Derby to Tecumseh is 146.6 miles and takes about 2h 32m via Kansas Turnpike and US 40, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, primarily traversing Kansas. The route is largely on highways, making it a straightforward drive. Given its relatively short duration and minimal stops, it’s an easy one-day excursion.
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
73.3 miles from Derby, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Kansas Turnpike
136.8 mi
2h 16m
South Southeast Boulevard
5.1 mi
7m
US 40
1.4 mi
2m
Oakland Expressway
0.5 mi
<1m
North Baltimore Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Southeast Tecumseh Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Turnpike Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Southeast 3rd Terrace
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 136.8 mi, about 2h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Derby, KS and Tecumseh, 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 left at fork onto I 335
55 mi·54 min·Kansas Turnpike
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·48 sec
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West, KS 4 West: Topeka, Valley Falls
11
Continue on this road
0.6 mi·40 sec·this road
12
Keep slight left at fork
459 ft·11 sec
13
Merge onto US 40; KS 4
0.5 mi·35 sec·Oakland Expressway
14
Take the exit onto US 40
0.4 mi·59 sec·US 40
15
Turn left onto US 40
0.9 mi·1 min·US 40
16
Turn left onto Southeast Tecumseh Road
0.3 mi·45 sec·Southeast Tecumseh Road
17
Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Terrace
0.2 mi·36 sec·Southeast 3rd Terrace
18
Arrive at destination
Southeast 3rd Terrace
Trip Plan
Since this 2.5-hour drive is easily completed in a single day, you have flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving in the morning to allow for any unexpected delays or a brief stop. Fuel costs are estimated at $23, so ensure your tank is full before you depart. The route is mostly highway, so keep an eye on your speed and be aware of exit signs as you get closer to Tecumseh.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.3 miles from Derby, KS, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 136.8 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 32 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.3 miles or 1h 17m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tecumseh, 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 146.6 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 Kansas Turnpike for about 136.8 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 and 142.9 — 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
5
5.8 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp
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...
4
88 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|I 335 / Kansas Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 335 / Kansas Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
142.9 mi into trip|~2h 26m in
Take the exit toward I-70 West, US 40 West, KS 4 West: Topeka, Valley Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West, KS 4 West: Topeka...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.92 one way
$45.84 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.16
$50.33
premium
$4.89
$28.21
$56.42
diesel
$5.61
$32.37
$64.73
Estimated Tolls: $6.85
Kansas Turnpike
(136.8 mi)$6.85
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
$23
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44
0
$15.39
$7.04
Efficient EV
36.7
0
$12.83
$5.86
EV Truck/SUV
58.6
0
$20.52
$9.38
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Derby, KS
Late night
in Derby on Tuesday
Local time
4:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tecumseh, KS
Late night
in Tecumseh on Tuesday
Local time
4:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 32m 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.
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
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 141.6
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 95% of the 146.6 miles on highways. The longest continuous stretch is 136.8 miles, predominantly on the Kansas Turnpike. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface roads as you approach your destination, with the latter part of the drive featuring more local traffic and intersections.
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: 136.8 mi on Kansas Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and South Southeast Boulevard. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 146.6 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: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 146.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m 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 136.8 miles on Kansas Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.85 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.
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 Tecumseh, 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. 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 5.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tecumseh, KS before heading back.
