Soda fountains once sat at the center of small-town life in Kansas, and a surprising number of them are still pouring today. Some are attached to museums, some to drugstores, and one even carries a thousand kinds of bottled soda.
Whether you want a classic malt, a hand-mixed Coke, or a float made from a soda you have never heard of, these eight stops make an easy afternoon adventure. Grab a friend, pick a town, and go chase down some old-fashioned fizz.
1. Old Mill Tasty Shop, Wichita, KS
Opened back in 1932, this downtown Wichita parlor has been serving lunch and soda-fountain treats for generations. The setting leans into its 1930s roots, with a counter that recalls the old soda stations of decades past.
The kitchen keeps things classic with tuna melts, cheese crisps, KC steak soup, and chicken sour cream nachos. Sweets fans go for the malts, shakes, and the Very Cherry Sundae.
One fun touch is how the sodas are built, with syrup and seltzer water mixed to order the old-fashioned way. Refills often arrive without you asking, and there is a small picnic spot out front for eating outdoors.
Hours run Monday through Saturday, 11 AM to 3 PM, so this is a lunch mission. Saturday afternoons get busy and loud, so a weekday visit is calmer.
Parking includes on-site spots plus paid garages, lots, and street options nearby.
2. First City Soda, Leavenworth, KS
Inspired by the elegant soda fountains of the 1920s, this downtown Leavenworth spot brings handcrafted sodas and vintage charm to Delaware Street. It sits attached to First City Creatives, so it doubles as a stop for browsing and sipping.
The restored soda fountain is a showpiece, complete with counter seating and a stained glass ceiling overhead. It is the kind of room where you slow down and stay a while.
Do not let the name fool you into thinking sodas are all they pour. The menu stretches to sandwiches, coffee, ice cream, and a rotating list of creative drinks like lavender lemonade soda.
Open Tuesday through Sunday, with later hours on Friday and Saturday nights. There is free wi-fi and a fireplace, which makes it an easy place to work or gather with a group.
Parking is usually plentiful with free lot and street options.
3. Kiowa County Historical Museum and Soda Fountain, Greensburg, KS
Two experiences share one roof here, since a county history museum and a working soda fountain sit side by side in Greensburg. You can browse local artifacts, then reward yourself with a treat at the counter.
The fountain does the classics well, with sundaes, shakes, and malts among the highlights. Portions run generous, so come hungry.
Location is part of the fun. The shop sits next to the library and just down the street from the Big Well and the art center, making it easy to string together a whole Greensburg stroll.
Step inside and the vibe leans nostalgic, the sort of place that feels like your grandparents’ era. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 AM to 6 PM, with on-site parking and clean restrooms.
Free wi-fi is available too, though the real draw is the fountain itself.
4. Old Prairie Town at Ward-Meade Historic Site and Botanical Garden, Topeka, KS
Part living-history village, part garden escape, this Topeka site recreates an 1800s prairie town complete with a schoolhouse, church, and general store. Wander the grounds and you will also find botanical gardens tucked among the buildings.
The soda fountain lives inside the Potwin Drugstore, where the general store staff serve ice cream sodas and old-fashioned milkshakes. Sunday afternoons sometimes pair a milkshake with free live music.
Here is a planning tip worth remembering. Tour days and times vary, and outside of those hours most buildings stay locked, though the general store and soda fountain remain open.
The setting is quiet and tranquil, an easygoing corner of Topeka that works for families. There is a gift shop and a theater with live performances, plus guided tours of the replica town.
Parking is free on the street, and restrooms are on site.
5. Sunflower Soda Fountain, Coffeyville, KS
Breakfast and lunch anchor the menu at this Coffeyville eatery, which pairs a soda fountain with a full spread of comfort food. Sandwiches, burgers, salads, and tacos share the board with pies and cakes.
Fountain drinks are a big part of the appeal, and the malts get plenty of attention, including a chocolate chocolate version. The casual, quiet dining room makes it an easy solo lunch or a spot to gather a small group.
Beyond sweets, there is a solid coffee and tea selection plus some healthier options and small plates. That range means you can turn a soda run into a real meal.
Open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 3 PM, and closed on weekends, so plan a weekday visit. Reservations are accepted, which helps since street parking can be tricky.
Delivery, dine-in, and takeout are all available.
6. City Sundries, Marquette, KS
Small-town charm runs deep at this Marquette spot, where the inside is decorated to recall the era of diners and ice cream sodas. It is the kind of place families return to across generations.
Food and sweets share equal billing, with burgers, pizzas, and sandwiches alongside homemade ice cream and soda-fountain staples. The shakes earn especially strong praise.
There is more here than just a meal. Shelves hold a fun selection of gifts and Kansas memorabilia, so you can browse while you wait or grab a souvenir on the way out.
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 AM to 5 PM, and closed the rest of the week. It is built for a quick, friendly visit, so swing by for a shake and a little conversation.
A heads-up for soda purists: the fountain drinks lean toward standard bottled pop rather than syrup-mixed sodas.
7. Mass Street Soda & Sweets, Lawrence, KS
One thousand varieties of soda and soft drinks line the shelves at this Lawrence shop, and a big map helps you track where they all come from. If you have ever wanted a soda from your hometown or from halfway across the country, this is the place to hunt for it.
The old-fashioned soda bar can chill your pick in about a minute, and they will turn any bottle you choose into a float. That flexibility makes it a paradise for anyone who likes to experiment.
Candy shares the spotlight too, with a wide range of salt water taffy and other sweets to browse. It is easy to walk in for one soda and leave with a bag of nostalgia.
Located on Massachusetts Street in the heart of downtown Lawrence, the shop is open seven days a week with later hours on Friday and Saturday. Prices on hard-to-find bottles are often better than ordering direct.
8. Family Market and Soda Fountain, Howard, KS
Down in the little town of Howard, an old-school drugstore keeps the soda fountain tradition alive alongside a working pharmacy. It is a true throwback, the sort of spot where you can fill a prescription and order ice cream in the same trip.
The ice cream fountain is the sweet reward, and the staff are known for being genuinely helpful. There is also great produce on hand, so it functions as a real neighborhood market.
Services stretch beyond the counter, with delivery, in-store pickup, and in-store shopping all available. That mix makes it a practical stop, not just a novelty.
Hours run Tuesday through Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM, and Saturday, 8 AM to 2 PM, with Sunday and Monday closed. It is set up for a quick visit, which fits nicely into a road trip through southeast Kansas.
Restrooms are on site.
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