De Soto to Derby is 185.6 miles and takes about 3h 15m via Kansas Turnpike and KS 10, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward trip across Kansas. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, making it an efficient option for getting between these two points. It's a single-day trip, so you can plan to arrive at your destination with plenty of time left.
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
92.8 miles from De Soto, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Kansas Turnpike
152.3 mi
2h 32m
KS 10
24.4 mi
27m
South Southeast Boulevard
5.1 mi
7m
Lexington Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
Ottawa Street
0.4 mi
1m
North Baltimore Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Turnpike Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
West 82nd Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 152.3 mi, about 2h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between De Soto, KS and Derby, KS.
1
Start on West 82nd Street
0.2 mi·46 sec·West 82nd Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto Ottawa Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Ottawa Street
3
Turn right onto Lexington Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·Lexington Avenue
4
Enter roundabout onto Lexington Avenue
104 ft·2 sec·Lexington Avenue
5
Continue on Lexington Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·Lexington Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward KS 10 West: Lawrence
7
Merge onto KS 10
24 mi·27 min·KS 10
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
9
Merge onto I 70
13 mi·13 min·Kansas Turnpike
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 470
139 mi·2 hr 18 min·Kansas Turnpike
Toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, WichitaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward KS 15: Wichita K-15
12
Keep slight left at fork
149 ft·4 sec
13
Turn right onto Turnpike Drive
0.2 mi·19 sec·Turnpike Drive
14
At end of road, turn left onto KS 15
5.1 mi·7 min·South Southeast Boulevard
15
Continue on KS 15
0.4 mi·44 sec·North Baltimore Avenue
16
Turn left onto East Main Street
271 ft·17 sec·East Main Street
17
Turn left
121 ft·8 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 3h 15m drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize your daylight. Since it's a relatively short trip, you'll only need one stop. Given the 185.6-mile distance, you can easily complete this in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 152.3-mile stretch on the Kansas Turnpike, as services can be spaced out on this highway.
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 92.8 miles from De Soto, KS, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 152.3 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 41 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.8 miles or 1h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Derby, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving De Soto, 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 De Soto, KS
This is one driving day of about 185.6 miles and 3h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from De Soto, 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 Kansas Turnpike for about 152.3 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 40.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Ottawa Street
At end of road, turn left onto Ottawa Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.7 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward KS 10 West: Lawrence
Navigation decision point
Toward KS 10 West: Lawrence
5
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in|KS 10
Merge onto KS 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
26.5 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
8
40.4 mi into trip|~46m in|I 470 / Kansas Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 470 / Kansas Turnpike toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, Wichita
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, Wichita
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.02 one way
$58.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.86
$63.72
premium
$4.89
$35.72
$71.43
diesel
$5.61
$40.98
$81.96
Estimated Tolls: $7.62
Kansas Turnpike
(152.3 mi)$7.62
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
$29
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.7
0
$19.49
$8.91
Efficient EV
46.4
0
$16.24
$7.42
EV Truck/SUV
74.2
0
$25.98
$11.88
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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
De Soto, KS
Morning
in De Soto on Tuesday
Local time
10:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Derby, KS
Morning
in Derby on Tuesday
Local time
10:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°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
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 15m 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 route is 95% highway, meaning you'll be on high-speed roads for the vast majority of the 185.6 miles. The longest continuous stretch on the Kansas Turnpike spans 152.3 miles. You'll transition to surface roads for the final portion of your trip. Expect a steady pace with frequent exits on the highway segments.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 152.3 mi on Kansas Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and KS 10. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Ottawa Street.
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 185.6 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 0.2 miles (Ottawa Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (KS 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from De Soto, KS to Derby, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Wichita along the way.
Wichita
40.4 mi in|~46m|via I 470
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 15m. Total distance: 185.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 152.3 miles on Kansas Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.62 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 6 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: at 0.2 miles (Ottawa Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (KS 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Derby, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
