College Visit Guides

Fly-in guide · 2 days, 1 campus

Wichita State University in 2 Days: A Wichita, Kansas College Visit Fly-In Trip

A parent-first plan for visiting Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas: how Wichita State's personalized weekday campus visit and Shocker Saturdays work and where to sign up, free visitor parking at the Marcus Welcome Center, a Hyatt Place on the edge of campus plus Old Town and downtown hotels from Budget to Upscale, drive times from Wichita's Eisenhower airport, the Sedgwick County Zoo and Museum of World Treasures for siblings, and Wichita weather by season, every fact sourced and checked Oct 31, 2026.

A tall black sign reading ULRICH MUSEUM OF ART in front of a red-brick building whose wall is covered by a large, colorful mosaic mural of abstract bird-like figures, with low brick walls, a tree and a clear blue sky
The Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University in Wichita (September 2026). Photo: Staryu · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Last checked Oct 31, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).

The short version

Trip at a glance

School
Wichita State University (Wichita, KS)
Days
2 days: fly into Wichita and settle in, then a personalized Wichita State campus visit the next day.
Fly into
Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT), about 22 minutes from the Hyatt Place on campus and about 13 to 15 minutes from the downtown and Old Town hotels with no traffic.
Best base
Hyatt Place Wichita State University, about a 2-minute drive (or about an 8-minute walk) to the Marcus Welcome Center (Admissions).
Car or no car
Rent a car. Free visitor parking is right in front of the Marcus Welcome Center, and the zoo and Old Town are a short drive.
Registration
Request a campus visit on Wichita State's sign-up calendar at least two weeks ahead, or sign up for a Shocker Saturday on the Admissions Events page.

1. Who this guide is for

This plan is for parents bringing a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, to see Wichita State University, home of the Shockers.

Visits start at the Marcus Welcome Center, home of the Office of Admissions, just east of Eck Baseball Stadium at 21st Street and Mike Oatman Drive. Look for the clock tower.

Why this order

  • Day 1: fly into Wichita Eisenhower and drive about 22 minutes (about 12.6 miles) to the Hyatt Place on the edge of campus, with no traffic.
  • Day 2: a personalized Wichita State campus visit with a welcome presentation from admissions, a campus and housing tour, and a Shocker Send Off to ask your last questions.
  • With extra time, the Museum of World Treasures in Old Town is about 10 minutes from campus by car, and the Sedgwick County Zoo is about 17 minutes away.
Plan ahead: registration and timing
  • Wichita State's campus visit is personalized: a welcome presentation from an admissions staff member, a campus and housing tour, and a Shocker Send Off, plus optional meetings with your student's academic area. Pick a date on the sign-up calendar; on-campus visits run Monday to Friday, and virtual visits are offered too.
  • Request your visit at least two weeks ahead, especially if you want an academic appointment. Academic appointments aren't available on Shocker Saturdays.
  • Weekend option: Shocker Saturdays include an admissions presentation, a student panel and a campus and housing tour. Upcoming dates include Saturday, November 7 and Saturday, December 5, 2026; sign up on the Admissions Events page, since events close when they fill.
  • Bringing 10 or more students? Request a group visit at least two weeks ahead. Want a preview first? Wichita State has a virtual tour.
  • Wichita State advises arriving 10 minutes early to check in, and says to eat before or after your visit because breakfast and lunch aren't provided.
Tour availability varies by season.
  • Summers are hot: July averages about 93°F highs and 70°F lows at Wichita's Eisenhower airport.
  • Winters are cold: January averages about 44°F highs and 23°F lows, with about 2 to 4 inches of snow a month from December to February.
  • Late spring is the wettest time: May averages about 5.2 inches of rain and June about 4.9 inches, so pack a rain jacket for the walking tour.
  • Check the Shockers schedule before you book if you'd like to catch a game while you're in town.

2. The suggested 2-day plan

  • Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, with addresses geocoded by OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Campus times are to the Marcus Welcome Center (Admissions); visitor parking is in the lot in front of it.

Day 1: fly into Wichita and settle in

  1. Wichita Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) → Hyatt Place Wichita State University

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~22 min, 12.6 mi
    Driving
    Rental car

  2. Wichita Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) → Aloft by Marriott Wichita

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~23 min, 16.1 mi
    Driving
    Rental car

  3. Wichita Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) → Courtyard by Marriott Wichita at Old Town

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~15 min, 8.2 mi
    Driving
    Rental car

  4. Wichita Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) → Hotel at Old Town

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~15 min, 7.6 mi
    Driving
    Rental car

  5. Wichita Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) → Ambassador Hotel Wichita

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~13 min, 7.1 mi
    Driving
    Rental car or the hotel's airport shuttle
  • Staying in Old Town? The Museum of World Treasures is about a 2-minute walk from Hotel at Old Town and about 5 minutes from the Courtyard, so it's an easy first-evening stop if it's still open.

Day 2: Wichita State University campus visit

  1. Hyatt Place Wichita State University → Marcus Welcome Center (Admissions)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~2 min, 0.7 mi
    Driving
    Drive (about an 8-min walk)

  2. Aloft by Marriott Wichita → Marcus Welcome Center (Admissions)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~5 min, 2.3 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  3. Courtyard by Marriott Wichita at Old Town → Marcus Welcome Center (Admissions)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~10 min, 4.9 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  4. Hotel at Old Town → Marcus Welcome Center (Admissions)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~10 min, 5 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  5. Ambassador Hotel Wichita → Marcus Welcome Center (Admissions)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~10 min, 5.3 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  6. Marcus Welcome Center (Admissions) → Sedgwick County Zoo

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~17 min, 7.4 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  7. Marcus Welcome Center (Admissions) → Museum of World Treasures

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~10 min, 5.1 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  8. Marcus Welcome Center (Admissions) → Wichita Eisenhower National Airport (ICT)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~22 min, 12.7 mi
    Driving
    Drive
  • Park in the visitor lot in front of the Marcus Welcome Center; no permit is needed. Admissions reserves spots there for visiting students, labeled with their names.
  • Come into the Marcus Welcome Center lobby and check in with the admissions staff about 10 minutes early. You'll get a folder with your student's own schedule, and Admissions runs a shuttle so visitors make it to appointments around campus.
  • Flying out the same day? The airport is about 22 minutes from campus, so you can usually fit a flight in after the visit.

3. Campus by campus

A tall black sign reading ULRICH MUSEUM OF ART in front of a red-brick building whose wall is covered by a large, colorful mosaic mural of abstract bird-like figures, with low brick walls, a tree and a clear blue sky
The Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University in Wichita (September 2026). Photo: Staryu · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

Wichita State University (Wichita, KS)

Where visits start
  • Visits start at the Marcus Welcome Center, east of Eck Baseball Stadium at 21st Street and Mike Oatman Drive; check in with admissions staff in the lobby about 10 minutes early.
  • The visit includes a welcome presentation, a campus and housing tour with a student guide, and a Shocker Send Off with admissions, plus any academic or department meetings you asked for when you registered. Your student leaves with a free Wichita State T-shirt.
Visitor parking
  • Free visitor parking is in the lot in front of the Marcus Welcome Center; no permit is needed, and Wichita State asks visitors to use the red-sign spots if possible.
  • Elsewhere on campus, visitors may park without a permit in lots marked with a "V" for up to 3 days a semester during enforcement hours (7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays when classes are in session). The parking garage by the student center (RSC) has hourly paid parking, card only.
Getting there
  • The Marcus Welcome Center is about 22 minutes by car from Wichita Eisenhower National Airport with no traffic, about 2 minutes from the Hyatt Place and about 10 minutes from the Old Town hotels.
What to know
  • Want a preview first? Wichita State's virtual tour lets your student look around campus before you go.
  • Can't visit on a weekday? Shocker Saturdays add a current-student panel to the presentation and tour.
Contact
Wichita State University Office of Admissions: Marcus Welcome Center, 1845 Fairmount St., Wichita, KS 67260, 316-978-3085, admissions@wichita.edu (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Campus visit questions: campus.visits@wichita.edu or 316-978-4755.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: Wichita State Admissions: Visit Wichita State (all visit options) · Wichita State Admissions Events (Shocker Saturdays and more) · Wichita State: group visit request · Wichita State Parking Services: Visitor Parking · Wichita State: virtual tour

