Hays, KS Road Trips
With 4 routes heading out and 6 heading in, Hays, KS works well as a modest departure point in the Great Plains. Routes from here tend to cover serious ground — the average trip runs 273 miles, so plan for multi-day adventures. Most routes from Hays, KS head east, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
10
Longest Drive
343.8 mi
Pittsburg, KS
Quickest Drive
4h 2m
Soldier, KS
Plan Around Hays, KS
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Hays, KS is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Hays, KS
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Hays, KS
Driving from Hays, KS
Expect an average of 273 miles and about 4h 55m behind the wheel when leaving Hays, KS. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 344 miles (6h 23m), while the shortest is just 218 miles.
Popular Destinations
Drivers leaving Hays, KS most often head toward Pittsburg, KS (343.8 mi, 6h 23m), Leavenworth, KS (265.9 mi, 4h 40m), Kansas City, KS (265.4 mi, 4h 35m), and Soldier, KS (217.8 mi, 4h 2m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in KS currently averages around $3.77 per gallon. For the typical 273-mile trip from Hays, KS, budget about $40 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring. Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 4 mapped routes leaving Hays, KS and 6 routes heading into Hays, KS, covering 10 total connections. Distances range from 218 to 344 miles.
The longest mapped route from Hays, KS covers 344 miles and takes approximately 6h 23m. Shorter options start at just 218 miles.
The average route from Hays, KS runs about 273 miles with a drive time of roughly 4h 55m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.77/gallon for regular), the average 273-mile trip from Hays, KS costs roughly $40 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Hays, KS include Pittsburg, KS, Leavenworth, KS, Kansas City, KS and Soldier, KS. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Hays, KS by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
21,078
Median Income
$56,861
Median Home Value
$220,100
Median Age
30.2
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Hays, KS at a Glance
Founded
1867
Elevation
2,021 ft
Area
8 mi²
Notable People from Hays, KS
A sampling of people born in Hays, KS.
John L. Allen Jr.
1965–2026
American journalist and writer (1965-2026)
Ron Baker
1993
American basketball player
Jeff Colyer
1960
American politician in Kansas (born 1960)
Rebecca Staab
1961
American actress
Kathryn O'Loughlin McCarthy
1894–1952
American politician (1894-1952)
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Hays, KS.
St. Joseph's Church and Parochial School
church building in Kansas, United States of America
Justus Bissing Jr. Historic District
historic district in Kansas, United States
City data from Wikidata (Q1057071), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Hays, KS
Hays is a town of 21,000 people (2021) in the Western region of Kansas. The largest city in northwestern Kansas, and the economic and cultural center of the region. It is also a college town, home to Fort Hays State University.
1 Sternberg Museum of Natural History, 3000 Sternberg Dr, ☏ +1 785-628-4286. Tu-Sa 9AM-7PM, Su 1-5PM, closed Mondays. Contains exhibits on dinosaurs, Cretaceous sea creatures, fossils, and fossil preparation. Admission: $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for children 4-12, free for children age 3 and younger. Buffalo Herd, W. Hwy 183 Alternate, ☏ +1 785-628-7375. The city parks department keeps a small buffalo herd across from the historic Fort Hays. Admission is free to the public, but the animals can be aggressive if provoked, so be careful. 2 Fort Hays State Historic Site, 1472 U.S. 183 Alternate (4 miles south of Hays I-70 exit 157 on Highway 183 Alternate), ☏ +1 785 625-6812, [email protected]. W-Sa 9AM-5PM. (updated Feb 2019) 3 Ellis County Historical Society. (updated Oct 2020)
Wild West Festival. To celebrate Independence Day and to mark its early history as an Old West frontier town, the city hosts the annual Wild West Festival during the first week of July. The festival includes country and rock music concerts, a carnival, a parade, a fishing tournament, baseball games, and a fireworks display. For a full schedule, visit the website. 1 Lewis Field Stadium. (updated Oct 2020) 2 Hays Aquatic Park, ☏ +1-785-623-2653. Features water slides, diving boards, and a lazy river. $4 for single day, $35 for season pass. (updated Oct 2020) 3 Hays Arts Center, ☏ +1 785-625-7522. M-F 10AM-4PM, Sa 10AM-1PM. (updated Oct 2020) Hays is a regional center of German American culture due to the number of German immigrants who settled the area in the 1870s and 1880s. As of 2010, 56.5% of the city population claimed German ancestry. The city hosts several events throughout the year that celebrate this heritage including two Oktoberfests. The Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest takes place the third week of September. Fort Hays State University and the Volga German Society hold an Oktoberfest celebration on the first or second Friday in October. In addition, Polka Fest occurs in March, and the Ellis County Historical Museum hosts German Heritage Day' in April. On the first weekend in December, the Kansas Historical Society holds Christmas Past at Historic Fort Hays, showcasing history programs and tours of the fort with it decorated for Christmas as it was in the late 1800s.
1 Lomatos Pizza, 130 W 9th St, ☏ +1 785-623-2888. 11AM-10PM. (updated Oct 2020) 2 Augustine’s Bakery, 1305 Main St, ☏ +1 785-621-2253. Tu-F 7AM- 3PM, Sa 7AM-noon. (updated Jan 2022)
1 Defiance Brewing Company. Has a taproom. (updated Oct 2020) 2 Gella's Diner + LB Brewing Co. Microbrewery. (updated Oct 2020)
1 AmericInn by Wyndham Hays, 377 Mopar Dr, ☏ +1 785-201-9984. The indoor pool has a palm plant to make you feel at ease when it's all snowy outside. Hilton Garden Inn Hays, 221 W 43rd St, ☏ +1 785-727-7721. Also has an indoor pool, but you better pay up if you want breakfast here. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Hays, 4650 Roth Ave, ☏ +1 785-625-8000. Here you get the added bonus of some cinnamon rolls in the morning.
1 Hays Regional Airport (HYS IATA). Has nonstop service from Denver and Great Bend. (updated May 2019)
Travel tips adapted from Hays on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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