Traveling from Hays to Leavenworth covers 265.9 miles across the Kansas Great Plains, a journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 40 minutes. Because this is a manageable distance, you can easily complete the trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate via the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, and the Kansas Turnpike. Budgeting approximately $40 for fuel should cover your transit across the state. This drive serves as a straightforward connection between the western and eastern reaches of Kansas, offering a practical way to traverse the region efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
133 miles from Hays, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
116.5 mi
1h 56m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
90.3 mi
1h 32m
Kansas Turnpike
40.4 mi
40m
K-7
15.5 mi
23m
North Vine Street
0.8 mi
1m
Spruce Street
0.6 mi
1m
Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
West 27th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 116.5 mi, about 1h 56m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~940 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,186
Quietest
2 AM
~75 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hays, KS and Leavenworth, KS.
Exit 224Toward KS 7, US 73, US 24 West, US 40 West: Bonner Springs, LeavenworthUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
238 ft·13 sec
Toward KS 7 North, US 73 North, US 24 West, US 40 West: LansingUse the straight / left lanes.
20
Turn left onto K-7
16 mi·23 min·K-7
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn left onto KS 92
0.6 mi·1 min·Spruce Street
22
Turn right
277 ft·20 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since the trip is under five hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though planning for at least one dedicated stop will help break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge when you are on the longer stretches, as the $40 cost estimate assumes consistent travel. Because this route involves a higher volume of local roads, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersection turns that differ from typical highway driving. Use your one planned stop to stretch your legs and reset before tackling the turn-heavy sections of the route. Prioritizing a steady pace will make the 265.9-mile journey feel significantly shorter and more comfortable.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 133 miles from Hays, KS, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.5 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 58 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 43m
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 Hays, 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 Hays, KS
This is one driving day of about 265.9 miles and 4h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Hays, 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 116.5 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 0.1 and 249.8 — 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
6
207.9 mi into trip|~3h 32m in|I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway toward I-70 East, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
8
249 mi into trip|~4h 14m in
Take the exit toward KS 7, US 73, US 24 West, US 40 West: Bonner Springs, Leavenworth
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 224
Toward KS 7, US 73, US 24 West, US 40 West: Bon...
8
249.8 mi into trip|~4h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward KS 7 North, US 73 North, US 24 West, US 40 West: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward KS 7 North, US 73 North, US 24 West, US...
6
249.8 mi into trip|~4h 16m in|K-7
Turn left onto K-7
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.27 one way
$78.53 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$43.35
$86.70
premium
$4.72
$49.37
$98.74
diesel
$4.80
$50.21
$100.41
Estimated Tolls: $2.02
Kansas Turnpike
(40.4 mi)$2.02
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
$39
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.8
0
$27.92
$12.76
Efficient EV
66.5
0
$23.27
$10.64
EV Truck/SUV
106.4
1
$37.23
$17.02
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Hays, KS
Late night
in Hays on Sunday
Local time
1:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
S 9 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Leavenworth, KS
Late night
in Leavenworth on Sunday
Local time
1:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 6 to 9 mph26% chanceLive forecast
70°F
Dwight, KS
133 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
4h 40m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The path to equality has been anything but smooth. It's taken courage and dedication by everyday people coming together for a common goal to carry the country toward true equality. Parents, teachers,...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 201.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mix of driving conditions on this trip, which feels more like a turn-heavy local drive than a simple interstate cruise. Only 15% of your time will be spent on major highways, meaning you will frequently transition between different types of roadways. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, where you will cover 116.5 miles. As you move away from the initial highway segments, the route requires more active attention to navigation and turns. This variation keeps you engaged behind the wheel as you cross the plains, moving away from the predictability of long, straight highway miles.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 116.5 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Main Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 265.9 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 207.9 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 249 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,025 ft841 ft
Total Climb
105 ft
Total Descent
1,289 ft
Highest Point
2,025 ft
Elevation Range
1,184 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hays, KS to Leavenworth, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Kansas City along the way.
Hays is a town of 21,000 people (2021) in the Western region of Kansas. The largest city in northwestern Kansas, and the economic and cultural center of the region. It is also a college town, home to Fort Hays State University.
Top landmarks
•St. Joseph's Church and Parochial School — church building in Kansas, United States of America
•Justus Bissing Jr. Historic District — historic district in Kansas, United States
Leavenworth is a city in Eastern Kansas.
Leavenworth, the "First City in Kansas", established in 1854, is located on the west banks of the Missouri River and became nationally known as the "jumping off point" for the opening of the West. Buffalo Bill Cody spent part of his youth here and later worked in the area as a Pony Express rider and Army scout. Cody's parents are buried in Leavenworth.
Top landmarks
•Leavenworth Riverfront Community Center — historic building in Leavenworth, Kansas, United States
•Carnegie Arts Center of Leavenworth — building in Leavenworth, Kansas, USA
•Western Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers — historic district in Leavenworth, Kansas, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 40m. Total distance: 265.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 116.5 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.02 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 207.9 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 249 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Leavenworth, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
