Two real options once Manhattan, KS is full. Topeka, KS — about 56 minutes away — had 159 live results with no sold-out signals as of a July 2026 check. Kansas City, MO, about 105 minutes away, had 2,446 results, the deepest inventory of the two.
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Two real options, both a real drive
Once Bluemont Hotel and the rest of Manhattan, KS’s small market are full, Topeka is the closer fallback and Kansas City is the deeper one.
What we actually checked
Live availability via Google Hotels for a representative May 14-15, 2027 weekend, checked in July 2026: Topeka — 159 results, no sold-out signals. Kansas City — 2,446 results, no sold-out signals, by far the deepest inventory here.
Why Kansas City is the deeper bet
Kansas City is a major metro with a hotel economy entirely independent of K-State’s calendar. If Topeka is also tight, Kansas City’s much greater depth makes it the more reliable fallback, even at nearly two hours away.
Still want to try Manhattan, KS first?
See where to stay for Bluemont Hotel.
The ring
| Town | Drive time | Typical availability | Rate vs. epicenter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka, KS | 56 min | Checked live for a representative May 14-15, 2027 weekend (Google Hotels, July 2026): 159 results, no sold-out signals. | Broad chain-hotel tier; not converted from the local currency the research tool returned (see note below). |
| Kansas City, MO | 105 min | Checked live for the same weekend (Google Hotels, July 2026): 2,446 results, no sold-out signals — by far the deepest inventory of the two, though nearly two hours away. | Broad hotel tier, budget to upscale; not converted from the local currency the research tool returned (see note below). |
Availability was checked live via Google Hotels for a representative weekend in July 2026; the tool returned prices in a non-US currency by IP geolocation, so this reports confirmed inventory rather than a dollar comparison.
Live availability in the ring
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Frequently asked questions
What's the closest fallback if Manhattan, KS hotels are full?
Topeka, Kansas's state capital, about 56 minutes away — the closer of the two mappable fallback cities.
Is Topeka likely to sell out too?
We checked live via Google Hotels for a representative May 14-15, 2027 weekend and found 159 results with no sold-out signals, as of July 2026.
What about Kansas City?
About 105 minutes away, with 2,446 results in the same live check — a major metro with a hotel economy entirely independent of K-State's calendar, and the deepest inventory of the two.
Why not just wait for the Bluemont Hotel to have an opening?
The Bluemont has just 112 rooms against a spring commencement that has awarded roughly 3,300 degrees in recent years. Topeka and Kansas City are real, verified fallbacks if you're booking close to the date.
How we verified this
Last verified: