stanchions that had been put up around each large sign made getting your pic easier to do. People were friendly and accommodating, often taking pics of the party in front of them so they could have one "together". Loved the football history they had on display as well.
My only gripe was the location of the parking and the price. The parking lot was across the street and it wasn't intuitive where you needed to enter the building. The fee to park was exorbitant at $10, but I assume they charged that much due to the overwhelming number of people that were coming to check it out.
My only gripe was the location of the parking and the price. The parking lot was across the street and it wasn't intuitive where you needed to enter the building. The fee to park was exorbitant at $10, but I assume they charged that much due to the overwhelming number of people that were coming to check it out.
Written February 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
xfopus
North Aurora, IL3 contributions
My elderly mother and I will be arriving on the southwest chief at 10PM on a Monday. We’re staying at the Westin. What is the best way to get from the train station to the Westin? It looks like the hotel is across the street but the streets are busy. Also how safe is the area for two ladies at 10-11 PM?
larryyoung1955
Stacy, MN113 contributions
i think the area is safe & secure.
828gailb
Lancaster, PA2 contributions
Is there parking available around there if someone's picking me up at the train station just for a couple hours
angelajod
Kansas City, MO19 contributions
Yes there is parking in front of union station as well as a spacious parking garage. Parking is paid so plan for $5-$10.
How come you don't let the passengers inside the train station at nite they have to stand out side
jameslouie
Decorah, IA357 contributions
Sorry, do not know. Contact them directly for this question.
Charley J
Webb City, Missouri3 contributions
Is there free parking at Union Station if you are taking the Amtrak Train to Chicago for the week?
Wander759299
Morristown, MN27 contributions
I’m not sure if there’s free parking or not. We parked in the parking garage and paid $10 but it was good for all day! Didn’t have to worry about the time on parking meters and it was a secure location.
How long does it take to get through the Mummy exhibit?
tdallen113
41 contributions
maybe a half hour...and you can't take pictures
grammawber
Lee's Summit, MO
What date in April is it closing?
mcathymurphy
Kansas City, MO3 contributions
I am assuming the question is regarding the current exhibit at Union Station. Per Union Station, tickets to Pompeii exhibit are available through April 30th.
Freddiemf
Highlands, NC215 contributions
Is there free parking at the station if we are eating at Pierponts?
Newburgh_NYJohn
Gambier, OH174 contributions
Pay
Union Station (Kansas City) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Union Station
- We recommend booking Union Station tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 2 Union Station tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Union Station:
- (0.22 mi) Crossroads Hotel
- (0.19 mi) The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center
- (0.29 mi) Home2 Suites Kansas City Downtown
- (0.32 mi) Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center
- (0.60 mi) Jefferson House Bed and Breakfast
- Restaurants near Union Station:
- (0.00 mi) Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Union Station
- (0.00 mi) Conductor Club
- (0.02 mi) Parisi Cafe
- (0.03 mi) Harvey's at Union Station
- (0.04 mi) Pierpont's at Union Station
- Attractions near Union Station:
- (0.00 mi) Dinosaurs Revealed
- (0.00 mi) Freight House Bridge
- (0.00 mi) Escape Room
- (0.00 mi) Kansas City Fun Trolley Tours
- (0.00 mi) The Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium at Union Station