Elkhart, KS to Derby, KS is 283.3 miles and takes about 5h 47m via North Main Street, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, traversing Kansas for its entirety. Expect a drive primarily on surface roads, so plan for a more relaxed pace than a highway-only route. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a straightforward point-to-point option if you're looking to cover ground without extensive highway time.
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
141.7 miles from Elkhart, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Main Street
84.7 mi
1h 43m
Cannonball Stageline
60.2 mi
1h 8m
East Trail Street
41.9 mi
50m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
38.2 mi
43m
US 56
37 mi
43m
I 235
6.4 mi
7m
South Southeast Boulevard
3.9 mi
5m
West 1st Street
3.1 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
North Main Street
— 84.7 mi, about 1h 43m
Traffic on I-235
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 7 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~2,986 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~134 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
22.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 44 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 Elkhart, KS and Derby, KS.
1
Start on Rankin Road
0.2 mi·41 sec·Rankin Road
2
Turn right onto North Street
0.4 mi·52 sec·North Street
3
Turn left onto US 56
32 mi·38 min·US 56
4
Turn left onto US 56; KS 25
85 mi·1 hr 43 min·North Main Street
5
Continue on US 56; US 400
1.2 mi·1 min·US 56; US 400
6
Continue on US 56; US 283; US 400
0.2 mi·11 sec·US 56; US 283; US 400
7
Keep straight at fork
316 ft·4 sec
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 56; US 283; US 400
3.4 mi·4 min·US 56; US 283; US 400
9
Turn right onto US 400
42 mi·50 min·East Trail Street
10
Continue on US 54; US 400
1.3 mi·2 min·West Kansas Avenue
11
Continue on US 54; US 400
29 mi·33 min·Cannonball Stageline
12
Continue on US 54; US 400
3.1 mi·6 min·West 1st Street
13
Continue on US 54; US 400
31 mi·35 min·Cannonball Stageline
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 54; US 400
2.4 mi·5 min·D Avenue
15
Continue on US 54; US 400; KS 14
38 mi·43 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward I 235 SouthUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 235
6.4 mi·7 min·I 235
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 135 South, I 35: Kansas Turnpike
19
Merge onto I 135; US 81
211 ft·3 sec·I 135; US 81
20
Take the exit onto US 81
0.3 mi·34 sec·US 81
Exit 1AToward US 81: 47th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn left onto US 81
2.0 mi·3 min·East 47th Street South
22
Turn right onto KS 15
3.9 mi·5 min·South Southeast Boulevard
23
Continue on KS 15
0.4 mi·44 sec·North Baltimore Avenue
24
Turn left onto East Main Street
271 ft·17 sec·East Main Street
25
Turn left
121 ft·8 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 47m estimated drive time, leaving Elkhart in the morning should allow you to reach Derby with daylight to spare. The single recommended stop suggests you can break up the 283.3 miles as needed, perhaps around the halfway point. With a fuel cost estimated at $50, ensure your tank is full before departing Elkhart to manage expenses. Pay attention to local speed limits, especially when transitioning from any highway segments onto the predominantly surface roads.
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 141.7 miles from Elkhart, KS, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.7 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 62 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.7 miles or 2h 52m 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 44m
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 Elkhart, 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 Elkhart, KS
This is one driving day of about 283.3 miles and 5h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Elkhart, 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 North Main Street for about 84.7 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 118.8 and 276.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
118.8 mi into trip|~2h 25m in
Keep straight at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
269.4 mi into trip|~5h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 235 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 235 South
5
269.8 mi into trip|~5h 27m in|I 235
Merge onto I 235
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
276.1 mi into trip|~5h 34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 135 South, I 35: Kansas Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 135 South, I 35: Kansas Turnpike
8
276.6 mi into trip|~5h 35m in|US 81
Take the exit onto US 81 toward US 81: 47th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward US 81: 47th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.10 one way
$94.20 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$51.31
$102.61
premium
$5.18
$57.81
$115.62
diesel
$5.35
$59.67
$119.34
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: 99.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85
1
$29.75
$13.60
Efficient EV
70.8
0
$24.79
$11.33
EV Truck/SUV
113.3
1
$39.66
$18.13
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Elkhart, KS
Afternoon
in Elkhart on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Clear
SE 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 4:14AM CDT until June 1 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 2:49AM CDT until June 1 at 7:45AM CDT by NWS Wichita KS
Destination
Derby, KS
Afternoon
in Derby on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Clear
NE 8 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 4:14AM CDT until June 1 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 2:49AM CDT until June 1 at 7:45AM CDT by NWS Wichita KS
91°F
Fort Dodge, KS
142 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 47m 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?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only about 15% of the drive on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 84.7 miles on North Main Street, so be prepared for extended periods of cruising without frequent exits. The transition from highway to surface roads will likely be noticeable as the pace slows and the landscape becomes more rural. Keep an eye out for changing speed limits as you move between different types of roads.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.7 mi on North Main Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 118.8 miles in.
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 14 significant decision points across 283.3 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: at 118.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 269.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 269.8 miles (I 235): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 47m. Total distance: 283.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 84.7 miles on North Main Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 Derby, 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 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 118.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 269.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 269.8 miles (I 235): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Derby, KS before the return drive.
