Baker, KS to Shawnee, KS is 89.7 miles and takes about 2 hours 4 minutes via I 29, US 73 Highway, and 45 Highway, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive between two points in Kansas. With a mixed highway and surface road profile, it's a practical option for a quick hop. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground without significant detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.9 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
I 29
16.8 mi
18m
US 73 Highway
15.7 mi
23m
45 Highway
13.7 mi
18m
Harry Darby Memorial Highway
11.2 mi
12m
US Highway 73
8.2 mi
9m
US 73
6 mi
9m
273 Highway
4.6 mi
6m
Southwest 59 Highway
3.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 16.8 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Baker, KS and Shawnee, 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
Continue on Woodlawn Avenue
0.4 mi·46 sec·Woodlawn Avenue
8
Keep slight right at fork
472 ft·9 sec
9
Turn slight right onto Main Street
1.5 mi·2 min·Main Street
10
Turn right onto South 4th Street
415 ft·14 sec·South 4th Street
11
Turn left onto US 59
0.5 mi·59 sec·Amelia Earhart Bridge
12
Continue on US 59; MO 273
3.3 mi·4 min·Southwest 59 Highway
13
Turn right onto MO 45; MO 273
1.7 mi·2 min·Southwest 45 Highway
14
Continue on MO 45; MO 273
14 mi·18 min·45 Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto MO 273
4.0 mi·5 min·273 Highway
Use the left lane.
16
At end of road, turn left onto MO 273
0.6 mi·1 min·273 Highway
Use the left lane.
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
18
Merge onto I 29; US 71
3.8 mi·4 min·I 29; US 71
19
Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71
2.2 mi·2 min·I 29; I 435; US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71
11 mi·11 min·I 29; US 71
Toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas CityUse the slight right lane.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 3BToward I 635 South: KansasUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 635
1.8 mi·2 min·Harry Darby Memorial Highway
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 635
9.3 mi·10 min·Harry Darby Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Exit 1CToward Shawnee DriveUse the slight right lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork
136 ft·3 sec
Use the right lane.
26
Turn right onto Shawnee Drive
1.0 mi·2 min·Shawnee Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Turn right onto 47th Street
1.5 mi·2 min·47th Street
28
Turn left onto Bond Street
0.2 mi·42 sec·Bond Street
29
Arrive at destination
Bond Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2-hour drive, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning allows you to arrive with plenty of daylight to spare. There are no designated stops mentioned, so you can make your own as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you move from I 29 onto US 73 Highway and 45 Highway, as services might be more spread out on surface roads. The estimated fuel cost of $14 is a good baseline for planning.
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 44.9 miles from Baker, KS, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.8 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 20 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.9 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 Shawnee, 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 89.7 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Baker, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 29 for about 16.8 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 57.9 and 87.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
57.9 mi into trip|~1h 23m in|MO 273 / 273 Highway
At end of road, turn left onto MO 273 / 273 Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
64.9 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|I 29; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71 toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
7
75.6 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward I 635 South: Kansas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 3B
Toward I 635 South: Kansas
7
86.9 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Take the exit toward Shawnee Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1C
Toward Shawnee Drive
7
87.1 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.02 one way
$28.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.40
$30.79
premium
$4.89
$17.26
$34.52
diesel
$5.61
$19.80
$39.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.9
0
$9.42
$4.31
Efficient EV
22.4
0
$7.85
$3.59
EV Truck/SUV
35.9
0
$12.56
$5.74
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Baker, KS
Late night
in Baker on Tuesday
Local time
4:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 19 at 12:15PM CDT until April 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 19 at 12:15PM CDT until April 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS
Destination
Shawnee, KS
Late night
in Shawnee on Tuesday
Local time
4:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
WNW 7 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 19 at 12:15PM CDT until April 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 19 at 12:15PM CDT until April 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS
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
2h 4m 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 drive is 52% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of the 89.7 miles on faster roads like I 29. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 16.8 miles on I 29. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. Expect to encounter a mix of driving conditions, from higher-speed travel to navigating more local routes.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.8 mi on I 29.
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 57.9 miles in near MO 273 / 273 Highway.
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 18 significant decision points across 89.7 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 57.9 miles (MO 273 / 273 Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 64.9 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 89.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.8 miles on I 29. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 Shawnee, 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. There are 3 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 57.9 miles (MO 273 / 273 Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 64.9 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Shawnee, KS before heading back.
