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Trip from Abilene, KS to Wichita, KS

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 48m

Distance

92.6 mi

149 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Fair

3 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 40m ★
6 AM
1h 48m
8 AM
2h 4m
10 AM
1h 54m
12 PM
1h 52m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 3m
8 PM
1h 44m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Abilene, KS, KS

Abilene, KS

Tien Nguyen

city in and county seat of Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States

Wichita, KS

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 92.6-mile journey from Abilene, Kansas, to Wichita, Kansas, is an easy day trip, taking about 1 hour and 48 minutes to complete. You'll primarily be on the Eisenhower Memorial Highway and I-135, with a small portion on Bison Road. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, this drive is quite budget-friendly. The route is characterized by its turn-heavy nature, suggesting a more local feel rather than a pure interstate experience. Since it's a relatively short drive within the Great Plains region, you won't need to worry about overnight stops; you can easily complete it in a single day.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

46.3 miles from Abilene, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Eisenhower Memorial Highway 36.2 mi 42m
I 135 26.4 mi 28m
Bison Road 12 mi 13m
Gulf Road 8.4 mi 9m
200th Street 6 mi 7m
North Buckeye Avenue 1.1 mi 2m
North Broadway Street 1 mi 1m
East 13th Street North 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Eisenhower Memorial Highway — 36.2 mi, about 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Abilene, KS and Wichita, KS.

1

Start on KS 15

1.1 mi · 2 min · North Buckeye Avenue
2

Continue on KS 15

2.9 mi · 3 min · Eisenhower Memorial Highway
3

Continue on KS 15

8.4 mi · 9 min · Gulf Road
4

Continue on KS 15

26 mi · 30 min · Eisenhower Memorial Highway
5

Turn right onto US 56; KS 15

6.0 mi · 7 min · 200th Street
6

Turn left onto KS 15

12 mi · 13 min · Bison Road
7

Continue on KS 15

7.3 mi · 8 min · Eisenhower Memorial Highway
8

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 24 sec
9

Merge onto I 135; US 81

2.0 mi · 2 min · I 135; US 81
10

Continue on I 135; US 50; US 81

2.2 mi · 2 min · I 135; US 50; US 81
11

Continue on I 135; US 81

22 mi · 24 min · I 135; US 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 8 Toward 13th Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork

521 ft · 12 sec
Toward 13th Street Use the left / slight right lanes.
14

Turn straight onto East 13th Street North

0.7 mi · 1 min · East 13th Street North
15

Turn left onto North Broadway Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Broadway Street
16

Turn right onto East Central Avenue

368 ft · 14 sec · East Central Avenue
17

Turn left onto North Market Street

358 ft · 11 sec · North Market Street
18

Turn right

187 ft · 13 sec
19

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the short 1 hour and 48-minute duration, you have a lot of flexibility with this trip from Abilene to Wichita. You can leave whenever it suits you best, as there's no need to break up the 92.6 miles. With a fuel cost around $14, you can confidently plan your budget. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 36.2-mile stretch on the Eisenhower Memorial Highway, to ensure you don't need to search for a station unexpectedly. Since it's a 'turn-heavy local drive,' pay close attention to navigation and posted speed limits, particularly as you approach Wichita.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.3 miles from Abilene, KS, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.2 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 20 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 46.3 miles or 54m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wichita, KS than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Abilene, KS so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Abilene, KS

This is one driving day of about 92.6 miles and 1h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Abilene, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Eisenhower Memorial Highway for about 36.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Harvey County, Kansas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hesston, KS

46 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Hesston, KS to Wichita, KS

35.7 mi · 41m

Pacing Suggestions

Hillsboro, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hillsboro, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 46.3 miles from Abilene, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

IONNA Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Abilene, Kansas

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

2.7 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Abilene, Kansas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18668167584

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Wichita, KS

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Great Plains Nature Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour

Wichita, Kansas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+13166835499

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 38.5 and 92.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
38.5 mi into trip | ~45m in | US 56; KS 15 / 200th Street

Turn right onto US 56; KS 15 / 200th Street

Navigation decision point

4
44.5 mi into trip | ~52m in | KS 15 / Bison Road

Turn left onto KS 15 / Bison Road

Navigation decision point

7
90.4 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in

Take the exit toward 13th Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 8 Toward 13th Street
8
90.6 mi into trip | ~1h 44m in

Keep slight right at fork toward 13th Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / slight right lanes. Toward 13th Street
5
92.5 mi into trip | ~1h 47m in | North Market Street

Turn left onto North Market Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.48 one way

$28.95 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $15.90 $31.79
premium $4.89 $17.82 $35.64
diesel $5.61 $20.44 $40.89

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 32.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 27.8 0 $9.72 $4.44
Efficient EV 23.2 0 $8.10 $3.70
EV Truck/SUV 37 0 $12.96 $5.93

Gas CO2

32 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Abilene, KS

Morning in Abilene on Tuesday

Local time

6:43 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Wichita, KS

Morning in Wichita on Tuesday

Local time

6:43 AM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

1 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 48m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a drive that's a mix of highway and local roads, with 28% of the route on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 36.2 miles on the Eisenhower Memorial Highway. This route profile indicates a 'turn-heavy local drive,' so be prepared for more frequent turns and potentially varying speed limits as you transition between main roads and local segments. The drive progresses through varied road types, offering a dynamic experience rather than a monotonous interstate grind.

Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.2 mi on Eisenhower Memorial Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 38.5 miles in near US 56; KS 15 / 200th Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 92.6 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 38.5 miles (US 56; KS 15 / 200th Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.5 miles (KS 15 / Bison Road): Navigation decision point; at 90.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Arriving in Wichita, KS

Full guide →

Wichita is the largest city in Kansas — since Kansas City is divided between the states of Kansas and Missouri. It is not the biggest or flashiest city in the US, but it is a medium-sized city with a small-town feel. It offers much to tourists with its variety of attractions. === Tourist information === Visit Wichita website

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 92.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (28%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 36.2 miles on Eisenhower Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 38.5 miles (US 56; KS 15 / 200th Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.5 miles (KS 15 / Bison Road): Navigation decision point; at 90.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wichita, KS before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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