Summer Road Trips in Kansas

Routes

Avg Distance

406 mi

Avg Drive

7h 35m

Destinations

Methodology

Routes filtered by drive score and typical seasonal conditions. Historical hazard counts pulled from FEMA disaster declarations and USGS seismic feeds; monthly weather context from NOAA 1991–2020 normals.

Data sources: OSRM • NOAA NCEI climate normals • FEMA OpenFEMA • USGS Earthquake Hazards • EIA weekly fuel survey

Last reviewed

Jul 18, 2026

0 seconds ago

Curated by the US Trip Planner editorial team.
Not sponsored; no affiliate links on this page.

Summer in Kansas means long daylight hours perfect for exploring its expansive landscapes. With 30 routes averaging 405 miles and 8 hours, you can cover a lot of ground. The drives offer a chance to experience terrain that's gently rolling, with maximum elevations reaching up to 3589 feet. While EV charger availability varies, these summer drives provide a great way to see the state.

Fuel snapshot for this state

Regular

$3.75/gal

Diesel: $4.80/gal

Typical trip cost

$55–$67

One-way, ~406 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG

CO₂ per trip

~142 kg

ICE vehicle, one-way average

Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-07-13

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

We've identified 30 routes in Kansas that work well for summer travel, based on drive quality, typical weather conditions, and distance (averaging 406 miles).

Current regular gas averages $3.75/gallon in Kansas (week of 2026-07-13). Diesel: $4.80/gallon. A typical one-way trip on these routes costs between $55 and $67. Source: US Energy Information Administration.

Across Jun, Jul, Aug, Kansas typically sees daytime highs in the 88–93°F range with about 4.4 in of rain per month on average. Based on NOAA 1991–2020 monthly climate normals.

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.

Summer Routes

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