Derby, KS to Merriam, KS is 190.8 miles and takes about 3h 19m via I 35, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains, offering a familiar landscape for much of the drive. The route is almost entirely highway, making it a straightforward and efficient way to cover the distance. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll likely find this route ideal if you're looking for a quick transit between these two Kansas locations.
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
95.4 miles from Derby, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
102.4 mi
1h 46m
Kansas Turnpike
81.9 mi
1h 21m
South Southeast Boulevard
5.1 mi
7m
North Baltimore Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Turnpike Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Johnson Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Kessler Lane
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 102.4 mi, about 1h 46m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~761 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,009
Quietest
2 AM
~68 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Derby, KS and Merriam, 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
5.1 mi·7 min·South Southeast Boulevard
5
Turn right onto Turnpike Drive
0.2 mi·25 sec·Turnpike Drive
6
Take the ramp
524 ft·12 sec
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 35 North: El Dorado, Kansas City, Kansas TurnpikeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 35
82 mi·1 hr 21 min·Kansas Turnpike
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
95 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 35
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on I 35; US 56; US 169
3.6 mi·4 min·I 35; US 56; US 169
Toward I 35 North, US 56 East, US 169 North: Des MoinesUse the straight lane.
11
Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 69; US 169
3.4 mi·4 min·I 35; US 56; US 69; US 169
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·32 sec
Exit 229Toward Johnson DriveUse the sharp right lane.
13
Turn right onto Johnson Drive
0.1 mi·18 sec·Johnson Drive
Use the right lane.
14
Turn right onto Kessler Lane
475 ft·26 sec·Kessler Lane
15
Turn left
119 ft·8 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given this is a relatively short, one-day drive, consider departing mid-morning to avoid the earliest rush hour traffic. You'll have plenty of time to reach Merriam comfortably before evening. The route has only one recommended stop, but with a driving time under 3.5 hours, you may not even need it. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $30, and plan to refuel before you leave Derby to ensure a smooth trip. The Kansas Turnpike section may have tolls, so be prepared for that possibility.
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 95.4 miles from Derby, KS, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.4 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 42 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.4 miles or 1h 39m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Merriam, 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 190.8 miles and 3h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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 I 35 for about 102.4 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 190.6 — 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
9
5.9 mi into trip|~9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35 North: El Dorado, Kansas City, Kansas Turnpike
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 35 North: El Dorado, Kansas City, Kans...
6
88 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
190.4 mi into trip|~3h 18m in
Take the exit toward Johnson Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the sharp right lane.
Exit 229
Toward Johnson Drive
6
190.6 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|Johnson Drive
Turn right onto Johnson Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.83 one way
$63.66 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$34.59
$69.18
premium
$5.26
$39.50
$79.01
diesel
$6.18
$46.42
$92.83
Estimated Tolls: $4.10
Kansas Turnpike
(81.9 mi)$4.10
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
$32
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.2
0
$20.03
$9.16
Efficient EV
47.7
0
$16.70
$7.63
EV Truck/SUV
76.3
0
$26.71
$12.21
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Forecast as of Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Derby, KS
Morning
in Derby on Monday
Local time
9:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Sunny
S 9 to 16 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Merriam, KS
Morning
in Merriam on Monday
Local time
9:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
SSW 3 to 12 mph0% chanceLive 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
3 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 19m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 drive that is 97% highway, meaning you'll spend nearly all your time on high-speed roads. The longest stretch you'll encounter without a significant break in highway travel is 102.4 miles on I 35. You'll notice a high concentration of exits and merging traffic as you approach your destination in Merriam.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.4 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Kansas Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main 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 13 significant decision points across 190.8 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: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 19m. Total distance: 190.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.4 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.10 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 10 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 Merriam, 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 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Merriam, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
