If you are planning a trip from Derby to Attica, expect a straightforward 66.4-mile journey through the heart of the Great Plains. This 1-hour and 49-minute drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can comfortably budget around $10 for fuel, making this an incredibly cost-effective way to traverse the Kansas landscape. Because both your starting point and destination reside within the Great Plains region, the terrain remains consistent throughout the trip. It is an ideal route for those who prefer a no-fuss, highway-focused drive without the need for multiple stops along the way.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.2 miles from Derby, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
KS 2
17.7 mi
31m
State Highway 42
15.7 mi
27m
US 160
13.5 mi
20m
West 71st Street South
10.1 mi
13m
East 63rd Street South
3 mi
5m
East Grand Avenue
2 mi
4m
South Southeast Boulevard
1.8 mi
2m
East 14th Street
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
KS 2
— 17.7 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Derby, KS and Attica, KS.
1
Start on this road
121 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto East Main Street
271 ft·13 sec·East Main Street
3
Turn right onto KS 15
0.4 mi·39 sec·North Baltimore Avenue
4
Continue on KS 15
1.8 mi·2 min·South Southeast Boulevard
5
Turn left onto East 63rd Street South
3.0 mi·5 min·East 63rd Street South
6
Turn left onto US 81
1.0 mi·1 min·South Broadway Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto East Grand Avenue
2.0 mi·4 min·East Grand Avenue
8
Continue on West 71st Street South
10 mi·13 min·West 71st Street South
9
Turn left onto KS 42
16 mi·27 min·State Highway 42
10
Turn left onto KS 2
18 mi·31 min·KS 2
11
At end of road, turn right onto US 160; KS 2
1.1 mi·1 min·East 14th Street
12
Turn left onto US 160; KS 2
3.0 mi·4 min·US 160; KS 2
13
Turn right onto US 160
10 mi·15 min·US 160
14
Turn left onto North Main Street
116 ft·3 sec·North Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though hitting the road during daylight hours will provide the best visibility. Given that there are no mandatory stops scheduled for this 66.4-mile trek, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to plan for long rest breaks. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Derby; while $10 covers the estimated costs, fueling up locally ensures you won't have to worry about finding a station mid-route. Because this path relies on a mix of KS 2 and US 160, stay alert for transitions between these highways to ensure you stay on track. Enjoy the efficiency of a drive that gets you from point A to point B without any unnecessary detours.
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 33.2 miles from Derby, KS, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.7 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 15 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.2 miles or 55m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Attica, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Derby, KS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Derby, KS
This is one driving day of about 66.4 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Derby, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on KS 2 for about 17.7 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 51.8 — 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|East Main Street
Turn right onto East Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
5.3 mi into trip|~9m in|US 81 / South Broadway Avenue
Turn left onto US 81 / South Broadway Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
6.3 mi into trip|~10m in|East Grand Avenue
Turn right onto East Grand Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
34.1 mi into trip|~56m in|KS 2
Turn left onto KS 2
Navigation decision point
4
51.8 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|US 160; KS 2 / East 14th Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 160; KS 2 / East 14th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.38 one way
$20.76 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$11.40
$22.80
premium
$4.89
$12.78
$25.56
diesel
$5.61
$14.66
$29.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.9
0
$6.97
$3.19
Efficient EV
16.6
0
$5.81
$2.66
EV Truck/SUV
26.6
0
$9.30
$4.25
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Derby, KS
Late night
in Derby on Tuesday
Local time
5:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Attica, KS
Late night
in Attica on Tuesday
Local time
5:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Clearwater, KS
33 mi in
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
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 49m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 70% of this route is dedicated to faster-paced roads. You will rely primarily on a combination of KS 2, State Highway 42, and US 160 to navigate between these two points. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 17.7-mile segment on KS 2, which allows you to settle into a steady rhythm behind the wheel. While the drive is efficient, the shift between state and federal highways keeps the path from feeling like a monotonous interstate grind. You will find that the road provides a practical, direct connection across the plains, keeping your transit time well under two hours.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.7 mi on KS 2.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on KS 2 and State Highway 42. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 49m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.3 miles (US 81 / South Broadway Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles (East Grand Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 66.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 17.7 miles on KS 2. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.3 miles (US 81 / South Broadway Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles (East Grand Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Attica, KS before heading back.
