The Metro's Best-Kept Secret — 3 Hours West
Kansas City has world-class BBQ, a thriving craft beer scene, and no shortage of things to do. But when you want to escape the metro for something completely different, Smoky Valley Distillery is waiting in Marquette — a small-town Kansas distillery experience that KC can't replicate. Trade the traffic and skyline for rolling hills, handcrafted spirits, and a tasting room in a historic 1919 building.
Getting Here from Kansas City
Take I-70 W from Kansas City through Lawrence and Topeka, continuing west past Junction City and Abilene to Salina. In Salina, exit onto KS-4 W and follow it through Lindsborg to Marquette. The drive is almost entirely interstate until the last 25 miles, where you'll wind through the Smoky Hills on scenic KS-4.
Total drive time is about 2 hours and 50 minutes with light traffic. The stretch from Lawrence to Salina on I-70 is one of the most peaceful drives in Kansas.
Buy Our Spirits
Our closest retail locations to Kansas City are in Salina:
- Brook's Liquor — carrying all 10 of our handcrafted spirits
- Cave Divers Liquor Store — full lineup available
We also have spirits at Plaza Wine and Spirits in Wichita. At the distillery, our retail shop is open Thursday through Saturday with our complete selection, including limited releases you won't find in stores.
Weekend Road Trip from KC
For Kansas City residents, a Smoky Valley weekend is the perfect antidote to metro life:
Friday:
- Leave KC after work — arrive in Marquette by 8 PM
- Check into Preston House (sleeps 11, walking distance to the distillery)
- Settle in and enjoy the quiet of small-town Kansas
Saturday:
- Morning: Walk to the distillery for a guided tour and tasting — 30-45 minutes, $10/person
- Lunch: Eat in Marquette or drive 25 minutes to Lindsborg for Swedish food and shopping
- Afternoon: Explore Kanopolis Lake State Park (30 minutes south) — hiking trails, rock formations, and the Faris Caves
- Evening: Return to the distillery for live music and cocktails at our venue
Sunday:
- Stop in Abilene on the way back for the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum
- Grab lunch in Junction City or Lawrence
- Back in KC by late afternoon
Why KC Visitors Keep Coming Back
Kansas City has plenty of distilleries of its own. What we offer is different — a genuine grain-to-glass operation in rural Kansas where the owners pour your tasting and share the story behind every bottle. Our Kernza Whiskey is made from a Kansas-developed grain you won't find in any KC distillery, and our Smoked Jalapeno Vodka has converted more than a few KC BBQ fans into repeat visitors.