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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

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 351 miles).
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 $45 and $79. 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

Editor's pick

Pittsburg, KS → Colby, KS

452.2 mi 8h 8m Score: 9/10 ~$79 fuel

Through: Hutchinson

5 tricky spots High drive quality

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

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

Through: Salina → Sharon Springs

5 tricky spots High drive quality

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

441.1 mi 7h 52m Score: 9/10 ~$77 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

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

421.6 mi 7h 58m Score: 9/10 ~$74 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 ~$71 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 ~$56 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 ~$51 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

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