Aubry, KS to Hutchinson, KS is 206.5 miles and takes about 3h 57m via I 35 and US 56, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Great Plains, offering a straightforward drive across Kansas. With 92% of the trip on highways, you'll experience a focused drive with minimal time on slower roads. This is a practical option for a single-day trip, especially if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without extensive detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
103.2 miles from Aubry, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
82.8 mi
1h 23m
US 56
36.5 mi
42m
US 81 Business
25 mi
27m
US 50
24.6 mi
29m
KS 150
16.5 mi
19m
West 175th Street
8 mi
13m
West 179th Street
3.5 mi
6m
US 69
2.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 82.8 mi, about 1h 23m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~751 veh/hr typical
· worst 979
Quietest
2 AM
~68 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aubry, KS and Hutchinson, KS.
1
Start on Johnson Street
144 ft·8 sec·Johnson Street
2
Turn right onto 197th Terrace
415 ft·24 sec·197th Terrace
3
Turn left onto Foster Street
0.2 mi·53 sec·Foster Street
4
Turn right onto West 199th Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·West 199th Street
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·19 sec
6
Merge onto US 69
2.2 mi·2 min·US 69
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward 179th StreetUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto West 179th Street
3.5 mi·6 min·West 179th Street
9
Continue on West 175th Street
8.0 mi·13 min·West 175th Street
10
Continue on US 56
0.2 mi·24 sec·US 56
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward I 35 South, US 50 West: WichitaUse the left lane.
12
Merge onto I 35; US 50
83 mi·1 hr 23 min·I 35; US 50
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Toward US 50: Emporia, Newton
14
Enter roundabout
433 ft·5 sec
15
Continue
0.2 mi·11 sec
16
Enter roundabout onto US 50
33 ft·0 sec·US 50
17
Continue on US 50
25 mi·29 min·US 50
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward KS 150 West: Marion
19
Turn straight onto KS 150
17 mi·19 min·KS 150
20
Enter roundabout onto US 56
190 ft·3 sec·US 56
21
Continue on US 56
36 mi·42 min·US 56
22
Turn left
0.2 mi·27 sec
23
Merge onto I 135; US 81
1.7 mi·1 min·I 135; US 81
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 81 Business, KS 61, McPherson, Hutchinson
25
Continue on US 81 Bus; KS 61
1.6 mi·1 min·US 81 Bus; KS 61
26
Continue on US 81 Business; KS 61
25 mi·27 min·US 81 Business; KS 61
27
Turn right onto East 11th Avenue
1.3 mi·3 min·East 11th Avenue
28
Turn left onto North Maple Street
0.3 mi·46 sec·North Maple Street
29
Turn right onto East 7th Avenue
0.2 mi·29 sec·East 7th Avenue
30
Turn right
62 ft·4 sec
31
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 3 hour and 57-minute drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. The single recommended stop suggests you can easily complete this trip in one day. With a fuel cost estimated at $32, it's wise to fill up before departing, especially given the longest stretch of 82.8 miles on I 35. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition from the interstate to US 56 and US 81 Business, as services might be less frequent on these non-interstate highways.
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 103.2 miles from Aubry, KS, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.8 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 45 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.2 miles or 1h 55m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hutchinson, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Aubry, 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 Aubry, KS
This is one driving day of about 206.5 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Aubry, 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 I 35 for about 82.8 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 97.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|197th Terrace
Turn right onto 197th Terrace
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Foster Street
Turn left onto Foster Street
Navigation decision point
6
3 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward 179th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 179th Street
8
14.8 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 South, US 50 West: Wichita
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 35 South, US 50 West: Wichita
5
97.8 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward US 50: Emporia, Newton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50: Emporia, Newton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.50 one way
$60.99 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$33.67
$67.33
premium
$4.72
$38.34
$76.68
diesel
$4.80
$38.99
$77.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62
0
$21.68
$9.91
Efficient EV
51.6
0
$18.07
$8.26
EV Truck/SUV
82.6
1
$28.91
$13.22
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Aubry, KS
Morning
in Aubry on Sunday
Local time
6:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 mph26% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hutchinson, KS
Morning
in Hutchinson on Sunday
Local time
6:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 7 to 12 mph18% 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
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
3h 57m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive covering 206.5 miles. You'll spend 92% of your time on major roadways, primarily I 35 and US 56. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 82.8 miles on I 35. Expect a relatively smooth experience with frequent exits on the highway portions, transitioning to surface roads for the final part of the trip.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.8 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 56. You will hit about 22 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 197th Terrace.
Driving Effort5/10
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 206.5 miles you will encounter 22 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: near the start (197th Terrace): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Foster Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,576 ft1,018 ft
Total Climb
559 ft
Total Descent
77 ft
Highest Point
1,576 ft
~162.2 mi in
Elevation Range
559 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Aubry, KS and Hutchinson, KS, road signs point toward Newton and Mcpherson.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 57m. Total distance: 206.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.8 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (197th Terrace): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Foster Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Hutchinson, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
