Dining Guide

Restaurants Near Mushroom Rock State Park

By The Kitchen 64 TeamUpdated July 19, 20266 min read

If you're visiting Mushroom Rock State Park and looking for somewhere to eat, the nearest homestyle sit-down meal is Kitchen 64, at 114 N Washington St in downtown Marquette — about 5 miles away, a short drive of roughly 15 to 20 minutes.Mushroom Rock is a quick, memorable stop: Kansas's smallest state park, packed with the strange mushroom-shaped rock formations that give it its name. It's a wonderful place for photos and a stretch of the legs, but there's nothing to eat out at the park itself — so once you've had your fill of the rocks, Marquette is the natural place to head for a good meal. Here's how to plan it.

About Mushroom Rock State Park

Mushroom Rock State Park is the smallest state park in Kansas — just 5 acres — but it's one of the most photographed. The park protects a cluster of Dakota sandstone concretions weathered over millions of years into shapes that really do look like giant stone mushrooms, some standing taller than a person.

The formations are recognized as one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Geography, and the park sits along the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway, so it's an easy addition to a driving loop through the Smoky Hills. It's a day-use park — a place to walk out among the rocks, take pictures, and let the kids explore for an hour before moving on.

Good to know: Mushroom Rock is day-use only, with no entrance fee or vehicle permit required — you can just pull up and enjoy it. See the official park page for current details before you go.

Where to eat: Kitchen 64 in downtown Marquette

Because Mushroom Rock is a short visit, most people fold it into a bigger day — and that usually means driving into Marquette for lunch or dinner. Kitchen 64 is a family-run kitchen right on Washington Street, about 5 miles from the park, serving a small, made-from-scratch menu that changes with the seasons.

We'll be straight with you: Marquette is a small town of around 600 people, so dining options are limited. But we take real pride in cooking from scratch with care. Our menu rotates, often with a single dinner special a day, so we can't promise a specific dish will be on the day you come — past favorites have included pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, BLT pasta salad, fresh salads, and house-made desserts. You can see how our rotating menu works to get a sense of the style.

Meals generally run about $10–$20 per person. We offer dine-in and takeout, we're wheelchair accessible, and we accept cards. If you'd like to eat on the road, just give us a call during open hours and we'll get your order going.

Planning your visit around our hours

Mushroom Rock is open for day use, but Kitchen 64 keeps a rotating weekend schedule — so it's worth lining up your visit with our hours. We're open Friday 4–9pm, Saturday 11am–6pm, and Sunday 11am–3pm, and closed Monday through Thursday.

Saturday is the easiest day to pair with a park visit — we're open from late morning into the evening.
Sunday lunch works well if you visit the rocks in the morning and head into town afterward.
Friday is dinner-only for us (from 4pm), which suits a late-afternoon photo stop followed by supper.

Since our hours rotate and the day's special changes, a quick check before you drive over saves any guesswork. See our hours and directions to time your meal just right.

Making a day of it near Marquette

Five acres of rocks won't fill a whole day, but this part of Kansas gives you plenty to build around it. Kanopolis Lake is close by, with more than 30 miles of trails, a marina, and swim beaches — an easy pairing with a Mushroom Rock stop. We wrote a companion guide on where to eat near Kanopolis Lake if you want to plan both in one trip.

Downtown Marquette is worth a wander too, with restored historic storefronts, the Kansas Motorcycle Museum, and local shops within a couple of blocks. For more ideas, browse things to do in Marquette. Whatever your route through the Smoky Hills, we'd be glad to feed you when you roll into town.

Key takeaways

Mushroom Rock State Park is Kansas's smallest state park (5 acres), known for its Dakota sandstone mushroom-shaped formations and named one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Geography.
The park is day-use only with no entrance fee or permit, and sits along the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway about 5 miles from Marquette — a short drive of roughly 15 to 20 minutes.
Kitchen 64, at 114 N Washington St in Marquette, is the nearest made-from-scratch homestyle meal, with a rotating seasonal menu (about $10–$20 per person).
Kitchen 64 is open Friday through Sunday only — Saturday is the easiest day to pair with a park visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a restaurant near Mushroom Rock State Park?

There's no food at the park itself, but Kitchen 64 in downtown Marquette is about 5 miles away — a short drive of roughly 15 to 20 minutes. It serves made-from-scratch homestyle comfort food, with dine-in and takeout.

How far is Mushroom Rock State Park from Marquette?

Mushroom Rock is roughly 5 miles from Marquette, a short drive of about 15 to 20 minutes. That makes Kitchen 64 in downtown Marquette an easy stop before or after your visit.

What days is Kitchen 64 open?

Kitchen 64 is open Friday 4–9pm, Saturday 11am–6pm, and Sunday 11am–3pm, and closed Monday through Thursday. Because the menu rotates, it's worth checking our hours before you drive in.

Is there an entrance fee at Mushroom Rock State Park?

No. Mushroom Rock is a day-use park with no entrance fee or vehicle permit required. You can check current details on the official Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks page before your visit.