Overland Park, KS

Overland Park started in the early 1900s as a small trolley stop along a commuter railway heading into Kansas City. Today, it has grown into one of the largest and most sought-after suburbs in the metro, covering around 75 square miles in Johnson County. If you look at a map, the city stretches in a long north-to-south strip, giving each part of town its own distinct personality. The northern end feels like a classic, walkable small town with leafy older neighborhoods and historic brick storefronts, while heading south brings you into expansive suburban subdivisions and newer developments.

ATTRCity of Overland Park from Overland Park, United States / CC BY 2.0

The central corridor around College Boulevard and Metcalf Avenue serves as the commercial heart of the city. This area is packed with major employers in healthcare, finance, engineering, and tech, anchored by large corporate hubs like the sprawling Aspiria campus. It is also home to Johnson County Community College, which offers community classes, workforce training, and performing arts events at the Midwest Trust Center. Wide parkways and multiuse trails connect the office parks to bustling shopping centers, hotels, and casual lunch spots, keeping daily commutes manageable for residents working right in Johnson County.

ATTRSkylar Vance / CC BY-SA 4.0

Downtown Overland Park is the cultural hub of the north side, centered around 80th Street and Santa Fe Drive. On Saturday mornings from spring through fall, the downtown farmers market draws huge crowds for fresh produce, local baked goods, and live music at Clock Tower Landing. Outside of market hours, the surrounding blocks are filled with coffee shops, independent bakeries, taprooms, and cozy local restaurants. Families regularly head to Thompson Park for the splash pad and playground, or visit the nearby Matt Ross Community Center for its indoor pools and fitness classes.

ATTRBa7190 / CC BY-SA 3.0

As you head south past I-435 and 135th Street, Overland Park opens up into newer residential communities and top-rated Blue Valley schools. South OP offers plenty to do on weekends, including the massive Bluhawk development with its youth sports venues, retail stores, and restaurants. For outdoor fun, Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead is an absolute favorite for families with young kids, featuring farm animals, wagon rides, and fishing ponds. Even farther south, the 300-acre Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens provides miles of peaceful walking paths through native prairie, limestone bluffs, and tranquil gardens.