A street in one Kansas downtown ranks among America’s best. 6 reasons to visit

USA Today named Emporia’s Commercial Street the third best main street in America in its 2026 rankings. The downtown Kansas thoroughfare beat out dozens of contenders thanks to its historic charm, vibrant dining scene and year-round community events.

FULL STORY: One of America’s most charming main streets is in Kansas. What makes it special?

Here are key takeaways:

• Commercial Street covers a walkable nine-block area just south of Emporia State University and was designated a national historic district in 2012, according to Emporia Main Street.
• The street offers a wide range of dining options, including authentic Mexican cuisine, smoky BBQ, artisan pizza, handcrafted sandwiches, a local brewery, a gourmet chocolate shop and cozy coffee spots.
• Top attractions include the Imaginarium STEM education center, a historic 1929 Spanish Colonial Revival theatre and the town arts center.
• Downtown Emporia hosts more than 40 events each year, with upcoming highlights including the Kansas Shrine Bowl, the Emporia First Friday Art Walk and the Great American Market.
• Visit Emporia, the town’s destination marketing organization, calls Commercial Street “the bustling heart of the city.”
• Emporia sits about 90 miles northeast of Wichita, and its main street has been named among the best in the U.S. every year since 2024.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.