Cimarron, KS to Shawnee, KS is 350.8 miles and takes about 6h 34m via Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway and Kansas Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $54 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape. Most of your travel will be on major highways, making for a straightforward trip. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a manageable drive for a single day's travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
175.4 miles from Cimarron, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 28m into the drive
.
Given this route is around 6.5 hours of driving, leaving Cimarron, KS in the morning will allow you to reach Shawnee, KS with daylight to spare. You'll have about 90 miles of highway driving at a time, so plan for a fuel stop or stretch break around that mark. The fuel cost is estimated at $54, so ensure you have enough to cover that. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with your stops.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 175.4 miles from Cimarron, KS, or about 3h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.3 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 77 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 175.4 miles or 3h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shawnee, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Cimarron, KS so your first major turns are already loaded.
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Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
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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 Cimarron, KS
This is one driving day of about 350.8 miles and 6h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 miles from Cimarron, 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 Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway for about 90.3 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 101.9 and 344.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
101.9 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|Washington Street
At end of road, turn right onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
5
154.5 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Take the ramp toward I-70 East, Salina
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 East, Salina
6
294.8 mi into trip|~5h 30m in|I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway toward I-70 East, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
5
344.2 mi into trip|~6h 20m in
Take the exit toward College Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 415
Toward College Parkway
8
344.4 mi into trip|~6h 21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Turner Diagonal
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Turner Diagonal
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.26 one way
$110.52 round trip
$4.00/gal25.4 MPG avg123 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.37
$60.35
$120.71
premium
$4.73
$65.28
$130.57
diesel
$6.06
$83.71
$167.42
Estimated Tolls: $2.43
Kansas Turnpike
(48.7 mi)$2.43
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
$55
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122.7 kg one way.
EV Charging Along Route
20 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Mission, KS - Tesla Supercharger
Mission, KS
Tesla
20 DCFC
Abilene, KS - Tesla Supercharger
Abilene, KS
Tesla
12 DCFC
Lawrence, KS - Tesla Supercharger
Tonganoxie, KS
Tesla
12 DCFC
Abilene, KS Rechargery Relay - Buckeye Ave
Abilene, KS
IONNA
10 DCFC
Topeka, KS - Tesla Supercharger
Topeka, KS
Tesla
8 DCFC
Topeka, KS - Topeka Service Area - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.2
1
$36.83
$16.84
Efficient EV
87.7
1
$30.70
$14.03
EV Truck/SUV
140.3
1
$49.11
$22.45
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Cimarron, KS
Morning
in Cimarron on Saturday
Local time
10:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
28°F
Widespread Frost
SSW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 1:31AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 10:30PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS
Destination
Shawnee, KS
Morning
in Shawnee on Saturday
Local time
10:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
37°F
Clear
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 1:31AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 10:30PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM 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
9 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
6h 34m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The path to equality has been anything but smooth. It's taken courage and dedication by everyday people coming together for a common goal to carry the country toward true equality. Parents, teachers,...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 290.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 47% of your 350.8 miles on major highways like the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway and Kansas Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 90.3 miles on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. Expect a mix of high-speed highway cruising and more varied surface road driving as you approach your destination.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.3 mi on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 101.9 miles in near Washington Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 350.8 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 101.9 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 154.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 294.8 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,635 ft908 ft
Total Climb
605 ft
Total Descent
2,179 ft
Highest Point
2,635 ft
Elevation Range
1,727 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cimarron, KS and Shawnee, KS, road signs point toward Salina and Kansas City.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 34m. Total distance: 350.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 34m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.3 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.43 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.
Yes — we found about 25 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 101.9 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 154.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 294.8 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Shawnee, KS before the return drive.
