Connecting Hays to Colby, this 109.5-mile journey traverses the heart of the Kansas Great Plains. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 55 minutes behind the wheel as you navigate a series of local roads rather than high-speed interstates. Since the entire trip is relatively short, it is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. Budget approximately $17 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Great Plains hubs. Because this route relies on local streets like Main Street and North Vine Street, it offers a more grounded, community-focused driving experience than a typical highway trek.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.7 miles from Hays, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
104.9 mi
1h 44m
South Range Avenue
2.1 mi
4m
North Vine Street
1.1 mi
2m
Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
West 27th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
West 3rd Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 104.9 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hays, KS and Colby, KS.
1
Start on this road
292 ft·26 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.1 mi·16 sec·Main Street
3
Continue on Main Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Main Street
4
Turn right onto West 27th Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·West 27th Street
5
Turn left onto US 183
0.5 mi·1 min·North Vine Street
6
Enter roundabout onto US 183
346 ft·8 sec·North Vine Street
7
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi·28 sec·North Vine Street
8
Enter roundabout onto US 183
127 ft·2 sec·North Vine Street
9
Continue on US 183
342 ft·8 sec·North Vine Street
10
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi·21 sec·North Vine Street
11
Enter roundabout onto US 183
342 ft·4 sec·North Vine Street
12
Continue on US 183
198 ft·8 sec·North Vine Street
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
14
Merge onto I 70; US 40
105 mi·1 hr 44 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward KS 25, Atwood, Leoti
16
Turn right onto KS 25
2.1 mi·4 min·South Range Avenue
17
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·West 3rd Street
18
Arrive at destination
West 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a compact trip without any mandatory stops, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Keep in mind that because the route consists entirely of local roads, you should factor in potential traffic lights or stop signs that aren't present on faster highway alternatives. While the $17 fuel estimate is a solid baseline, check your vehicle's range before leaving Hays to ensure you have enough to reach Colby comfortably. Because there are no designated stops on this 109.5-mile path, plan to take care of any personal needs before you pull away from the curb. Using Main Street to navigate out of town is your best bet for a smooth start to your journey.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 54.7 miles from Hays, KS, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.9 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 24 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.7 miles or 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colby, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hays, KS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hays, KS
This is one driving day of about 109.5 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Hays, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 104.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 107.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in|US 183 / North Vine Street
Enter roundabout onto US 183 / North Vine Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.8 mi into trip|~4m in|US 183 / North Vine Street
Enter roundabout onto US 183 / North Vine Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
107.1 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward KS 25, Atwood, Leoti
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KS 25, Atwood, Leoti
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.12 one way
$34.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.80
$37.59
premium
$4.89
$21.07
$42.14
diesel
$5.61
$24.18
$48.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.9
0
$11.50
$5.26
Efficient EV
27.4
0
$9.58
$4.38
EV Truck/SUV
43.8
0
$15.33
$7.01
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Hays, KS
Night
in Hays on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Colby, KS
Night
in Colby on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°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
1 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
1h 55m 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?
Forget the monotony of the interstate; this route is a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged with the landscape. You will spend 0% of your time on major highways, relying instead on local arteries like West 27th Street and North Vine Street to make your way west. The road’s personality is defined by its local character, requiring more attentiveness than a straight-shot freeway cruise. As you navigate the 109.5-mile stretch, the pace remains steady and consistent throughout the duration of your 1 hour and 55-minute travel time. It is a straightforward, practical drive that prioritizes local connectivity over high-speed transit.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.9 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Main Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hays, KS to Colby, KS is easy. At 1h 55m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (US 183 / North Vine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.8 miles (US 183 / North Vine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 109.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 104.9 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower 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: at 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (US 183 / North Vine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.8 miles (US 183 / North Vine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Colby, KS before heading back.
