Baker, KS to Lenexa, KS is 94.7 miles and takes about 2 hours 6 minutes via US 73 Highway and I 435, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward trip between two points in Kansas. It's a route that prioritizes efficiency, making it a solid choice if you're looking for a direct connection without extensive detours. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, so expect a predictable and swift transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.4 miles from Baker, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 73 Highway
27 mi
36m
I 435
21.1 mi
22m
Amelia Earhart Drive
10.7 mi
12m
MO 45
8.9 mi
12m
US Highway 73
8.2 mi
9m
US 73
6 mi
9m
MO 45 Spur
2.2 mi
3m
170th Street
1.9 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 73 Highway
— 27 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Baker, KS and Lenexa, KS.
1
Start on 170th Street
1.9 mi·4 min·170th Street
2
Turn right onto US 73; US 159
6.0 mi·9 min·US 73; US 159
3
Turn left onto US 73; US 159; KS 20
0.5 mi·1 min·East 15th Street
4
Continue on US 73; KS 20
0.2 mi·26 sec·110th Street
5
Continue on US 73; KS 20
8.2 mi·9 min·US Highway 73
6
Continue on US 73
16 mi·23 min·US 73 Highway
7
Turn right onto US 73
0.1 mi·17 sec·South 22nd Street
8
Turn left onto US 59; US 73
0.4 mi·38 sec·US 59 Highway
9
Continue on US 59; US 73
1.0 mi·2 min·Skyway Highway
10
Turn right onto US 73; K-7
0.1 mi·10 sec·South 10th Street
11
Continue on US 73; K-7
11 mi·12 min·US 73 Highway
12
Continue on US 73; K-7
11 mi·12 min·Amelia Earhart Drive
13
Continue on US 73; K-7
0.2 mi·26 sec·Amelia Earhart Road
14
Continue on US 73; K-7
1.6 mi·3 min·Metropolitan Avenue
15
Continue on MO 92
0.6 mi·1 min·MO 92
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·11 sec
Toward MO 45 Spur: Farley
17
Turn straight onto MO 45 Spur
2.2 mi·3 min·MO 45 Spur
18
Turn right
109 ft·4 sec
Toward MO 45 South: Parkville
19
Turn right onto MO 45
8.9 mi·12 min·MO 45
20
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 435 South: Topeka
21
Merge onto I 435
21 mi·22 min·I 435
Use the right lane.
22
Take the exit
0.4 mi·35 sec
Exit 83Toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita, Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork
1.1 mi·1 min
Toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita, Des MoinesUse the straight lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 North: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 169
0.9 mi·1 min·I 35; US 56; US 169
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 224Toward 95th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork
296 ft·7 sec
Toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie CollegeUse the right lane.
28
Turn straight onto West 95th Street
189 ft·3 sec·West 95th Street
29
Turn slight right onto Lenexa Drive
0.2 mi·56 sec·Lenexa Drive
Use the right lane.
30
Turn left onto Rosehill Road
500 ft·18 sec·Rosehill Road
31
Turn right
71 ft·10 sec
32
Turn left
256 ft·18 sec
33
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given this route is only about 2 hours long, you have a lot of flexibility. Leaving any time in the morning should allow you to complete the drive before evening. You won't need to plan for overnight stops. With only 94.7 miles, you can easily make this a same-day trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $15; it's always wise to top off before heading out, especially since the longest stretch on US 73 Highway is 27 miles. There are no specific stops indicated, so plan to fuel up or take breaks before you depart Baker or once you arrive in Lenexa.
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 47.4 miles from Baker, KS, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27 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 21 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.4 miles or 1h 6m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lenexa, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Baker, 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 Baker, KS
This is one driving day of about 94.7 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Baker, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 73 Highway for about 27 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 91.2 and 94.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
91.2 mi into trip|~2h 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
91.6 mi into trip|~2h 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...
7
92.6 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Des Moines
7
94.1 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward 95th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 224
Toward 95th Street
9
94.3 mi into trip|~2h 4m 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
$14.81 one way
$29.61 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.26
$32.51
premium
$4.89
$18.22
$36.45
diesel
$5.61
$20.91
$41.82
Estimated Tolls: $0.07
Skyway Highway
(1 mi)$0.07
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
$15
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.4
0
$9.94
$4.55
Efficient EV
23.7
0
$8.29
$3.79
EV Truck/SUV
37.9
0
$13.26
$6.06
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Baker, KS
Late night
in Baker on Tuesday
Local time
3:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lenexa, KS
Late night
in Lenexa on Tuesday
Local time
3:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°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
2h 6m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 80% of the route on major roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 27 miles on US 73 Highway before transitioning to I 435. Expect a consistent driving experience as you leave US 73 and merge onto the interstate. The high percentage of highway driving means you'll likely notice frequent exits and merging traffic as you approach your destination in Lenexa.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27 mi on US 73 Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 73 Highway and I 435. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 91.2 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 94.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 91.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 91.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 94.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27 miles on US 73 Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.07 in tolls one way, starting with Skyway Highway. 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.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 91.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 91.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lenexa, KS before heading back.
