Hutchinson FlyOut 2026

Hutchinson, KS
June 4-7, 2026

About the FlyOut

Hutchinson, known as the “Salt City,” is a welcoming community in south-central Kansas with a rich blend of history, culture, and Midwestern charm. Founded in the late 1800s, Hutchinson grew around its vast underground salt deposits, which still play a role in the city’s identity today. With a population just over 40,000, it offers the feel of a small town while supporting attractions and amenities more commonly found in larger cities.

Today, Hutchinson is best known as home to two world-class attractions: the underground salt mine at Strataca and the nationally recognized Cosmosphere aerospace museum. Beyond these highlights, visitors will find a revitalized downtown with local restaurants, shops, and cultural venues, along with parks, walking trails, and community spaces like Dillon Nature Center. Easy to navigate and known for its friendly atmosphere, Hutchinson makes an excellent destination for a relaxed, engaging visit that combines unique experiences with genuine Kansas hospitality.

Activity Highlights

Kansas Underground Salt Museum

The Strataca is one of Hutchinson’s most distinctive and memorable attractions, offering visitors a rare opportunity to travel deep underground into an active salt mine. Descending more than 650 feet below the surface, guests explore vast subterranean chambers carved from ancient salt deposits formed over 275 million years ago. The experience combines history, geology, and engineering, giving a firsthand look at how salt mining shaped the region and earned Hutchinson its nickname, the Salt City.

During the guided tour, visitors ride a mine elevator and tram system through the underground network, stopping at exhibits that showcase early mining equipment, restored machinery, and displays explaining the science of salt formation and extraction. In addition to the mine’s industrial history, Strataca also houses unique underground storage areas and themed exhibits that highlight how the stable environment of the mine has been used over time. The tour is well-paced, informative, and accessible, making it suitable for a wide range of ages and interests.

Strataca is widely regarded as a one-of-a-kind experience in North America and is consistently rated as a must-see destination in Kansas. Cool, quiet, and surprisingly expansive, the underground environment provides a fascinating contrast to the plains above and offers an unforgettable glimpse into a hidden world beneath Hutchinson. For many visitors, the salt mine tour is not just a highlight of the trip, but an experience they will remember long after returning home.

Cosmosphere Space Museum & Planetarium

The Cosmosphere is internationally recognized as one of the finest space museums in the world and is a cornerstone of Hutchinson’s identity. Home to an extraordinary collection of authentic U.S. and Russian spaceflight artifacts, the Cosmosphere preserves and interprets the history of human space exploration through immersive exhibits and expertly curated displays. From early rocketry to the Apollo program and beyond, the museum offers a compelling, educational experience that appeals to visitors of all ages.

During our visit, we will enjoy a guided tour led by knowledgeable staff who provide deeper insight into the museum’s most significant artifacts and exhibits, adding context and behind-the-scenes stories that bring the space race to life. Following the tour, the group will experience a documentary in the Dome Theater, where large-format visuals and surround sound create an engaging, cinematic look at space science, exploration, and discovery.

The visit will also include a show in the planetarium, offering a guided journey through the night sky and the wonders of the universe. Using advanced projection technology, the planetarium experience combines science and storytelling to explore planets, stars, and galaxies in a way that is both informative and inspiring. Together, the guided tour, dome documentary, and planetarium show make the Cosmosphere visit a well-rounded and unforgettable highlight of our time in Hutchinson.

Explore On Your Own

For those looking to explore on their own, Hutchinson offers a variety of relaxed and enjoyable options within a short drive. Visitors can stroll through the revitalized downtown area with its locally owned shops, cafés, and restaurants, or spend time outdoors at places like Dillon Nature Center with its walking trails and scenic lake. Additional options include the Hutchinson Zoo, local museums, breweries, and seasonal community events, making it easy to tailor free time to personal interests while enjoying the city’s friendly, small-town atmosphere.

HUTCHINSON VISITORS GUIDE      

Schedule of Activities

Travel Information

Airport and FBO

KHUT - Hutchinson Regional Airport
FBO: Wells Aircraft
Phone: 620-663-1546
$0.25/gallon fuel discount on full service. (Self-Service is available on the main airport ramp)

No Tie-Down fees. FBO parking spaces are limited; it is recommended to bring tie-downs and park at the t-shaped tie-down spots on the main ramp by the control tower and restaurant. 

Hangar space is available through Wells Aircraft. Please contact the FBO for more information.

KHUT-AIRNAV      FBO WEBSITE

Rental Cars

FBO: Wells Aircraft
Please contact the FBO, 620-663-1546

Hotel

Reservations can be made online using the link below or by calling the hotel at 620-259-8787.
Make sure you tell them you are with United States Pilots Association.

Room Rate - $140/night plus tax

Rate includes breakfast.

Room availability cannot be guaranteed after May 1, 2026.

ONLINE RESERVATIONS AND HOTEL WEBSITE

Activity Costs

Kansas Underground Salt Museum (Choose One)

Salt Blast Pass $35 (Senior or Military $23) - The MAIN tour is 2.5 hours, self guided, self paced tour, in the Salt Mines of Hutchinson that includes the Underground Museum Galleries, 30 Minute Dark Ride, and 15 minute Train Ride.
Salt Blast Pass and Salt Safari $50 (Senior or Military $38) - A combination of the Salt Blast Pass (the main 2.5 hour tour), plus a guided 1 hour Salt Safari Shuttle, where you will venture further into the raw mine experiencing a thrilling subterranean quest unlike anything you’ve seen before! 3.5+ hour tour that includes the Underground Museum Galleries, 30 Minute Dark Ride, 15 minute Train Ride, 1 hour Salt Safari Shuttle.
***Please Note, hard hats must be worn in the mine and the train is not handicap accessible. 

Cosmosphere Space Museum & Planetarium

Group All Access Pass $20 - Includes museum tour, dome theater documentary, and planetarium show. 

Meals and Food

Group Pizza Dinner - Included in Registration

Any meals other than the group pizza dinner are not included and will be the responsibility of the participant.

Cancellation Deadline

We understand with small airplanes and the weather that plans may need to be flexible or change. You may cancel your registration for a full refund or credit towards another FlyOut if canceled before May 15, 2026. After May 15, some activity fees may be non-refundable.

Register and Pay Online

USPA Member General Registration:  $30/person
USPA Non-Member General Registration: $50/person
*Please note that members will need to login for the member discount to apply. 

REGISTER ONE PERSON     REGISTER MULTIPLE PEOPLE 

Registration fees for USPA events include snacks, soft drinks and a hospitality room in the designated hotel where members can freely congregate. Participants at USPA events must make their own hotel and rental car reservations except where otherwise indicated. USPA events are organized by USPA volunteers, providing discounted group rates for hotels and events, but spaces can be limited, so register and make reservations early to ensure you enjoy the discounted rates.