Emporia, Kansas

About Emporia

Emporia was founded in 1857 and named after the ancient trading city of Carthage. It is the Lyon County seat and home to Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College. The town sits at the junction of I-35, the Kansas Turnpike, US 50 and K-99, about an hour south of Topeka.

Downtown runs along Commercial Street, a brick-front historic district with restaurants, bars, a chocolate shop and the two bike shops. Unbound's finish line, expo and block party fill it every race weekend. The city government is at 111 E 6th Avenue.

The climate is humid subtropical: hot, humid summers, cold winters, and spring storms that can turn the gravel to mud on race day.

Riding in Emporia

The Flint Hills start at the edge of town: rolling tallgrass prairie crossed by gravel and minimum-maintenance roads with sharp flint rock, creek crossings and long sightlines. This is where Unbound's routes go. The riding is remote, so carry what you need and tell someone your route. Both downtown shops sell maps and give route advice.

Wind out of the south is the constant. Early June averages a high near 82 F with about a 40 percent chance of rain on any day.

Getting to Emporia

Fly into Wichita (ICT, about 94 miles and an hour and a half) or Kansas City (MCI, about 125 miles and two hours), then drive; both routes are interstate. Topeka is about 59 miles. There is no commercial air service in Emporia. A car is necessary, but once in town the hotels on the west side are a five-minute drive from Commercial Street and everything downtown is walkable.