Road Trips from Shawnee, KS
From Shawnee, you can hit the road for a quick 30-minute hop to a nearby town or venture out for a longer haul, with options stretching up to 6.4 hours. The drives are mostly mixed, meaning you'll see a bit of everything, but there are also some highway-focused routes and local drives. Most of the nearby destinations are day trips, but the longer drives offer opportunities to explore the terrain and a few parks, including one with historical significance.
Total Routes
14
Shortest
0.3h
With Parks Nearby
5
Under 2 hours
6 total in this range
Atchison, KS
1h 13m55.8 mi one way
This 1.2-hour drive offers a solid 9 out of 10 drive score, making it a good option if you want a well-rounded experience without going too far. It’s a mixed drive, so expect varied scenery on your way to Atchison.
Lenexa, KS
15m8.6 mi one way
If you need a very short trip, this 0.3-hour drive to Lenexa is your fastest option. It has a high drive score of 8, indicating a good route for a quick excursion.
Prairie Village, KS
17m8.3 mi one way
At just 0.3 hours, this is another very close option from Shawnee. The drive score is a strong 8, and it features a mix of highway and surface roads for a varied, albeit brief, journey.
Kansas City, KS
18m10.8 mi one way
This is the closest option at only 0.3 hours, but it's characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive' with a drive score of 7. It’s best if you’re looking for a short trip focused on local roads.
Wea, KS
34m25.7 mi one way
Full-day getaway
6 total in this range
Ogden, KS
2h 18m124.6 mi one way
This 2.3-hour drive to Ogden has a high drive score of 9 and includes access to Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. It’s one of your best bets for a longer day trip with a significant park visit.
Saint George, KS
2h 8m110.6 mi one way
Similar to Ogden, this 2.1-hour drive also scores a 9 and includes access to Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. It offers a comparable longer excursion with historical park access.
Baxter Springs, KS
2h 47m144.9 mi one way
For the longest pure highway drive at 2.8 hours, Baxter Springs scores an 8. This is a good pick if you want to cover a lot of ground on main roads.
Ellsworth, KS
3h 43m208.2 mi one way
This 3.7-hour drive is the longest 'turn-heavy local drive' option, scoring a 9. If you enjoy navigating local roads for an extended period, this is a unique choice.
Colwich, KS
3h 35m199.2 mi one way
At 3.6 hours, this is a substantial highway-focused drive with a score of 8. It's a good option for covering significant distance efficiently.
Weekend trip
Colby, KS
6h 22m369.8 mi one way
This is your longest trip, clocking in at 6.4 hours and 6.9 miles. It primarily uses surface roads and scores an 8, also offering access to Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park, making it a full-day adventure.
Hays, KS
4h 37m264.2 mi one way
Browse by Mood
When to Go
Spring
Spring offers good opportunities for the 2.3-hour drive to Ogden, which includes access to Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park.
Summer
Longer drives like the 3.7-hour trip to Ellsworth or the 6.4-hour journey to Colby are best tackled in summer for maximum daylight.
Fall
The mixed drives to places like Atchison (1.2 hours) or Saint George (2.1 hours) are pleasant in fall, especially with park access.
Winter
Shorter, higher-rated drives like the 0.3-hour trip to Lenexa (drive score 8) are practical for winter excursions.
Starting Somewhere Else?
Other nearby cities with their own escape planners.
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