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Summer Road Trips in Kansas

Routes

30

Avg Distance

369 mi

Avg Drive

6h 40m

Destinations

11

Summer in Kansas offers a chance to experience the vast prairie landscape under long daylight hours. With 30 routes to choose from, averaging 371 miles and over 6.5 hours, you can explore wide-open spaces. Drive scores range up to 9, indicating engaging routes across the state. Max elevations reach over 3,000 feet on some journeys, providing a sense of scale.

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 369 miles).

Drive times and distances come from actual road network data via OSRM. Fuel costs use current state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. All data is recalculated regularly.

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

This cross-state route boasts a high drive score of 9, suggesting a rewarding experience. Covering 452 miles over 8.1 hours, it offers a substantial exploration of Kansas's varied terrain.

Editor's pick

Colby, KS → Pittsburg, KS

449.9 mi 8h 9m Score: 8/10

With a drive score of 8 and traversing gently rolling terrain up to 3,158 feet, this 450-mile trip provides a solid introduction to Kansas's topography. It's a longer drive, clocking in at over 8 hours.

Editor's pick

Saint Francis, KS → Kansas City, KS

441.1 mi 7h 52m Score: 9/10

This 441-mile drive scores a 9 and features access to parks, making it a strong contender for those seeking natural stops. The route spans over 7.5 hours, allowing for a comprehensive appreciation of the landscape.

Kansas City, KS → Hugoton, KS

421.6 mi 7h 58m Score: 9/10

Pittsburg, KS → Park, KS

405.7 mi 7h 21m Score: 9/10

Ulysses, KS → Lenexa, KS

399.9 mi 7h 51m Score: 8/10

Atwood, KS → Kansas City, KS

399.8 mi 5h 57m Score: 8/10

Leoti, KS → Overland Park, KS

396.2 mi 6h 14m Score: 8/10

Satanta, KS → Kansas City, KS

393.9 mi 7h 25m Score: 10/10

Plains, KS → Kansas City, KS

382.9 mi 7h 4m Score: 10/10

Leawood, KS → Colby, KS

377.7 mi 6h 32m Score: 8/10

Garden City, KS → Kansas City, KS

373.8 mi 7h Score: 9/10

Leavenworth, KS → Colby, KS

372.1 mi 6h 25m Score: 8/10

Kansas City, KS → Colby, KS

371.4 mi 6h 20m Score: 8/10

Shawnee, KS → Colby, KS

369.8 mi 6h 22m Score: 8/10

Lenexa, KS → Colby, KS

369.4 mi 6h 21m Score: 8/10

Meade, KS → Shawnee, KS

366.5 mi 5h 47m Score: 8/10

Overland Park, KS → Meade, KS

356.5 mi 6h 38m Score: 10/10

Oakley, KS → Lenexa, KS

348.7 mi 6h 1m Score: 8/10

Kansas City, KS → Dodge City, KS

333.9 mi 6h 11m Score: 10/10

Kansas City, KS → Fort Dodge, KS

332.5 mi 6h 11m Score: 10/10

Fort Dodge, KS → Shawnee, KS

330.9 mi 6h 13m Score: 10/10

Leawood, KS → Dodge City, KS

330 mi 6h 17m Score: 8/10

Fairway, KS → Dodge City, KS

329.6 mi 6h 16m Score: 8/10

Galena, KS → Fort Dodge, KS

329.6 mi 6h 34m Score: 10/10

Prairie Village, KS → Fort Dodge, KS

326.7 mi 6h 16m Score: 8/10

Fairmount, KS → Fort Dodge, KS

326.1 mi 6h 5m Score: 10/10

Baker, KS → Fort Dodge, KS

324.5 mi 6h 15m Score: 9/10

Hill City, KS → Overland Park, KS

324 mi 5h 45m Score: 8/10

Arma, KS → Fort Dodge, KS

321.6 mi 6h 26m Score: 10/10

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