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Flint Hills Byway: Strong City south, Flint Hills, Kansas
Photo: RuralResurrection · CC BY 4.0 · cropped

Drives Kansas Kansas and Nebraska

Flint Hills Byway: Strong City south

KS 177 · Strong City → Cassoday

Leisurely25 mi30 min800 ft climbHigh point ≈ 1,500 ftOne way
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The drive

This is the southern end of the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway, which runs 48 miles on Kansas Highway 177 between Cassoday and Council Grove. The drive goes south from the Cottonwood River bridge at Strong City: 25.3 miles, about 30 minutes, with mostly gentle curves and a climb of about 800 feet. It passes Cottonwood Falls, home of the Chase County Courthouse, and ends at Cassoday by I-35.

The scenery is tallgrass prairie. Less than 4 percent of the original tallgrass prairie remains, mostly in the Kansas Flint Hills, and Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, which has no entrance pass, sits about 2 miles north of the US 50 and K-177 intersection.

Along the way

  1. Strong City (Cottonwood River bridge)
  2. Cassoday (I-35)
Elevation
800 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 1,500 ft
Strong CityCassoday
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
Strong CityCassoday
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Construction on K-177 north of US 50 at Strong City has closed it to through traffic toward Council Grove; this southern drive is south of that stretch.
  • Check KanDrive before you go for the current status of K-177.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check KanDrive (Kansas DOT).

Questions about this drive

How long is the Flint Hills Byway from Strong City to Cassoday?

K-177 from Strong City to Cassoday is 25.3 miles and takes about 30 minutes.

Is the Flint Hills Scenic Byway open?

The southern half from Strong City to Cassoday is usually open. K-177 from US 50 at Strong City north to Council Grove has had reconstruction closures, so check the state road status.

Is the Flint Hills Byway twisty?

No. It is a leisurely drive with mostly gentle curves across open prairie.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
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Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
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More drives near here

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Flint Hills Byway: Strong City south, from Strong City to Cassoday