Small Kansas county seat built around Park Square and a Romanesque Revival courthouse.
Paola is the county seat of Miami County, about 40 miles south of Kansas City. It's a small, historically preserved town built around Park Square, a leafy two-block green ringed by late 19th-century brick storefronts. The 1898 Miami County Courthouse, a striking Romanesque Revival building with a tall clock tower, anchors the south side of the square.
The town takes its name from Baptiste Peoria, the indigenous-French trader who set up Paola's Post here in the 1840s; the Algonquian-speaking Peoria people had been forcibly relocated to Kansas from Illinois only a few years before. The Miami County Historical Museum tells the full story.
The town is most lively during its festivals: the Miami County Fair in July, the Roots Festival in August, and the Harvest Festival in October. Lake Miola, just outside town, offers camping and water recreation.
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Eating Out
Paola has a small but pleasant eating scene clustered on and around Park Square, with a mix of cafes, diners, and a couple of more ambitious places. Beethoven's #9, a corner restaurant on the square, has been the go-to upscale spot for decades — steaks, German-influenced classics, a good wine list. Smokin' Joes BBQ is the local barbecue institution, with brisket and ribs in the Kansas City style. The independent Wendell's Pizza Pub does respectable hand-tossed pizza and pours a decent selection of local craft beer. For breakfast, the Park Square Cafe is the usual diner, big plates and bottomless coffee, busy on weekends.
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Getting There
Paola sits about 40 miles south of Kansas City along US Highway 169, an easy 45-minute drive. There is no commercial passenger train or air service to the town itself; the nearest major airport is Kansas City International (MCI) about an hour and a half by car. The historic Frisco rail line that brought Paola its early prosperity now carries freight only.
Within town, everything of interest is within a short walk of Park Square, but a car is essential for getting to Lake Miola or for any wider exploration of Miami County. Local taxis exist but are limited; rideshare apps work in the centre but coverage thins quickly outside town.
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When to Go
Paola is a year-round small town, but the most lively times to visit are the festivals: the Roots Festival in August (bluegrass and Americana music on Park Square), the Miami County Fair in mid-July (livestock, carnival, agricultural exhibits), and the Harvest Festival in mid-October when the trees on the square turn red and gold. Lake Miola is at its best from late May through September.
Summers are hot and humid in the typical eastern-Kansas pattern, with temperatures in the 30s C and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Spring brings tornado weather; winters are cold and dry with occasional snowfall. The shoulder seasons — May and October — are the most pleasant for walking the historic square.