This 231.8-mile drive from Ellinwood, KS to Overland Park, KS is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-35, Limestone Road, and East Santa Fe Avenue, with about 60% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is $35, making it an economical option. This route traverses the Great Plains region throughout, offering a consistent landscape. Given its duration, it's well-suited for a single day's travel without needing an overnight stop.
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
115.9 miles from Ellinwood, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
97.2 mi
1h 40m
Limestone Road
52.9 mi
1h 1m
East Santa Fe Avenue
35.9 mi
40m
US 50
24.7 mi
29m
KS 150
16.7 mi
19m
West 87th Street
1.5 mi
2m
Santa Fe Drive
1.1 mi
2m
East Santa Fe Boulevard
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 97.2 mi, about 1h 40m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~751 veh/hr typical
· worst 979
Quietest
2 AM
~68 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Ellinwood, KS and Overland Park, KS.
1
Start on East 2nd Street
87 ft·9 sec·East 2nd Street
2
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·North Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 56; KS 96
0.5 mi·33 sec·East Santa Fe Boulevard
4
Continue on US 56; KS 96
36 mi·40 min·East Santa Fe Avenue
5
Continue on US 56
53 mi·1 hr 1 min·Limestone Road
6
Enter roundabout onto KS 150
186 ft·3 sec·KS 150
7
Continue on KS 150
17 mi·19 min·KS 150
8
Turn left onto US 50
25 mi·29 min·US 50
9
Enter roundabout
364 ft·4 sec
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
10
Continue
0.2 mi·10 sec
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
11
Enter roundabout
30 ft·0 sec
Toward I 35 North: Kansas City
12
Continue
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 35 North: Kansas City
13
Merge onto I 35
95 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 35
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on I 35; US 56; US 169
2.6 mi·2 min·I 35; US 56; US 169
Toward I 35 North, US 56 East, US 169 North: Des MoinesUse the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 225Toward 75th Street, 87th Street ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 225AToward 87th Street ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn straight onto West 87th Street
1.5 mi·2 min·West 87th Street
18
Continue on Santa Fe Drive
1.1 mi·2 min·Santa Fe Drive
19
Turn right onto Newton Street
515 ft·29 sec·Newton Street
20
Turn left onto Valley View Drive
0.1 mi·29 sec·Valley View Drive
21
Turn left onto Overland Park Drive
267 ft·15 sec·Overland Park Drive
22
Turn right onto West 81st Street
232 ft·11 sec·West 81st Street
23
Turn right
134 ft·9 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 20-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Ellinwood to maximize your time upon arrival in Overland Park. With a fuel cost estimated at $35, it's advisable to fill up before you leave, as there's only one recommended stop. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 97.2 miles on I-35, so plan your rest stop accordingly, perhaps before or after this segment. This route is straightforward enough to complete in a single day, so you have the flexibility to stop for a brief break when needed.
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 115.9 miles from Ellinwood, KS, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.2 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 51 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.9 miles or 2h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Overland Park, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ellinwood, 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 Ellinwood, KS
This is one driving day of about 231.8 miles and 4h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Ellinwood, 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 97.2 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 228.6 — 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|North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
130.8 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Enter roundabout toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
6
131 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Enter roundabout toward I 35 North: Kansas City
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward I 35 North: Kansas City
8
228.5 mi into trip|~4h 13m in
Take the exit toward 75th Street, 87th Street Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 225
Toward 75th Street, 87th Street Parkway
9
228.6 mi into trip|~4h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 87th Street Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 225A
Toward 87th Street Parkway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.23 one way
$68.46 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$37.79
$75.58
premium
$4.72
$43.04
$86.08
diesel
$4.80
$43.77
$87.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.5
0
$24.34
$11.13
Efficient EV
58
0
$20.28
$9.27
EV Truck/SUV
92.7
1
$32.45
$14.84
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Ellinwood, KS
Late night
in Ellinwood on Sunday
Local time
1:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
S 7 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Overland Park, KS
Late night
in Overland Park on Sunday
Local time
1:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 7 mph21% 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
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
4h 20m 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?
The road character for this trip is a mixed drive, with 60% of it being highway. You'll experience a longest stretch of 97.2 miles on I-35, which offers a consistent pace. As you transition from I-35 to Limestone Road and East Santa Fe Avenue, expect a change in scenery and speed, moving from the interstate to more local thoroughfares. This blend means you'll have periods of efficient highway travel punctuated by more community-focused road segments.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.2 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 North Main Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 20m drive. You will face about 17 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 (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 130.8 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,789 ft939 ft
Total Climb
309 ft
Total Descent
1,018 ft
Highest Point
1,789 ft
Elevation Range
850 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ellinwood, KS and Overland Park, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City, Wichita and Topeka.
Kansas City
130.8 mi in|~2h 32m
Wichita
130.8 mi in|~2h 32m
Topeka
130.8 mi in|~2h 32m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Overland Park is a city in northeastern Kansas within the Kansas City metropolitan area. It is a melting-pot of both urban and suburban living. With 197,000 residents (2020), it is one of the most affluent cities in the U.S.
Top landmarks
•Campbell Dome House — house in Overland Park, Kansas
The longest stretch is about 97.2 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 130.8 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Overland Park, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
