Girard, KS to Leavenworth, KS is 143.7 miles and takes about 2h 45m via US 69 and I-435, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip keeps you within the familiar Great Plains region throughout, making for a straightforward journey between two Kansas points. Expect a drive primarily on highways, which means steady progress is the name of the game. With a recommended single day for this trip, it's a convenient option for a quick relocation or a visit without needing an overnight stay.
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
71.8 miles from Girard, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 69
100.7 mi
1h 48m
I 435
14.5 mi
15m
US 24
9.2 mi
11m
East 620th Avenue
7 mi
8m
US 73
6.3 mi
11m
Kansas Turnpike
3.5 mi
3m
Spruce Street
0.6 mi
1m
North Burnett Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 69
— 100.7 mi, about 1h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Girard, KS and Leavenworth, KS.
1
Start on East Forest Avenue
431 ft·24 sec·East Forest Avenue
2
Turn left onto North Burnett Street
0.2 mi·50 sec·North Burnett Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto KS 47
0.2 mi·16 sec·East Saint John Street
4
Continue on KS 47
7.0 mi·8 min·East 620th Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 69
101 mi·1 hr 48 min·US 69
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 435 West, US 50 WestUse the sharp right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
489 ft·11 sec
Toward I 435 West, US 50 WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 435; US 50
15 mi·15 min·I 435; US 50
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 12BToward I 70 West: Topeka, Kansas TurnpikeUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
3.5 mi·3 min·Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 24; US 40
0.3 mi·37 sec·US 24; US 40
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 24; US 40
8.9 mi·10 min·US 24; US 40
Toward US 24 East, US 40 East, US 73 North, KS 7 North: Lansing, Leavenworth, TonganoxieUse the slight right lane.
14
Continue on US 73; K-7
6.3 mi·11 min·US 73; K-7
15
Turn left onto KS 92
0.6 mi·1 min·Spruce Street
16
Turn right
277 ft·20 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given this is a manageable 2h 45m drive, leaving Girard, KS anytime in the morning or early afternoon will get you to Leavenworth, KS with plenty of daylight. You'll only need one stop, so plan it for when you need to stretch your legs or refuel, perhaps midway through the 100.7-mile stretch on US 69. The $22 fuel cost suggests filling up before you leave or at a station along the primary highways will suffice for the entire trip. Since it's a single-day journey, you have the flexibility to depart on your schedule without the pressure of reaching a specific overnight point.
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 71.8 miles from Girard, KS, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.7 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 32 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.8 miles or 1h 18m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leavenworth, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Girard, 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 Girard, KS
This is one driving day of about 143.7 miles and 2h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Girard, 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 US 69 for about 100.7 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 108.1 and 127.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
108.1 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Take the exit toward I 435 West, US 50 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the sharp right lane.
Toward I 435 West, US 50 West
6
108.4 mi into trip|~1h 58m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
109.1 mi into trip|~2h in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 435 West, US 50 West
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 435 West, US 50 West
8
123.7 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Topeka, Kansas Turnpike
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 12B
Toward I 70 West: Topeka, Kansas Turnpike
8
127.8 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|US 24; US 40
Keep slight right at fork onto US 24; US 40 toward US 24 East, US 40 East, US 73 North, KS 7 North: Lansing, Leavenworth, Tonganoxie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 24 East, US 40 East, US 73 North, KS...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.47 one way
$44.93 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.67
$49.33
premium
$4.89
$27.65
$55.31
diesel
$5.61
$31.73
$63.45
Estimated Tolls: $0.18
Kansas Turnpike
(3.5 mi)$0.18
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
$22
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.3 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
43.1
0
$15.09
$6.90
Efficient EV
35.9
0
$12.57
$5.75
EV Truck/SUV
57.5
0
$20.12
$9.20
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 15, 2026
Origin
Girard, KS
Night
in Girard on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Leavenworth, KS
Night
in Leavenworth on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
7 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 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the 143.7 miles on major roadways like US 69 and I-435. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 100.7 miles on US 69, allowing for consistent speed and minimal interruptions. The route generally maintains a consistent highway feel, meaning efficient travel is prioritized over varied scenery. It's a driving experience designed for covering distance smoothly, rather than exploring winding backroads.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100.7 mi on US 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 69 and I 435. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 108.1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 143.7 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 108.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 109.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Girard, KS and Leavenworth, KS, road signs point toward Kansas Turnpike and Tonganoxie.
Kansas Turnpike
123.7 mi in|~2h 16m
Tonganoxie
127.8 mi in|~2h 21m|via US 24; US 40
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 45m. Total distance: 143.7 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 (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 100.7 miles on US 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.18 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 Leavenworth, 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: at 108.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 109.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Leavenworth, KS before heading back.
