Sight guide · Kansas City · United States
Visiting Loose Park and Rose Garden
This 75-acre park south of the Plaza was the site of the 1864 Battle of Westport, the largest Civil War battle west of the Mississippi, and markers explain the fighting.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Brit By Birth, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Loose Park and Rose Garden is a park in Country Club Plaza, Kansas City. Allow 1 hour; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Park
- Area
- Country Club Plaza
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- free, outdoors, couples and history
- Best months
- April and September–October
About Loose Park and Rose Garden
This 75-acre park south of the Plaza was the site of the 1864 Battle of Westport, the largest Civil War battle west of the Mississippi, and markers explain the fighting. Today it is best known for its formal rose garden with thousands of bushes, a lake and wide lawns.
Tip: Visit from late May into June when the roses are at peak bloom.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1 hour.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Country Club Plaza, spanish-style towers, fountains and outdoor shopping streets built in the 1920s.
Best time to visit Loose Park and Rose Garden
Loose Park and Rose Garden is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- September: 26°C (79°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, busy crowds.
- October: 20°C (68°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, busy crowds.
- April: 19°C (66°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, moderate crowds.
When to visit Kansas City has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Loose Park and Rose Garden is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen National WWI Museum and Memorial and Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
- No. 14 of the 17 sights in our Kansas City things-to-do list.
- Listed in free things to do in Kansas City.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Kansas City.
Near Loose Park and Rose Garden
Also in Country Club Plaza, so you can walk between them:
- Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art — 1 hour, free
- Country Club Plaza — 1–2 hours, free
- Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art — 2–3 hours, free
Staying near Loose Park and Rose Garden
Stay in Country Club Plaza ($$$) to walk here: spanish-style towers, fountains and outdoor shopping streets built in the 1920s. All areas to stay in Kansas City.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Loose Park and Rose Garden?
Plan 1 hour. With Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art nearby, it fits a half-day in Country Club Plaza.
+Is Loose Park and Rose Garden free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit Loose Park and Rose Garden?
April and September–October for the most comfortable weather. Visit from late May into June when the roses are at peak bloom.
+Do I need to book Loose Park and Rose Garden in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.