Escape Johnson County for a Kansas Adventure
Olathe — one of the fastest-growing cities in Kansas — offers suburban convenience, great schools, and easy access to the KC metro. What it doesn't offer is a craft distillery experience in the Kansas heartland. Smoky Valley Distillery is about three hours west in Marquette, where the Smoky Hills replace subdivision sprawl and the pace of life slows down completely.
Getting Here from Olathe
From Olathe, take I-35 N to the I-70 W interchange near Bonner Springs. Follow I-70 W through Lawrence, Topeka, and Junction City to Salina — roughly 180 miles of interstate. In Salina, exit onto KS-4 W and follow it 25 miles through Lindsborg to Marquette.
The drive is straightforward and mostly highway. Once you exit onto KS-4, the scenery shifts from flat prairie to the rolling Smoky Hills — a sign that you're getting close.
Nearest Retailers
Our spirits are available at two retailers in Salina, along your route from Olathe:
- Brook's Liquor — full selection of vodka, bourbon, and whiskey
- Cave Divers Liquor Store — all 10 handcrafted spirits
Stop on the way through or wait until you reach the distillery to taste everything and buy direct from our retail shop.
Day Trip or Weekend — Your Choice
The Day Trip (for the ambitious):
- Early Morning: Depart Olathe by 7 AM
- Mid-Morning: Arrive in Marquette around 10 AM for a guided tour and tasting
- Lunch: Eat in Marquette, then browse the retail shop
- Afternoon: Drive 25 minutes to Lindsborg for Swedish pastries and the Birger Sandzén Gallery
- Evening: Back in Olathe by 7 PM with bottles of Wild Plum Vodka and Bud & Dewey's
The Weekend (recommended):
- Friday Evening: Drive to Marquette, check into Preston House (sleeps 11)
- Saturday Morning: Tour and tasting, explore Marquette's historic downtown
- Saturday Afternoon: Hike at Kanopolis Lake State Park — sandstone bluffs, the Horseshoe Canyon trail, and Faris Caves
- Saturday Evening: Live music at the distillery venue
- Sunday: Brunch in Lindsborg, explore the Ernie Miller Nature Center equivalent of central Kansas — the Smoky Hills — then head home
A Change of Pace from the Suburbs
Olathe residents know Johnson County well — the shopping, the restaurants, the familiar routine. Smoky Valley Distillery offers the opposite: a one-of-a-kind stop in a town of 600 people, where the distillery owners personally guide your tasting and the venue hosts live music on a 15x30 stage. Try our Pickle Vodka — it's become a favorite among JoCo visitors who thought they'd tried everything.