Summer Road Trips in Kansas
Routes
30
Avg Distance
351 mi
Avg Drive
6h 36m
Destinations
27
Kansas in the summer offers a variety of driving experiences, with routes averaging 350 miles and nearly 7 hours. You'll find drives with high drive scores, reaching up to 3100+ feet in elevation. This state boasts excellent EV charger coverage on some routes, perfect for longer excursions across its gently rolling terrain.
Fuel snapshot for this state
Regular
$4.22/gal
Diesel: $5.35/gal
Typical trip cost
$45–$79
One-way, ~351 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG
CO₂ per trip
~123 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. Table highlights Summer months.
| 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 peak | 88 | 66 | 4.9 | — |
| Jul peak | 93 | 70 | 4 | — |
| Aug peak | 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
- Carry extra water — summer heat in the car and at rest stops dehydrates faster than you think.
- Start drives early or late to avoid peak afternoon heat, especially through desert or plains stretches.
- Check your tire pressure before long summer drives — hot pavement increases blowout risk with underinflated tires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Summer Routes
Editor's pick
Pittsburg, KS → Colby, KS
Through: Hutchinson
This 452-mile route scores a high 9 for its blend of highway and surface roads, traversing gently rolling terrain with a max elevation of 3158 feet.
Editor's pick
Leavenworth, KS → Saint Francis, KS
Through: Salina → Sharon Springs
Boasting excellent EV coverage and 38 DC fast chargers, this 441-mile trip features predominantly surface roads and reaches an elevation of 3647 feet.
Editor's pick
Saint Francis, KS → Kansas City, KS
With a drive score of 9, this 441-mile route primarily uses surface roads, offering the chance to experience elevations up to 3647 feet across the state.
Kansas City, KS → Hugoton, KS
Through: Salina → Ellsworth → Great Bend
Shawnee, KS → Ulysses, KS
Through: Salina → Ellsworth → Great Bend
Elkhart, KS → Soldier, KS
Through: Salina
Leawood, KS → Atwood, KS
Through: Salina → Leoti
Pittsburg, KS → Park, KS
Through: Hutchinson
Leavenworth, KS → Holcomb, KS
Through: Salina → Ellsworth → Great Bend
Kansas City, KS → Plains, KS
Through: Wichita
Pittsburg, KS → Garden City, KS
Through: Hutchinson
Leawood, KS → Colby, KS
Through: Salina
Kansas City, KS → Meade, KS
Through: Wichita
Roeland Park, KS → Dodge City, KS
Through: Salina → Ellsworth → Great Bend
Dodge City, KS → Mission, KS
Through: Salina → Kansas City
Leavenworth, KS → Dodge City, KS
Through: Salina → Ellsworth → Great Bend
Dodge City, KS → Mission Hills, KS
Through: Emporia → Kansas City → Wichita +1 more
Overland Park, KS → Norton, KS
Through: Salina → Manhattan → Council Grove
Dodge City, KS → Edwardsville, KS
Through: Salina → Kansas City
Leawood, KS → Ness City, KS
Through: Salina → Ellsworth → Great Bend
Fort Scott, KS → Hays, KS
Dodge City, KS → Tonganoxie, KS
Through: Salina → Kansas City
Dodge City, KS → Eudora, KS
Through: Salina → Kansas City → Lawrence
Fort Dodge, KS → Eudora, KS
Through: Salina → Kansas City → Lawrence
Dodge City, KS → Coffeyville, KS
Elkhart, KS → Derby, KS
Leavenworth, KS → Medicine Lodge, KS
Through: Wichita
Dodge City, KS → Parsons, KS
Dodge City, KS → Tecumseh, KS
Through: Salina
Fort Dodge, KS → Menoken, KS
Through: Salina