From Shawnee Town to a Kansas Distillery Town
Shawnee has its own sense of history — Shawnee Town 1929 recreates life in a 1920s Kansas town, complete with a working print shop and general store. At Smoky Valley Distillery in Marquette, we operate out of a building from that exact era — a 1919 COOP building that now houses our grain-to-glass distillery. If you appreciate a place where history meets craftsmanship, the drive from Shawnee to Marquette connects two towns that share a respect for Kansas heritage.
Getting Here from Shawnee
Take I-70 W directly from the Shawnee area. Follow the interstate through Topeka, Junction City, and Abilene to Salina — about 170 miles. In Salina, exit onto KS-4 W and drive 25 miles through Lindsborg to Marquette. The route is straightforward and mostly interstate, with the scenic KS-4 stretch through the Smoky Hills closing out the trip.
Shawnee sits right along the I-70 corridor, so you won't need to backtrack or navigate through the KC metro to get started — just merge west and go.
Nearest Retailers
Our spirits are available at two retailers in Salina, conveniently located along your drive:
- Brook's Liquor — all 10 handcrafted spirits in stock
- Cave Divers Liquor Store — carrying our complete vodka, bourbon, and whiskey lineup
Stop in on the way home to stock up, or buy direct from our distillery retail shop during your visit.
Weekend Trip from Shawnee
Shawnee residents looking for a genuine Kansas getaway will find it in Marquette:
Saturday:
- 7 AM: Depart Shawnee on I-70 W — grab coffee at your favorite spot before hitting the road
- 9:45 AM: Arrive in Marquette
- 10 AM: Guided tour and tasting at the distillery — walk through the production area and taste all 10 spirits ($10/person)
- 11:30 AM: Browse the retail shop — pick up bottles of Bud & Dewey's and Lingonberry Vodka
- Noon: Drive to Lindsborg (25 min) for lunch — try the Swedish Crown Restaurant or Ol' Stuga for authentic Swedish fare
- 1:30 PM: Explore the Wild Dala Horse Hunt in Lindsborg (painted horses hidden around town) and visit the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery
- 3 PM: Head back east on I-70. Optional stop at the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene
- 6 PM: Home in Shawnee
Or make it an overnight: Check into Preston House on Friday evening (sleeps 11, book on AirBnB). Enjoy a Friday night tasting, Saturday tour, live music Saturday evening, and a relaxed Sunday morning before heading home. It's the kind of weekend where you leave your phone in your pocket and actually unwind.
Kansas History, Kansas Spirits
You know the Wonderful Wizard of Oz Park in Shawnee. You've walked through Shawnee Town 1929. Now experience a different piece of Kansas heritage — a working distillery where the grain comes from Kansas fields, the Kernza Whiskey uses a revolutionary grain developed in Kansas, and the owners — Stan and Michele Von Strohe — pour every tasting themselves. It's the kind of personal, authentic experience that keeps visitors coming back from across the KC metro.