gardner junction on the santa fe trail

This is a quick stop on the side of the road intended to mark where the Oregon, California, and Santa Fe Trails diverge. However, the actual site of where this happened is actually about a 1/4 mile away. My historian husband knew that...and the last sign at this site admits it, too. We tried to find the actual junction spot but it looked like it was on private property -- probably why the park was put here instead. So if you don't mind being "close enough" to the actual trails junction, this is a good 10-minute stop.

If you are passing through, take 15 minutes and make a quick stop at this historic site. Gives you some history of the spot where the historic Santa Fe and Oregon Trail's split and took their respective routes westward.

There's nothing wrong with this road side attraction, but I wouldn't pull off the Interstate to see it. It's simply a historical marker. There are a few benches, and the marker also features a "native grass" prairie. (It looks like a bunch of overgrown weeds). However, if your travels take you down 56 Highway between Gardner and Edgerton, it's worth a quick stop.

This is a roadside rest area and exhibit on US 56 about 2 miles west of Gardner, KS. Driving down US 56 I spotted it too late and had to find a place to turn around to go back. It was worth a stop. The famous Oregon, California, and Santa Fe Trails basically followed the same route in the 1840's and 1850's from Independence, MO, across the southern part of the Greater Kansas City area, to Olathe, KS and then to Gardner, but it was at this point, Gardner Junction, that the trails split up. The Santa Fe Trail continues west, basically along US 56, to Council Grove, KS. The Oregon and California Trails turned northwest from here, towards Lawrence and Topeka, KS. The Gardner Junction rest area is just off of US 56 on a gravel road, but it has ample parking spaces, and was recently redesigned with interesting historical markers along concrete walking trails. The historical information provided is valuable. This site is within Johnson County, KS, one of the largest and fastest growing counties in the Kansas City area. Anybody visiting Kansas City, and wants to imagine what it was like for the pioneers setting out on a long trip across the prairies to the west, should take the time to come out to Gardner Junction. It's well worth a detour.