4. Where to stay: Wichita hotels near campus and in Old Town

Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Hotel · Our pickMid-range

Hyatt Place Wichita State University

4703 E. 19th St. N., Wichita, KS 67208

Why here

  • It's on the edge of campus, about a 2-minute drive or an 8-minute walk to the Marcus Welcome Center with no traffic.
  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists a free buffet breakfast, free self-parking, a pool, a gym, a restaurant on site and pet-friendly rooms. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateMid-range

Aloft by Marriott Wichita

3642 N. Oliver St., Wichita, KS 67220

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's north of campus, about a 5-minute drive to the Marcus Welcome Center.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists free self-parking, a seasonal outdoor pool, a 24-hour gym, a restaurant, cooked-to-order breakfast for a fee and pet-friendly rooms. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateMid-range

Courtyard by Marriott Wichita at Old Town

820 E. 2nd St. N., Wichita, KS 67202

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's in Old Town, about 10 minutes from the Marcus Welcome Center and about 15 minutes from the airport.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists limited on-site self-parking for a fee (with free off-site parking within 0.2 miles), a gym, a restaurant and a buffet breakfast for a fee. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateBudget

Hotel at Old Town

830 E. 1st St. N., Wichita, KS 67202

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's next door to the Museum of World Treasures in Old Town, about 10 minutes from the Marcus Welcome Center by car.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists free parking, a 24-hour gym, a restaurant and a daily buffet breakfast for a fee. The minimum check-in age is 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateUpscale

Ambassador Hotel Wichita, Autograph Collection

104 S. Broadway, Wichita, KS 67202

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 4.5-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's downtown, about 13 minutes from the airport and about 10 minutes from the Marcus Welcome Center.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists a free 24-hour roundtrip airport shuttle on request, a free area shuttle within 5 miles, valet parking for a fee, a gym, a restaurant and pet-friendly rooms. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hyatt Place is the closest to the Marcus Welcome Center and includes breakfast. Pick an Old Town or downtown hotel if you'd rather walk to dinner and the Museum of World Treasures; they're about 10 minutes from campus.

5. Meals between tours

Hours change, so check before you go.

At the hotels

Hyatt Place includes a free buffet breakfast. Aloft, the Courtyard, Hotel at Old Town and the Ambassador have restaurants and serve breakfast for a fee.

During the visit

Wichita State doesn't provide breakfast or lunch during a campus visit, so plan to eat before or after.

6. Things for siblings along the route

With siblings

Sedgwick County Zoo

5555 W. Zoo Blvd., Wichita, KS 67212

A big-day-out zoo about 17 minutes from campus by car, with The Beastro restaurant and Nganda Cafe inside and strollers and wheelchairs to rent (reserve ahead). Hours change by day, so check the zoo's Visit page before you go.

Official page →

With siblings

Museum of World Treasures

835 E. 1st St., Wichita, KS 67202

Three floors of family-friendly exhibits in Old Town, including Ivan the T. rex, ancient Egyptian burial rituals and World War II artifacts, about 10 minutes from campus. Open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.

Official page →

7. Practical tips

Getting to campus

  • Head for the clock tower at 21st Street and Mike Oatman Drive, park in the visitor lot in front of the Marcus Welcome Center, and check in about 10 minutes early.

