Origin
Gypsum, KS
Late night in Gypsum on Sunday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gypsum, KS to Junction City, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
53.7 mi
86 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gypsum, KS
Jimmy Nilsson Masth
Junction City, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Gypsum, KS to Junction City, KS is 53.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 8 minutes via Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway and KS 4, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the Great Plains region of Kansas, offering a straightforward journey. Given its brief duration, it's an ideal option for a same-day trip, allowing ample time for activities at either end. The route is characterized by frequent turns and local road segments, so don't expect a monotonous highway cruise. It's a practical choice for connecting these two Kansas communities efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 21 mi | 20m |
| KS 4 | 11.9 mi | 16m |
| Gulf Road | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| Eisenhower Memorial Highway | 6.9 mi | 7m |
| South Buckeye Avenue | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| South Washington Street | 1.6 mi | 4m |
| Maple Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Gypsum Valley Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
— 21 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gypsum, KS and Junction City, KS.
1
Start on West 5th Street
126 ft
·
7 sec
·
West 5th Street
2
Turn right onto KS 4
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Maple Street
3
Continue on KS 4
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Gypsum Valley Road
4
Keep slight left at fork onto KS 4
12 mi
·
16 min
·
KS 4
5
Turn left onto KS 15
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
6
Continue on KS 15
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Gulf Road
7
Continue on KS 15
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
8
Continue on KS 15
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
South Buckeye Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 70 East: Topeka
10
Merge onto I 70; US 40
21 mi
·
20 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
11
Take the exit onto US 40 Business
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
US 40 Business
Toward US 40 Business
12
Turn left onto US 40 Business
471 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Washington Street
13
Enter roundabout onto US 40 Business
134 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Washington Street
14
Continue on US 40 Business
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South Washington Street
15
Turn left onto West 6th Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
West 6th Street
16
Turn right onto North Jefferson Street
130 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Jefferson Street
17
Arrive at destination
North Jefferson Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.9 miles from Gypsum, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 53.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
KS 4 / Maple Street
Turn right onto KS 4 / Maple Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
KS 4
Keep slight left at fork onto KS 4
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
30.6 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East, US 70 East: Topeka
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 70 East: Topeka
5
52.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
US 40 Business / South Washington Street
Enter roundabout onto US 40 Business / South Washington Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
53.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
North Jefferson Street
Turn right onto North Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.40 one way
$16.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.22 | $18.44 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.33 | $20.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.86 | $23.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.64 | $2.58 |
| Efficient EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.70 | $2.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.52 | $3.44 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Junction City, KS
Late night in Junction City on Sunday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Abilene, KS
27 mi in
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
22 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
1h 8m 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?
This drive presents a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll navigate a mix of road types rather than settling into a long highway stretch. With only 23% of the route on highways, expect a more engaged driving experience. The longest uninterrupted segment is 21 miles on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, providing a brief period of higher-speed travel. Beyond that, you'll be transitioning between local roads like KS 4 and Gulf Road, requiring attention to navigation and speed adjustments. This character makes the drive feel more connected to the landscape and communities you pass through.
Only 23% 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: 21 mi on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 early in the drive near KS 4 / Maple Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 8m drive. You will face about 10 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 (KS 4 / Maple Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (KS 4): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 30.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Junction City, KS
Full guide →Junction City is the seat of Geary County, in the Flint Hills region of Kansas. It is a small city of around 23,000 people.
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 1h 8m. Total distance: 53.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (23%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (KS 4 / Maple Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (KS 4): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 30.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Junction City, 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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