Hays to Pittsburg is 343.8 miles and takes about 6h 23m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and I 135, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Kansas, beginning in the Great Plains and ending in the same region. The route primarily uses major highways, offering a straightforward path. Given its manageable length and similar terrain throughout, this trip is well-suited for a single-day excursion. You’ll find it’s a practical way to travel across the state.
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
171.9 miles from Hays, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
90.9 mi
1h 30m
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
70.6 mi
1h 22m
I 135
70 mi
1h 10m
Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway
61.1 mi
1h 10m
KS 196/Northwest 90th Street
18.9 mi
21m
KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street
9.6 mi
11m
South Main Street
9.2 mi
11m
US 69
5.4 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 90.9 mi, about 1h 30m
Traffic on I-135
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~572 veh/hr typical
· worst 751
Quietest
2 AM
~47 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.2×
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 Pittsburg, 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
14 ft·0 sec·North Vine Street
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
12
Merge onto I 70; US 40
91 mi·1 hr 30 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·36 sec
Toward I 135 South, US 81 South: Wichita
14
Merge onto I 135; US 81
63 mi·1 hr 2 min·I 135; US 81
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on I 135; US 50; US 81
2.2 mi·2 min·I 135; US 50; US 81
16
Continue on I 135; US 81
4.9 mi·4 min·I 135; US 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward KS 196: Whitewater, El Dorado
18
Turn left onto KS 196
9.6 mi·11 min·KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street
19
Continue on KS 196
19 mi·21 min·KS 196/Northwest 90th Street
20
Continue on KS 196
444 ft·14 sec·Northwest State Road 196
21
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
22
Merge onto KS 254
0.9 mi·1 min·Southwest 20th Street
23
Continue on KS 254
2.3 mi·4 min·West Central Avenue
24
Turn right onto South Denver Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Denver Street
25
Turn left onto West Kansas Avenue
0.4 mi·56 sec·West Kansas Avenue
26
Turn right onto US 54; US 77
9.2 mi·11 min·South Main Street
27
Turn left onto Southeast 100th Street
0.3 mi·23 sec·Southeast 100th Street
28
Turn left onto US 400
61 mi·1 hr 10 min·Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway
29
Enter roundabout onto US 400
157 ft·2 sec·Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
30
Continue on US 400
71 mi·1 hr 22 min·Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Turn left onto US 69; US 160
5.4 mi·7 min·US 69; US 160
32
Turn right onto KS 126
1.0 mi·1 min·West 4th Street
33
Turn right onto US 69 Business
66 ft·2 sec·North Broadway Street
34
Arrive at destination
US 69 Business
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, leaving Hays in the morning allows ample time to reach Pittsburg before evening. With only one stop suggested, plan it strategically about halfway through your journey to break up the 343.8 miles. The fuel cost is estimated at $52, so be sure to factor that into your budget. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move from highway to surface roads, as services can become less frequent. This route is easily completed in a single day, giving you flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 171.9 miles from Hays, KS, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.9 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 76 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 171.9 miles or 2h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pittsburg, 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 343.8 miles and 6h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 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 90.9 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 163.2 — 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
92.8 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 135 South, US 81 South: Wichita
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 135 South, US 81 South: Wichita
5
93.2 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|I 135; US 81
Merge onto I 135; US 81
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
163.2 mi into trip|~2h 46m in
Take the exit toward KS 196: Whitewater, El Dorado
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KS 196: Whitewater, El Dorado
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.77 one way
$101.54 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg120 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$56.05
$112.10
premium
$4.72
$63.83
$127.67
diesel
$4.80
$64.92
$129.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
103.1
1
$36.10
$16.50
Efficient EV
86
0
$30.08
$13.75
EV Truck/SUV
137.5
1
$48.13
$22.00
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Evening
in Hays on Saturday
Local time
8:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
S 9 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pittsburg, KS
Evening
in Pittsburg on Saturday
Local time
8:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Isolated Rain Showers then Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 to 10 mph20% chanceLive forecast
74°F
Peabody, KS
172 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
6h 23m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 30% of this route involves highway driving, primarily on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and I 135. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 90.9 miles, so you'll have some extended periods of cruising. After the highway sections, expect a shift to surface roads for the remainder of the trip. You'll notice more frequent exits and local traffic as you transition off the main interstates.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.9 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 20 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 Effort5/10
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 343.8 miles you will encounter 20 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 1.6 miles (US 183 / North Vine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 92.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,025 ft909 ft
Total Climb
585 ft
Total Descent
1,666 ft
Highest Point
2,025 ft
Elevation Range
1,116 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 Pittsburg, KS, road signs begin pointing toward El Dorado 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 23m. Total distance: 343.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 23m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.9 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Pittsburg, 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. There are 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 92.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pittsburg, KS before the return drive.
