US Trip Planner

Scenic Drives in Kansas

Routes

60

Avg Distance

285 mi

Avg Drive

5h 23m

Destinations

53

These 60 scenic drives in Kansas earned a drive score of 7+ out of 10. The average route covers 285 miles through the state's most varied and visually interesting terrain.

Fuel snapshot for this state

Regular

$4.22/gal

Diesel: $5.35/gal

Typical trip cost

$32–$75

One-way, ~285 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG

CO₂ per trip

~100 kg

ICE vehicle, one-way average

Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-06-01

Climate through the year: Kansas

Kansas peaks at around 93°F in Jul and cools to 44°F / 23°F in Jan. Wettest month is May at ~5.2 in of rain.

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in	Snow in
Jan	44	23	0.9	2.7
Feb	49	26	1.2	3.6
Mar	59	36	2.3	2.1
Apr	68	45	3.1	0.2
May	78	56	5.2	—
Jun	88	66	4.9	—
Jul	93	70	4	—
Aug	91	69	4.3	—
Sep	83	60	3.1	—
Oct	71	47	2.9	0.2
Nov	57	35	1.4	0.8
Dec	46	25	1.2	3.1

Source: NOAA NCEI Monthly Climate Normals, 1991–2020 reference period. Sampled at the major-airport station for KS — microclimates along specific routes can vary significantly.

Planning Tips

Scenic routes often have fewer gas stations and services. Top off your tank before heading into mountainous or rural stretches.
Budget extra time for scenic drives — pulling over for views, photos, and short hikes is half the point.
Check weather conditions for mountain passes and high-elevation stretches, especially in shoulder seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

We rate routes on a 1-10 drive score based on elevation changes, road variety, and terrain diversity. The 60 routes listed here all score 7 or higher.

Current regular gas averages $4.22/gallon in Kansas (week of 2026-06-01). Diesel: $5.35/gallon. A typical one-way trip on these routes costs between $32 and $75. Source: US Energy Information Administration.

Drive times and distances come from OSRM routing over real OpenStreetMap road networks. Fuel costs use weekly US Energy Information Administration state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. EV charging data is sourced from NREL. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI (1991–2020 reference period). Hazard data comes from FEMA and USGS public feeds.

Yes. Click any route to see its full trip page with turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost estimates, elevation profile, stop suggestions, weather conditions, and more.

Top Scenic Routes

Pittsburg, KS → Colby, KS

452.2 mi 8h 8m Score: 9/10 ~$75 fuel

Through: Hutchinson

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Leavenworth, KS → Saint Francis, KS

441.6 mi 7h 57m Score: 8/10 ~$73 fuel

Through: Salina → Sharon Springs

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Saint Francis, KS → Kansas City, KS

441.1 mi 7h 52m Score: 9/10 ~$73 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Kansas City, KS → Hugoton, KS

421.6 mi 7h 58m Score: 9/10 ~$70 fuel

Through: Salina → Ellsworth → Great Bend

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Shawnee, KS → Ulysses, KS

410.6 mi 8h Score: 9/10 ~$72 fuel

Through: Salina → Ellsworth → Great Bend

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Elkhart, KS → Soldier, KS

406.8 mi 8h 5m Score: 9/10 ~$68 fuel

Through: Salina

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Leawood, KS → Atwood, KS

406.3 mi 7h 23m Score: 8/10 ~$68 fuel

Through: Salina → Leoti

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Pittsburg, KS → Park, KS

405.7 mi 7h 21m Score: 9/10 ~$67 fuel

Through: Hutchinson

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Leavenworth, KS → Holcomb, KS

382.9 mi 7h 16m Score: 10/10 ~$64 fuel

Through: Salina → Ellsworth → Great Bend

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Kansas City, KS → Plains, KS

382.4 mi 7h 3m Score: 10/10 ~$64 fuel

Through: Wichita

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Pittsburg, KS → Garden City, KS

382.3 mi 7h 31m Score: 9/10 ~$64 fuel

Through: Hutchinson

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Leawood, KS → Colby, KS

377.7 mi 6h 32m Score: 8/10 ~$63 fuel

Through: Salina

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Kansas City, KS → Meade, KS

367.7 mi 6h 46m Score: 10/10 ~$61 fuel

Through: Wichita

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Roeland Park, KS → Dodge City, KS

336.9 mi 6h 16m Score: 10/10 ~$56 fuel

Through: Salina → Ellsworth → Great Bend

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Dodge City, KS → Mission, KS

336.1 mi 6h 13m Score: 10/10 ~$56 fuel

Through: Salina → Kansas City

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Leavenworth, KS → Dodge City, KS

334.6 mi 6h 16m Score: 10/10 ~$56 fuel

Through: Salina → Ellsworth → Great Bend

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Dodge City, KS → Mission Hills, KS

330.1 mi 6h 17m Score: 8/10 ~$55 fuel

Through: Emporia → Kansas City → Wichita +1 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Overland Park, KS → Norton, KS

328.2 mi 6h 24m Score: 9/10 ~$55 fuel

Through: Salina → Manhattan → Council Grove

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Dodge City, KS → Edwardsville, KS

323.7 mi 6h 1m Score: 10/10 ~$54 fuel

Through: Salina → Kansas City

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Leawood, KS → Ness City, KS

320.1 mi 5h 55m Score: 10/10 ~$56 fuel

Through: Salina → Ellsworth → Great Bend

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Fort Scott, KS → Hays, KS

318.4 mi 5h 53m Score: 10/10 ~$53 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Dodge City, KS → Tonganoxie, KS