Flying in and out

  • Wichita Eisenhower National Airport is about 22 minutes from campus and 13 to 15 minutes from downtown and Old Town with no traffic. The Ambassador offers a free airport shuttle on request.

Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Wichita Eisenhower airport)

  • Spring: April averages about 68°F highs and 45°F lows, and May warms to about 78°F/56°F with about 5.2 inches of rain, the wettest month.
  • Summer: June averages about 88°F/66°F and July about 93°F/70°F.
  • Fall: September averages about 83°F/60°F, October about 71°F/47°F and November about 57°F/35°F.
  • Winter: December averages about 46°F/25°F and January about 44°F/23°F, with about 3 to 4 inches of snow a month in December and February.

Parent checklist

  • Request a Wichita State campus visit at least two weeks ahead, or sign up for a Shocker Saturday.
  • Want to meet with your student's academic area? Choose a weekday visit and ask when you register.
  • Book flights into Wichita Eisenhower and plan a rental car.
  • Book the Hyatt Place by campus, or an Old Town or downtown hotel.
  • Eat before you go, arrive 10 minutes early and park in front of the Marcus Welcome Center.
  • After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.

8. Student-athlete recruiting visits

For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.

Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.

Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.

1 Division I

NCAA basics for parents

  • Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
  • Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
  • Division I (Wichita State University): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
  • Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.

Planning around the season

  • Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
  • Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.

Student-athlete sources

All checked Oct 26, 2026.

  1. NCAA, 2026-27 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (pp. 3, 21–25)
  2. NCAA.org: NCAA Recruiting
  3. NCAA: Division I and II Recruiting Calendars and Guides
  4. NCAA Directory: Wichita State University
  5. Wichita State University Athletics (official site)
  6. Wichita State University Athletics: Staff Directory
  7. Wichita State University Athletics: schedule of events

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Sources

All checked Oct 31, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.

  1. Wichita State University Admissions: Visit Wichita State
  2. Wichita State University Admissions: Campus Visits sign-up (official)
  3. Wichita State University Admissions: Admissions Events
  4. Wichita State University Admissions: Meet the WSU admissions team (contact and location)
  5. Wichita State University Admissions blog: Things To Know When Visiting Campus
  6. Wichita State University Admissions blog: How Wichita State Personalizes Your Visit
  7. Wichita State University Parking Services: Visitor Parking at WSU
  8. Wichita State University: Group visits request (official)
  9. Wichita State University: Virtual Tour (official)
  10. Expedia listing: Hyatt Place Wichita State University (star class; amenities and address via same-id Hotwire listing, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Wichita-Hotels-Hyatt-Place-Wichita-State-University.h42723842.Hotel-Information)
  11. Expedia listing: Aloft by Marriott Wichita (star class; amenities and address via same-id Hotwire listing, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Wichita-Hotels-Aloft-Wichita.h16397981.Hotel-Information)
  12. Expedia listing: Courtyard by Marriott Wichita at Old Town (star class; amenities and address via same-id Hotwire listing, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Wichita-Hotels-Courtyard-By-Marriott-Wichita-At-Old-Town.h1507205.Hotel-Information)
  13. Expedia listing: Hotel at Old Town (star class; amenities and address via same-id Hotwire listing, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Wichita-Hotels-Hotel-At-Old-Town.h6497071.Hotel-Information)
  14. Expedia listing: Ambassador Hotel Wichita, Autograph Collection (star class; amenities and address via same-id Hotwire listing, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Wichita-Hotels-Ambassador-Hotel-Wichita.h5431015.Hotel-Information)
  15. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), driving and walking profiles
  16. OpenStreetMap Nominatim geocoder
  17. NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Monthly Normals, Wichita Eisenhower National Airport, KS (USW00003928)
  18. Sedgwick County Zoo: Plan Your Visit
  19. Museum of World Treasures: Plan Your Visit
  20. Wichita State Shockers Athletics: Composite Schedule