Dining Guide

Where to Eat Near Kanopolis Lake, Kansas

By The Kitchen 64 TeamUpdated July 19, 20266 min read

If you're spending the day at Kanopolis Lake and wondering where to eat, the closest homestyle sit-down meal is Kitchen 64, at 114 N Washington St in downtown Marquette — about 10 miles away, roughly a 15-minute drive from the park.Kanopolis is Kansas's first and oldest state park, with miles of trails, a marina, and swim beaches, but it sits out on the prairie without much in the way of restaurants nearby. That's why a lot of visitors point the car toward Marquette when they get hungry. Here's what to know about the lake, and how to fit a made-from-scratch meal into your day.

About Kanopolis State Park

Kanopolis State Park holds the title of Kansas's first — and oldest — state park. The park itself covers roughly 1,585 acres wrapped around a 3,500-acre lake, so there's a lot of shoreline and open water to enjoy whether you're fishing, paddling, or just looking for a quiet spot to watch the sun come up.

On land, the park has more than 30 miles of hiking, mountain-bike, and horse trails winding through the Smoky Hills — some of the prettiest terrain in central Kansas. There's a full-service marina, swim beaches, around 450 campsites, and six deluxe cabins if you want to stay the night. History buffs can seek out the Faris Caves, a set of hand-carved sandstone rooms near the Smoky Hill River.

Good to know: Kanopolis is open year-round, and a Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks vehicle permit is required to enter. Check current permit details on the official park page before you head out.

Where to eat: Kitchen 64 in downtown Marquette

After a morning on the trails or an afternoon on the water, Kitchen 64 is an easy detour into town. We're a family-run kitchen in downtown Marquette serving a small, made-from-scratch menu that changes with the seasons — hearty, familiar comfort food cooked with care.

We'll be honest with you: Marquette is a small town of around 600 people, so you won't find a strip of restaurants to choose from. What you will find is a scratch kitchen that takes real pride in the food. Our menu rotates, often with a single dinner special a day, so we can't promise any one dish will be on when you visit — but past favorites have included pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, BLT pasta salad, fresh salads, and house-made desserts. Take a look at how our rotating menu works to get a feel for it.

Prices generally run about $10–$20 per person. We're a dine-in and takeout spot, wheelchair accessible, and we accept cards. If you'd rather grab your food and head back to the lake, just give us a call during open hours and we'll get an order started.

Planning your visit around our hours

Kanopolis is open all year, but Kitchen 64 keeps a rotating weekend schedule — so a little planning helps you line the two up. 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 full day at the lake — we're open from late morning into the evening.
Sunday lunch works well if you head into town before mid-afternoon.
Friday is dinner-only for us (from 4pm), which is perfect after an afternoon on the trails.

Because our hours rotate and the day's special changes, it's always worth a quick check before you drive in. See our hours and directions so you can time your meal without any surprises.

Making a day of it near Marquette

Kanopolis pairs naturally with the other outdoor stops in this corner of the Smoky Hills. Just a short drive from the lake, Mushroom Rock State Park is home to Kansas's famous mushroom-shaped sandstone formations — an easy, kid-friendly add-on to a lake day. We put together a companion guide on restaurants near Mushroom Rock State Park if you want to string both together.

Back in town, downtown Marquette rewards a slow wander — restored historic storefronts, the Kansas Motorcycle Museum, and local shops all within a couple of blocks. For a fuller list, browse things to do in Marquette. However you build your day, we'd love to have you pull up a chair when you're hungry.

Key takeaways

Kanopolis State Park is Kansas's first and oldest state park — about 1,585 acres around a 3,500-acre lake, roughly 10 miles (a 15-minute drive) from downtown Marquette.
The park offers 30+ miles of trails, a marina, swim beaches, around 450 campsites, six cabins, and the historic Faris Caves; it's open year-round with a KDWP vehicle permit required.
Kitchen 64, at 114 N Washington St in Marquette, is the closest 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 full day at the lake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a restaurant near Kanopolis Lake?

The park itself is out on the prairie without much dining nearby, but Kitchen 64 in downtown Marquette is about 10 miles away — roughly a 15-minute drive. It serves made-from-scratch homestyle comfort food and offers dine-in and takeout.

How far is Kanopolis Lake from Marquette?

Kanopolis Lake is approximately 10 miles from Marquette, about a 15-minute drive. 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.

Do I need a permit to visit Kanopolis State Park?

Yes. Kanopolis is a Kansas state park, so a Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks vehicle permit is required to enter. Confirm current permit details on the official park page before you go.