311.4 mi 5h 49m Score: 10/10 ~$52 fuel

Through: Salina → Kansas City

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Dodge City, KS → Eudora, KS

309.6 mi 5h 49m Score: 10/10 ~$51 fuel

Through: Salina → Kansas City → Lawrence

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Fort Dodge, KS → Eudora, KS

308.2 mi 5h 49m Score: 10/10 ~$51 fuel

Through: Salina → Kansas City → Lawrence

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Dodge City, KS → Coffeyville, KS

290.3 mi 5h 50m Score: 8/10 ~$48 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Elkhart, KS → Derby, KS

283.3 mi 5h 47m Score: 8/10 ~$47 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Leavenworth, KS → Medicine Lodge, KS

281.2 mi 5h 42m Score: 8/10 ~$49 fuel

Through: Wichita

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Dodge City, KS → Parsons, KS

281.2 mi 5h 40m Score: 8/10 ~$47 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Dodge City, KS → Tecumseh, KS

279.5 mi 5h 14m Score: 10/10 ~$46 fuel

Through: Salina

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Fort Dodge, KS → Menoken, KS

272.4 mi 5h 7m Score: 10/10 ~$45 fuel

Through: Salina

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Baxter Springs, KS → Salina, KS

268.5 mi 5h 6m Score: 10/10 ~$45 fuel

Through: Hutchinson

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Atwood, KS → Hutchinson, KS

260.6 mi 5h 5m Score: 9/10 ~$43 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Leavenworth, KS → Attica, KS

260.3 mi 5h 10m Score: 8/10 ~$43 fuel

Through: Wichita

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Fort Dodge, KS → Osage City, KS

256.7 mi 5h 4m Score: 8/10 ~$43 fuel

Through: Emporia → Kansas City → Wichita +1 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Fort Dodge, KS → Saint Marys, KS

253.7 mi 4h 58m Score: 10/10 ~$42 fuel

Through: Salina

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Garden City, KS → Junction City, KS

248.9 mi 4h 52m Score: 8/10 ~$41 fuel

Through: Salina

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Dodge City, KS → Wamego, KS

247.9 mi 4h 41m Score: 10/10 ~$41 fuel

Through: Salina

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Salina, KS → Arma, KS

243.8 mi 4h 46m Score: 9/10 ~$41 fuel

Through: El Dorado

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Hutchinson, KS → Elwood, KS

238.8 mi 4h 39m Score: 9/10 ~$40 fuel

Through: Mcpherson → Marion → Kansas City +3 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Leavenworth, KS → Conway Springs, KS

226.3 mi 4h 14m Score: 9/10 ~$38 fuel

Through: Wichita

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Kansas City, KS → Lyons, KS

223.7 mi 4h 7m Score: 8/10 ~$37 fuel

Through: Wichita

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Kansas City, KS → Cheney, KS

223.1 mi 3h 57m Score: 8/10 ~$37 fuel

Through: Wichita

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Hutchinson, KS → Arma, KS

216.2 mi 4h 18m Score: 9/10 ~$38 fuel

Through: El Dorado

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Leavenworth, KS → Buhler, KS

214.5 mi 4h 6m Score: 8/10 ~$37 fuel

Through: Wichita → Mcpherson → Hutchinson

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Hutchinson, KS → Prairie Village, KS

211.9 mi 4h 2m Score: 9/10 ~$35 fuel

Through: Mcpherson → Marion → Kansas City +2 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Dodge City, KS → Concordia, KS

210.8 mi 4h 6m Score: 9/10 ~$37 fuel

Through: Salina

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Fort Dodge, KS → Eureka, KS

210 mi 4h 13m Score: 8/10 ~$37 fuel

Through: Kansas City → Oklahoma City

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Leawood, KS → Clearwater, KS

208 mi 3h 47m Score: 8/10 ~$35 fuel

Through: Derby

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Leawood, KS → Concordia, KS

207.6 mi 4h 1m Score: 9/10 ~$35 fuel

Through: Salina → Manhattan → Council Grove

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Leavenworth, KS → Maize, KS

203.8 mi 3h 38m Score: 9/10 ~$34 fuel

Through: Wichita

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Kansas City, KS → Maize, KS

203.1 mi 3h 33m Score: 8/10 ~$34 fuel

Through: Wichita

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Leavenworth, KS → Moundridge, KS

200.3 mi 3h 44m Score: 8/10 ~$33 fuel

Through: Wichita

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Kansas City, KS → Sedgwick, KS

198.7 mi 3h 44m Score: 8/10 ~$33 fuel

Through: Wichita

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Salina, KS → Parker, KS

196.7 mi 3h 54m Score: 8/10 ~$33 fuel

Through: Kansas City → Lawrence → Wichita

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Leavenworth, KS → Lindsborg, KS

196.1 mi 3h 31m Score: 10/10 ~$33 fuel

Through: Salina

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Kansas City, KS → Park City, KS

193 mi 3h 23m Score: 8/10 ~$32 fuel

Through: Wichita

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Kansas City, KS → Bellaire, KS

192.2 mi 3h 22m Score: 8/10 ~$32 fuel

Through: Wichita

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Leawood, KS → Moundridge, KS

191.6 mi 3h 35m Score: 8/10 ~$32 fuel

Through: Newton

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Hutchinson, KS → Gardner, KS

190.7 mi 3h 34m Score: 9/10 ~$32 fuel

Through: Mcpherson → Marion → Kansas City +2 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Leawood, KS → Douglass, KS

190.6 mi 3h 31m Score: 8/10 ~$32 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

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Kansas Trips