Origin
Arkansas City, KS
Morning in Arkansas City on Sunday
Local time
9:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arkansas City, KS to Wichita, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
62 mi
100 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arkansas City, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Wichita, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Arkansas City to Wichita is a straightforward 62-mile journey across the Kansas Great Plains. You can expect the drive to take approximately 1 hour and 18 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budget roughly $9 for fuel to cover this distance comfortably. By utilizing the Kansas Turnpike alongside West Madison and South Broadway Avenues, you navigate efficiently between these two regional hubs. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick excursion, this route offers a reliable, low-stress connection through the heart of the state.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Turnpike | 37.6 mi | 37m |
| West Madison Avenue | 15.9 mi | 24m |
| South Broadway Avenue | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| West Washington Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East 47th Street South | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Broadway Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South 8th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| I 135 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 37.6 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arkansas City, KS and Wichita, KS.
1
Start on this road
318 ft
·
25 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto East 5th Avenue
189 ft
·
15 sec
·
East 5th Avenue
3
Turn left onto South Summit Street
433 ft
·
22 sec
·
South Summit Street
4
Turn right onto West Washington Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Washington Avenue
5
At end of road, turn left onto South 8th Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
South 8th Street
6
Turn right onto US 166
16 mi
·
24 min
·
West Madison Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
8
Merge onto I 35
38 mi
·
37 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 42
Toward I 135, I 235, US 81: South Wichita, Salina
10
Continue on I 135
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
I 135
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 1A
Toward US 81 South
12
Turn left onto US 81
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
East 47th Street South
13
Turn right onto South Broadway Avenue
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
South Broadway Avenue
14
Continue on North Broadway Street
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
North Broadway Street
15
Turn left onto East 3rd Street North
370 ft
·
20 sec
·
East 3rd Street North
16
Turn right onto North Market Street
315 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Market Street
17
Turn left
187 ft
·
13 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31 miles from Arkansas City, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 61.9 — 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 right onto East 5th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Summit Street
Turn left onto South Summit Street
Navigation decision point
6
54.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 135, I 235, US 81: South Wichita, Salina
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 42
Toward I 135, I 235, US 81: South Wichita, Sali...
6
55.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward US 81 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 1A
Toward US 81 South
5
61.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
North Market Street
Turn right onto North Market Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.69 one way
$19.39 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.64 | $21.29 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.93 | $23.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.69 | $27.38 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.88
Kansas Turnpike
(37.6 mi)
$1.88
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$2
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.51 | $2.98 |
| Efficient EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.43 | $2.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.68 | $3.97 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Wichita, KS
Morning in Wichita on Sunday
Local time
9:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 18m 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?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with about 61% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm during the longest stretch of 37.6 miles on the Kansas Turnpike, which serves as the backbone of your journey. As you transition off the turnpike and onto South Broadway Avenue and West Madison Avenue, the character of the road shifts from open interstate cruising to local navigation. You should anticipate a consistent experience behind the wheel, characterized by the flat, expansive landscape typical of the Great Plains region.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.6 mi on Kansas Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and West Madison Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 5th Avenue.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 18m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 5th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Summit Street): Navigation decision point; at 54.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,301 ft
1,116 ft
Total Climb
380 ft
Total Descent
195 ft
Highest Point
1,301 ft
~62 mi in
Elevation Range
185 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Arkansas City, KS to Wichita, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.
Salina
54.6 mi in
|
~1h 5m
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 18m. Total distance: 62 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.6 miles on Kansas Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.88 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. 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 0.1 miles (East 5th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Summit Street): Navigation decision point; at 54.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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