Travel & Lodging

Travel

Please be mindful of the workshop schedule when booking arrival and departure flights. We recommend booking your flight to arrive in Kansas City by 2 p.m. on Sunday and your return flight after 6 p.m. on Friday.

The Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is located about 25 minutes from Kansas City’s downtown. We will provide a van transfer between the airport and housing during a limited number of time windows. If your travel falls outside of these windows, you will need to find your own transportation. The metro bus service regularly runs between the airport and downtown, and there are taxicabs and ride shares available at the curb. One way fares are about $40.00 to $60.00.

Housing

Workshop participants will have two options for housing accommodations. While Home2Suites is the more expensive option, we strongly recommend it as it is right off the streetcar route, close to a variety of amenities, and is generally more geographically convenient for workshop attendees.

Home2 Suites by Hilton Kansas City Downtown

Address: 2001 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone:  816-987-7300
Fax:  816-987-7335 

A reservation link will be provided to participants. We have reserved a block of queen suite rooms at $149 a night plus tax. Parking is free if you stay in the hotel for 5 or more nights. 

The hotel is located in the heart of the Crossroads District with easy access to major attractions and dozens of restaurants in the Downtown area. Participants can easily walk to many venues. There is also streetcar stop, which is free to ride, to additional stops Downtown including Union Station, Kansas City Power and Light District and the River Market area.  

The hotel will provide complimentary breakfast. Each room comes with a working wall with ergonomic desk, free WiFi, and in-suite kitchen with sink, dishwasher, microwave, full-sized refrigerator, cookware, plates, cups and utensils. The hotel also features: a fitness center, guest laundry, heated indoor saline pool, 24-hour business services area, 24-hour Home2 MKT®, and lounge area. Most of our daily trips will leave from this location.

AVAILABLE ONLY FOR SESSION ONE PARTICIPANTS

UMKC Hospital Hill Apartments
Address: 2401 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone: (816) 235-8840

We have reserved some apartment units at rates that range from $59 to $70 a night depending on the configuration.

• 1 bedroom – $59 a night
• 4 bedroom – $70 a night per person

Parking is available at the Hospital Hill Apartments parking garage at $18 a week per person.

The student apartments offer accommodations at a more affordable price, but they are dorm-style apartments. Each unit includes a kitchen and living area, as well as bedrooms with a desk, bed, and en-suite bathrooms. Bed linens, towels, and pillows will be provided, as well as blankets upon request. There is no daily cleaning service and participants would need to bring kitchenware if you plan to cook your meals. Unlike the hotel, there is no breakfast service. The streetcar, restaurants, shops are at a distance.

The biggest difference between accommodations is the location. The Hospital Hill Apartments are located near UMKC’s large medical campus. The student apartments are approximately 1.5 miles from the Home2Suites. The location is up a steep hill and separated from the Downtown and Crossroads Districts. There are few restaurants nearby, so participants would need to walk, drive, or ride share to access a broader range of options.

AVAILABLE ONLY TO SESSION TWO PARTICIPANTS

Quality Inn & Suites Kansas City Downtown
Address: 3517 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64111
Phone: 816-381-2100

Rates (Tax Included):
$132/night Standard Double
$132/night Standard King
$191/night Three Bedroom Suite

This hotel is a lower cost option about 15 blocks south of Home2 Suites. The rates are with taxes and breakfast included in the cost.  Please note that the triple rooms and some of the double rooms are set up with the beds in different rooms with doors, but the bathrooms are in one of the bedrooms so those who are sharing would need to walk through that room. See here for some pictures of the rooms.  Parking is available in an unsecured surface lot for free on site.

We want to emphasize some points on this option, however. The Quality Inn hotel is less proximate to food options, there is more street activity around that section of the city, there is a lot of ongoing construction along Main St. in that section of the city, and you will not have access to the streetcar, which is under construction but has not yet extended to that part of the city. There is a free public bus line, however, that would take you north to downtown or south to Plaza where there are more dining options.

Please note: participants are welcome to select a different housing option; however, they must be prepared to arrive at the day’s location at the scheduled start time. In addition, we will be running a van transfer between the student apartments (Session 1) or Quality Inn (Session 2) to the Home2Suites Hotel 30 minutes before and after the day’s activities. The van will not be available after workshop hours. 

Local Commuters

Local commuters may park at the Home2Suites parking garage for $14 a week, or the Hospital Hill Apartments parking garage for $18 a week.

Meals

Participants will be charged a fee of no more than $65 (deducted from your stipend) to will cover 2 dinners, 1 lunch, and snacks. We will accommodate dietary restrictions. 

Accessibility

The workshop will require a fair amount of walking. We will walk to some sites and will walk during our visits to the various historic sites and museums. We will have a van available to accommodate those with limited mobility. All sites (with the exception of the Thomas Hart Benton House) are ADA compliant and have elevators.

Temperature and Clothing 

July temperatures in Kansas City are usually in the 80s and 90s during the day and the 60s and 70s in the evening. The humidity can be relatively high. Bring clothes and shoes that are comfortable for walking.
Current weather conditions