Hesston, KS to Overland Park, KS is 180.8 miles and takes about 3h 23m via I 35, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that keeps you within the Great Plains region for its entirety. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making for a predictable and efficient journey. Given the relatively short duration, it's an ideal option for a same-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times. Plan for a smooth ride with minimal complexity as you head east.
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
90.4 miles from Hesston, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
97.2 mi
1h 40m
US 50
69 mi
1h 21m
I 135
8.7 mi
8m
West 87th Street
1.5 mi
2m
Santa Fe Drive
1.1 mi
2m
Randall
0.5 mi
1m
East Randall Street
0.4 mi
1m
Valley View Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 97.2 mi, about 1h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hesston, KS and Overland Park, KS.
1
Start on Hesston Road, Old US 81
0.1 mi·11 sec·Hesston Road, Old US 81
2
Turn slight left onto East Randall Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·East Randall Street
3
Turn right onto RS 804
21 ft·5 sec·South Ridge Road
4
Turn left onto East Randall Street
0.3 mi·36 sec·East Randall Street
5
Continue on Randall
0.5 mi·1 min·Randall
6
At end of road, turn right onto East Lincoln Boulevard
463 ft·11 sec·East Lincoln Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward WichitaUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 135; US 81
7.8 mi·7 min·I 135; US 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 135; US 50; US 81
0.4 mi·24 sec·I 135; US 50; US 81
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward First Street, Broadway StreetUse the slight right lane.
11
Enter roundabout
412 ft·8 sec
12
Continue
0.3 mi·33 sec
13
Merge onto I 135; US 50; US 81
0.5 mi·30 sec·I 135; US 50; US 81
14
Take the exit onto US 50
26 mi·31 min·US 50
Exit 33Toward US 50: Peabody, Emporia
15
Enter roundabout onto US 50
213 ft·9 sec·US 50
Toward US 50 East: Emporia
16
Continue on US 50
43 mi·50 min·US 50
Toward US 50 East: Emporia
17
Enter roundabout
364 ft·4 sec
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
18
Continue
0.2 mi·10 sec
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
19
Enter roundabout
30 ft·0 sec
Toward I 35 North: Kansas City
20
Continue
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 35 North: Kansas City
21
Merge onto I 35
95 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 35
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on I 35; US 56; US 169
2.6 mi·2 min·I 35; US 56; US 169
Toward I 35 North, US 56 East, US 169 North: Des MoinesUse the straight lane.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 225Toward 75th Street, 87th Street ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 225AToward 87th Street ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
25
Turn straight onto West 87th Street
1.5 mi·2 min·West 87th Street
26
Continue on Santa Fe Drive
1.1 mi·2 min·Santa Fe Drive
27
Turn right onto Newton Street
515 ft·29 sec·Newton Street
28
Turn left onto Valley View Drive
0.1 mi·29 sec·Valley View Drive
29
Turn left onto Overland Park Drive
267 ft·15 sec·Overland Park Drive
30
Turn right onto West 81st Street
232 ft·11 sec·West 81st Street
31
Turn right
134 ft·9 sec
32
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this 180.8-mile trip takes just over 3 hours, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best, whether that's early morning or mid-day. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $28, you won't need extensive planning. Pay attention to the transition from I 135 to US 50, and then onto I 35, as these are your primary arteries. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 97.2-mile stretch on I 35, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination or a convenient service area.
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 90.4 miles from Hesston, KS, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.2 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 40 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.4 miles or 1h 46m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Overland Park, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hesston, 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 Hesston, KS
This is one driving day of about 180.8 miles and 3h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Hesston, 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 I 35 for about 97.2 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 177.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip|~2m in|East Lincoln Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto East Lincoln Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward Wichita
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Wichita
7
9.6 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward First Street, Broadway Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward First Street, Broadway Street
8
177.4 mi into trip|~3h 16m in
Take the exit toward 75th Street, 87th Street Parkway
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 225
Toward 75th Street, 87th Street Parkway
9
177.5 mi into trip|~3h 16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 87th Street Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 225A
Toward 87th Street Parkway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.27 one way
$56.53 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.03
$62.07
premium
$4.89
$34.79
$69.59
diesel
$5.61
$39.92
$79.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.2
0
$18.98
$8.68
Efficient EV
45.2
0
$15.82
$7.23
EV Truck/SUV
72.3
0
$25.31
$11.57
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% 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
Hesston, KS
Late night
in Hesston on Sunday
Local time
3:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Overland Park, KS
Late night
in Overland Park on Sunday
Local time
3:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
20 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
3h 23m 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 journey is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 97% of the route utilizing major roadways like I 35 and I 135. Expect long, uninterrupted stretches, including one segment of 97.2 miles solely on I 35. The character of the drive is consistent, offering a fast-paced experience without significant changes in terrain or road type. You'll primarily be on well-maintained interstates, making it easy to maintain a steady speed and cover ground efficiently. The route offers a predictable driving experience, prioritizing speed and directness.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.2 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 50. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near East Lincoln Boulevard.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 180.8 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 1 miles (East Lincoln Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Hesston, KS and Overland Park, KS, road signs point toward Emporia, Kansas City, Wichita and Topeka.
Emporia
10.7 mi in|~13m|via US 50
Kansas City
79.7 mi in|~1h 35m
Wichita
79.7 mi in|~1h 35m
Topeka
79.7 mi in|~1h 35m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 23m. Total distance: 180.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 97.2 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Overland Park, 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 1 miles (East Lincoln Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Overland Park, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
