Origin
Carbondale, KS
Late night in Carbondale on Sunday
Local time
3:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carbondale, KS to Kansas City, 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 24m
Distance
76.8 mi
124 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carbondale, KS
Tien Nguyen
Trip Overview
Carbondale, KS to Kansas City, KS is 76.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 24 minutes via the Kansas Turnpike and US 75, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward journey between two points in Kansas. Given its relatively short duration, it's an ideal candidate for a same-day trip, allowing for ample time at your destination. You'll primarily be on highway, making for an efficient transit.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Turnpike | 60.4 mi | 1h 1m |
| US 75 | 12.4 mi | 13m |
| South 7th Street Trafficway | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| I 70 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| US 69 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Armstrong Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 60.4 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carbondale, KS and Kansas City, KS.
1
Start on South 4th Street
130 ft
·
7 sec
·
South 4th Street
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Main Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
4
Merge onto US 75
12 mi
·
13 min
·
US 75
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 470 East, I 335
6
Merge onto I 470
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-70 East: Lawrence, Kansas City
8
Merge onto I 470
60 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69 North: Saint Louis
10
Take the exit onto US 69
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 69
Exit 422A
Toward US 69 North, US 169 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 69
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South 7th Street Trafficway
Toward US 69 North
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto Armstrong Avenue
282 ft
·
17 sec
·
Armstrong Avenue
13
Turn left
149 ft
·
10 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.4 miles from Carbondale, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Kansas Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.4 miles.
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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 75 — 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
|
Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
13.9 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-70 East: Lawrence, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 East: Lawrence, Kansas City
6
74.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69 toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69 North: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69...
9
75 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
US 69
Take the exit onto US 69 toward US 69 North, US 169 South
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 422A
Toward US 69 North, US 169 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.01 one way
$24.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.18 | $26.37 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.78 | $29.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.96 | $33.91 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.02
Kansas Turnpike
(60.4 mi)
$3.02
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$3
Total
$15
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23 | 0 | $8.06 | $3.69 |
| Efficient EV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.72 | $3.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.7 | 0 | $10.75 | $4.92 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Kansas City, KS
Late night in Kansas City on Sunday
Local time
3:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Reno, KS
38 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
21 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 24m 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 route is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 96% of the drive spent on high-speed roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 60.4 miles on the Kansas Turnpike, which forms the backbone of this trip. Expect a consistent driving experience with limited variations, as the landscape remains largely consistent across the Great Plains. The focus is on covering ground efficiently rather than on winding scenic byways.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.4 mi on Kansas Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and US 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.8 miles you will encounter 12 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 (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 13.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 76.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.4 miles on Kansas Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.02 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.
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 Kansas City, 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: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 13.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kansas City, 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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