Origin
Erie, KS
Late night in Erie on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Erie, KS to Wichita, KS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 45m
Distance
122.2 mi
197 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 35m
★
6 AM
2h 46m
8 AM
3h 7m
10 AM
2h 53m
12 PM
2h 51m
3 PM
2h 54m
5 PM
3h 6m
8 PM
2h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Erie, KS
Tien Nguyen
Wichita, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 122.2-mile drive from Erie, KS to Wichita, KS is a straightforward, single-day journey that takes approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes. Covering ground primarily on the Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway and Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, this route offers a practical way to travel between two points within the Great Plains region. With a fuel cost estimated at $19, it's an economical option for a quick trip. The drive is designed for a single day, allowing you to reach Wichita without needing an overnight stop, making it ideal for a quick visit or transit.
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
61.1 miles from Erie, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway | 61.6 mi | 1h 11m |
| 110th Road | 29.2 mi | 51m |
| Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway | 26 mi | 32m |
| Pratt Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| East 7th Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West 4th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Broadway Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Broadway Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
— 61.6 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, KS and Wichita, KS.
1
Start on South Main Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto West 4th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West 4th Street
3
Turn left onto US 59
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Pratt Road
4
Turn right onto KS 47
29 mi
·
51 min
·
110th Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
Enter roundabout onto US 400
46 ft
·
0 sec
·
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
6
Continue on US 400
62 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
7
Continue on US 54; US 77; US 400
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
8
Continue on US 54; US 77; US 400
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 7th Avenue
9
Continue on US 54; US 400
19 mi
·
23 min
·
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward Central Business District
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on East Kellogg Drive
371 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Kellogg Drive
12
Turn right onto South Broadway Avenue
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
South Broadway Avenue
13
Continue on North Broadway Street
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
North Broadway Street
14
Turn left onto East 3rd Street North
370 ft
·
20 sec
·
East 3rd Street North
15
Turn right onto North Market Street
315 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Market Street
16
Turn left
187 ft
·
13 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2 hour 45 minute duration, you have considerable flexibility for when you depart and how you pace yourself. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this 122.2-mile journey without feeling rushed. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your time in Wichita or departing later to enjoy a leisurely morning in Erie. The $19 fuel cost is manageable, but it's always wise to ensure your tank is full before heading out, especially since the longest stretch without a town is over 60 miles.
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 61.1 miles from Erie, KS, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.6 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 27 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.1 miles or 1h 30m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wichita, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Erie, 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 Erie, KS
This is one driving day of about 122.2 miles and 2h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Erie, 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 Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway for about 61.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 61.1 miles from Erie, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 122.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
6
3.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
KS 47 / 110th Road
Turn right onto KS 47 / 110th Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
120.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward Central Business District
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Central Business District
5
122.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 45m in
|
North Market Street
Turn right onto North Market Street
Navigation decision point
5
122.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 45m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.10 one way
$38.21 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.98 | $41.95 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.52 | $47.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.98 | $53.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.7 | 0 | $12.83 | $5.87 |
| Efficient EV | 30.6 | 0 | $10.69 | $4.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.9 | 0 | $17.11 | $7.82 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Destination
Wichita, KS
Late night in Wichita on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Eureka, KS
61 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
18 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
2h 45m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with no highway percentage to speak of. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 61.6 miles along the Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway. This suggests a journey that involves more frequent turns and navigation through local roads rather than sustained high-speed travel. The driving experience will likely be characterized by engaging with the local road network as you make your way from Erie to Wichita.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.6 mi on Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West 4th Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 45m 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: at 0.2 miles (West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles (KS 47 / 110th Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 120.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Wichita, KS
Full guide →Wichita is the largest city in Kansas — since Kansas City is divided between the states of Kansas and Missouri. It is not the biggest or flashiest city in the US, but it is a medium-sized city with a small-town feel. It offers much to tourists with its variety of attractions. === Tourist information === Visit Wichita website
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 45m. Total distance: 122.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.6 miles on Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 0.2 miles (West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles (KS 47 / 110th Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 120.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wichita, KS before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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