Eureka, KS to Overland Park, KS is 142.7 miles and takes about 2h 43m via I 35, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, transitioning from rural Kansas to the edge of the Kansas City metropolitan area. With a mixed highway and surface road profile, it's a straightforward trip suitable for a single day. You'll spend less than half your time on the interstate, making for a varied but manageable drive. Consider this a practical option for moving between these two points in Kansas.
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
71.3 miles from Eureka, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
69.2 mi
1h 11m
East River Street
31.2 mi
35m
South Fry Street
20.6 mi
24m
South 4th Street
17.5 mi
22m
West 87th Street
1.5 mi
2m
Santa Fe Drive
1.1 mi
2m
North Maple Street
0.4 mi
1m
West Mary Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 69.2 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eureka, KS and Overland Park, KS.
1
Start on North Maple Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Maple Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 54
31 mi·35 min·East River Street
3
Continue on US 54
0.2 mi·23 sec·West Mary Street
4
Turn left onto US 75
21 mi·24 min·South Fry Street
5
Continue on US 75
17 mi·22 min·South 4th Street
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
7
Merge onto I 35; US 50
67 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 35; US 50
Use the straight lane.
8
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.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 225Toward 75th Street, 87th Street ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 225AToward 87th Street ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto West 87th Street
1.5 mi·2 min·West 87th Street
12
Continue on Santa Fe Drive
1.1 mi·2 min·Santa Fe Drive
13
Turn right onto Newton Street
515 ft·29 sec·Newton Street
14
Turn left onto Valley View Drive
0.1 mi·29 sec·Valley View Drive
15
Turn left onto Overland Park Drive
267 ft·15 sec·Overland Park Drive
16
Turn right onto West 81st Street
232 ft·11 sec·West 81st Street
17
Turn right
134 ft·9 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 43m duration, leaving Eureka, KS in the morning or early afternoon will allow you to reach Overland Park, KS well before evening. The $22 fuel cost is a reasonable estimate for this 142.7-mile trip. While there's only one stop recommended, you'll encounter surface roads for a portion of the drive, so be mindful of speed limit changes. The longest stretch without a major road change is 69.2 miles on I 35. Since this is a single-day drive, you have flexibility in your departure time and can make a brief stop if needed.
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 71.3 miles from Eureka, KS, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.2 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 31 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.3 miles or 1h 25m 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 12m
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 Eureka, 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 Eureka, KS
This is one driving day of about 142.7 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Eureka, 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 69.2 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 142.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 54 / East River Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 54 / East River Street
Navigation decision point
5
70.1 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|I 35; US 50
Merge onto I 35; US 50
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
139.3 mi into trip|~2h 36m 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
139.5 mi into trip|~2h 36m 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
5
142.4 mi into trip|~2h 42m in|Valley View Drive
Turn left onto Valley View Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.31 one way
$44.62 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.49
$48.99
premium
$4.89
$27.46
$54.92
diesel
$5.61
$31.51
$63.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.8
0
$14.98
$6.85
Efficient EV
35.7
0
$12.49
$5.71
EV Truck/SUV
57.1
0
$19.98
$9.13
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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
Eureka, KS
Morning
in Eureka on Tuesday
Local time
7:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Overland Park, KS
Morning
in Overland Park on Tuesday
Local time
7:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Lyndon, KS
71 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 43m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 49% of this 142.7-mile drive on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on I 35 measuring 69.2 miles. The profile is mixed highway and surface, meaning you'll transition from faster interstate cruising to more local road travel. Expect a rural cruising feel for a significant portion, interspersed with more frequent exits as you approach the Overland Park area. East River Street and South Fry Street are among the surface roads you'll encounter.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.2 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 around 0.4 miles in near US 54 / East River 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 2h 43m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 54 / East River Street): Navigation decision point; at 70.1 miles (I 35; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 139.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
The longest stretch is about 69.2 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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: at 0.4 miles (US 54 / East River Street): Navigation decision point; at 70.1 miles (I 35; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 139.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Overland Park, KS before heading back.
