Origin
Atchison, KS
Late night in Atchison on Tuesday
Local time
3:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Atchison, KS to Lenexa, KS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
61.2 mi
98 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Atchison, KS
Tien Nguyen
Lenexa, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Atchison to Lenexa is a straightforward 61.2-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 16 minutes to complete. Since the entire trip stays within the Great Plains region of Kansas, you can easily manage this as a single-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $9 for fuel makes this a very economical commute or day trip. The route relies on a combination of 45 Highway, 273 Highway, and I-435 to connect these two points efficiently. It is a practical drive for those looking to move between these Kansas cities with minimal downtime.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 435 | 29.6 mi | 31m |
| 45 Highway | 13.7 mi | 18m |
| 273 Highway | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Southwest 59 Highway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| I 29 | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Southwest 45 Highway | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| I 35 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Amelia Earhart Bridge | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 435
— 29.6 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atchison, KS and Lenexa, KS.
1
Start on Kansas Avenue
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Kansas Avenue
2
Turn right onto North 4th Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
North 4th Street
3
Turn left onto US 59
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Amelia Earhart Bridge
4
Continue on US 59; MO 273
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Southwest 59 Highway
5
Turn right onto MO 45; MO 273
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Southwest 45 Highway
6
Continue on MO 45; MO 273
14 mi
·
18 min
·
45 Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left onto MO 273
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
273 Highway
Use the left lane.
8
At end of road, turn left onto MO 273
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
273 Highway
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
10
Merge onto I 29; US 71
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
I 29; US 71
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 17
Toward I 435 South: Topeka
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 435
30 mi
·
31 min
·
I 435
Use the right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 83
Toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita, Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita, Des Moines
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 North: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 169
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35; US 56; US 169
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 224
Toward 95th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
296 ft
·
7 sec
Toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie College
Use the right lane.
19
Turn straight onto West 95th Street
189 ft
·
3 sec
·
West 95th Street
20
Turn slight right onto Lenexa Drive
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
Lenexa Drive
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto Rosehill Road
500 ft
·
18 sec
·
Rosehill Road
22
Turn right
71 ft
·
10 sec
23
Turn left
256 ft
·
18 sec
24
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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.6 miles from Atchison, 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 23.7 and 60.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
23.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
MO 273 / 273 Highway
At end of road, turn left onto MO 273 / 273 Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
27.4 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward I 435 South: Topeka
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward I 435 South: Topeka
8
57.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 83
Toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita...
8
58 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita, Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita...
9
60.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.57 one way
$19.14 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.51 | $21.01 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.78 | $23.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.51 | $27.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.43 | $2.94 |
| Efficient EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.35 | $2.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.57 | $3.92 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% 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
Lenexa, KS
Late night in Lenexa on Tuesday
Local time
3:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Lansing, KS
31 mi in
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
2 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 16m 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 offers a mixed driving experience, balancing local infrastructure with faster interstate transit. About 54% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a steady rhythm as you navigate through the Kansas landscape. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 29.6 miles while cruising on I-435, which allows for consistent speeds. The transition between the smaller state highways and the larger interstate system defines the personality of this route. Expect a functional drive that shifts from local surface roads to a more structured highway environment as you approach your destination.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.6 mi on I 435.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.7 miles in near MO 273 / 273 Highway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.2 miles you will encounter 18 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 23.7 miles (MO 273 / 273 Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Atchison, KS to Lenexa, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Des Moines along the way.
Des Moines
57.6 mi in
|
~1h 10m
About the Cities
Starting in Atchison, KS
Full guide →Atchison is one of the Midwest's most historic and charming towns, in Eastern Kansas. Atchison has a population of 11021.
Arriving in Lenexa, KS
Full guide →Lenexa is a city in Eastern Kansas.
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 16m. Total distance: 61.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.6 miles on I 435. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Lenexa, KS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 23.7 miles (MO 273 / 273 Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lenexa, 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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