Spanning 298.9 miles across the Great Plains, this journey from Derby to Colby is a straightforward trip that takes approximately 5 hours and 9 minutes of driving time. Because this route is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate sprint, you should plan for a full day on the road if you want to reach your destination comfortably. Budgeting around $45 for fuel will cover your transit needs for the one-day duration of this trip. Navigating through the heart of Kansas, you will rely on local thoroughfares like East Main Street, North Baltimore Avenue, and South Southeast Boulevard. While it is certainly feasible as a single-day commitment, the local nature of the roads means you should prepare for a hands-on driving experience.
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
149.4 miles from Derby, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
196.6 mi
3h 16m
I 135
92.4 mi
1h 35m
South Southeast Boulevard
6.3 mi
9m
South Range Avenue
2.1 mi
4m
North Baltimore Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
West 3rd Street
0.1 mi
<1m
East Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 196.6 mi, about 3h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Derby, KS and Colby, 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
6.3 mi·9 min·South Southeast Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 135 North, US 81 North, KS 15 North: Salina
6
Merge onto I 135; US 81; KS 15
27 mi·29 min·I 135; US 81; KS 15
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 135; US 50; US 81
2.1 mi·2 min·I 135; US 50; US 81
8
Continue on I 135; US 81
63 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 135; US 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·41 sec
Toward I 70 West: Hays
10
Merge onto I 70; US 40
197 mi·3 hr 16 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward KS 25, Atwood, Leoti
12
Turn right onto KS 25
2.1 mi·4 min·South Range Avenue
13
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·West 3rd Street
14
Arrive at destination
West 3rd Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour and 9-minute transit, aim to leave early in the morning to allow for daylight navigation on these winding local roads. With only one planned stop in your itinerary, ensure you time your break strategically to maximize your efficiency during the 298.9-mile journey. Since you are relying on local streets like South Southeast Boulevard, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge and fill up when you have the chance, as local routes may have fewer service options than major interstates. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so if you find yourself needing an extra break, do not hesitate to adjust your pace. Pay close attention to local signage, as the turn-heavy nature of this route requires constant awareness of your upcoming directions.
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 149.4 miles from Derby, KS, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 196.6 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 66 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.4 miles or 2h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colby, 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.
+
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 Derby, KS
This is one driving day of about 298.9 miles and 5h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Derby, 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 196.6 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 296.4 — 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
4
6.8 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the ramp toward I 135 North, US 81 North, KS 15 North: Salina
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 135 North, US 81 North, KS 15 North: S...
5
7.2 mi into trip|~11m in|I 135; US 81; KS 15
Merge onto I 135; US 81; KS 15
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
99.6 mi into trip|~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Hays
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 70 West: Hays
5
296.4 mi into trip|~5h 3m in
Take the exit toward KS 25, Atwood, Leoti
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KS 25, Atwood, Leoti
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.73 one way
$93.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$51.31
$102.61
premium
$4.89
$57.52
$115.04
diesel
$5.61
$65.99
$131.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.7
1
$31.38
$14.35
Efficient EV
74.7
0
$26.15
$11.96
EV Truck/SUV
119.6
1
$41.85
$19.13
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Derby, KS
Evening
in Derby on Saturday
Local time
8:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Colby, KS
Evening
in Colby on Saturday
Local time
8:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
82°F
Lincoln, KS
149 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
10 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
5h 9m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 departure from the typical interstate experience, as this route features a 0% highway share, favoring a more technical, turn-heavy local road profile. You will spend your time navigating through the landscape on smaller roads rather than cruising along high-speed corridors. This setup keeps you constantly engaged with the wheel, as there are no long, monotonous stretches of highway to zone out on. Because you are sticking to local infrastructure, the road conditions will fluctuate more than they would on a major artery. Stay alert for frequent turns and transitions as you make your way across the regional landscape.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 196.6 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 5h 9m drive. You will face about 9 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 6.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.2 miles (I 135; US 81; KS 15): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 9m. Total distance: 298.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 196.6 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.2 miles (I 135; US 81; KS 15): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Colby, KS before the return drive.
