Arkansas City, KS to Leavenworth, KS is 231.1 miles and takes about 4h 22m via Kansas Turnpike and US 77, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, so expect a landscape that is predominantly open and flat. The route primarily uses major highways, making it a straightforward drive for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently. With most of the drive on high-speed roads, it's a good option for a single-day trip, especially if you're starting early.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
115.6 miles from Arkansas City, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Kansas Turnpike
147.2 mi
2h 27m
US 77
40.7 mi
51m
K-7
15.5 mi
23m
US 54
14.2 mi
19m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
7 mi
8m
Walnut Valley Green Way
3.4 mi
4m
Spruce Street
0.6 mi
1m
East Chestnut Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 147.2 mi, about 2h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arkansas City, KS and Leavenworth, KS.
1
Start on this road
318 ft·28 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto East 5th Avenue
0.1 mi·31 sec·East 5th Avenue
3
Turn left onto South B Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·South B Street
4
Turn right onto East Chestnut Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East Chestnut Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 77; US 166
1.0 mi·1 min·Walnut Valley Green Way
6
Enter roundabout onto US 77
179 ft·2 sec·Walnut Valley Green Way
7
Continue on US 77
2.4 mi·2 min·Walnut Valley Green Way
8
Turn right onto US 77
41 mi·51 min·US 77
9
Turn right onto US 54; US 77; US 400
0.2 mi·33 sec·West 7th Avenue
10
Continue on US 54; US 77; US 400
7.0 mi·8 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
11
Take the exit onto US 54; US 77
14 mi·19 min·US 54; US 77
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
14
Merge onto I 35
51 mi·50 min·Kansas Turnpike
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 335
96 mi·1 hr 36 min·Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 224Toward KS 7, US 73, US 24 West, US 40 West: Bonner Springs, LeavenworthUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
238 ft·13 sec
Toward KS 7 North, US 73 North, US 24 West, US 40 West: LansingUse the straight / left lanes.
18
Turn left onto K-7
16 mi·23 min·K-7
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn left onto KS 92
0.6 mi·1 min·Spruce Street
20
Turn right
277 ft·20 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 4h 22m drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and arrive with time to spare. The route is mostly highway, so you can cover ground quickly, but plan for your single stop strategically along the 147.2-mile stretch of the Kansas Turnpike, where services are generally abundant. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $41, and it's wise to top off before hitting longer stretches of highway. Since this is a manageable one-day trip, you have flexibility with your departure time, but an early start ensures a relaxed pace.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 115.6 miles from Arkansas City, KS, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 147.2 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 51 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.6 miles or 2h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leavenworth, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arkansas City, KS so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Arkansas City, KS
This is one driving day of about 231.1 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Arkansas City, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Kansas Turnpike for about 147.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 215 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East 5th Avenue
Turn left onto East 5th Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
117.8 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|I 335 / Kansas Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 335 / Kansas Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
214.2 mi into trip|~3h 55m in
Take the exit toward KS 7, US 73, US 24 West, US 40 West: Bonner Springs, Leavenworth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 224
Toward KS 7, US 73, US 24 West, US 40 West: Bon...
8
214.9 mi into trip|~3h 57m in
Keep slight left at fork toward KS 7 North, US 73 North, US 24 West, US 40 West: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward KS 7 North, US 73 North, US 24 West, US...
6
215 mi into trip|~3h 57m in|K-7
Turn left onto K-7
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.13 one way
$68.26 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$37.68
$75.35
premium
$4.72
$42.91
$85.82
diesel
$4.80
$43.64
$87.27
Estimated Tolls: $7.36
Kansas Turnpike
(147.2 mi)$7.36
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
EV Charging Along Route
17 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Lawrence, KS - Tesla Supercharger
Tonganoxie, KS
Tesla
12 DCFC
Emporia, KS - Tesla Supercharger
Emporia, KS
Tesla
8 DCFC
Topeka, KS - Topeka Service Area - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.3
0
$24.27
$11.09
Efficient EV
57.8
0
$20.22
$9.24
EV Truck/SUV
92.4
1
$32.35
$14.79
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Arkansas City, KS
Afternoon
in Arkansas City on Saturday
Local time
12:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 10 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Leavenworth, KS
Afternoon
in Leavenworth on Saturday
Local time
12:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 6 mph20% chanceLive 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 22m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The path to equality has been anything but smooth. It's taken courage and dedication by everyday people coming together for a common goal to carry the country toward true equality. Parents, teachers,...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 167.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 87% of this 231.1-mile drive on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on the Kansas Turnpike covering 147.2 miles. This means you'll experience a significant amount of highway cruising, with fewer turns and more consistent speeds. Expect to encounter numerous exits along the Kansas Turnpike, indicating a well-developed corridor. The transition to surface roads will occur later in your drive, offering a change of pace from the high-speed sections.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 147.2 mi on Kansas Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and US 77. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 5th Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 231.1 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.1 miles (East 5th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 117.8 miles (I 335 / Kansas Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 214.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,528 ft841 ft
Total Climb
646 ft
Total Descent
921 ft
Highest Point
1,528 ft
~99 mi in
Elevation Range
687 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Leavenworth is a city in Eastern Kansas.
Leavenworth, the "First City in Kansas", established in 1854, is located on the west banks of the Missouri River and became nationally known as the "jumping off point" for the opening of the West. Buffalo Bill Cody spent part of his youth here and later worked in the area as a Pony Express rider and Army scout. Cody's parents are buried in Leavenworth.
Top landmarks
•Leavenworth Riverfront Community Center — historic building in Leavenworth, Kansas, United States
•Carnegie Arts Center of Leavenworth — building in Leavenworth, Kansas, USA
•Western Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers — historic district in Leavenworth, Kansas, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 22m. Total distance: 231.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 147.2 miles on Kansas Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.36 in tolls one way, starting with Kansas Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Leavenworth, KS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 5th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 117.8 miles (I 335 / Kansas Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 214.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Leavenworth, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
