Origin
Hesston, KS
Late night in Hesston on Sunday
Local time
2:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hesston, KS to Wichita, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
41m
Distance
35.7 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 49m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 48m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hesston, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Wichita, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hesston to Wichita is 35.7 miles and takes about 41 minutes via I 135, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, straightforward drive connects two points within the same state and region, making it a simple hop for many travelers. You'll primarily be on a major interstate, so expect a functional, no-frills journey. This route is ideal if you're looking for a quick transit between these Kansas locations without much fuss. Plan for a very efficient trip, as the drive is short and direct.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 135 | 32.1 mi | 34m |
| North Broadway Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| East 13th Street North | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Randall | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Randall Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Hesston Road, Old US 81 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Lincoln Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Central Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 135
— 32.1 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hesston, KS and Wichita, 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 Wichita
Use 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
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 135; US 50; US 81
10
Continue on I 135; US 81
22 mi
·
24 min
·
I 135; US 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 8
Toward 13th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
521 ft
·
12 sec
Toward 13th Street
Use the left / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto East 13th Street North
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 13th Street North
14
Turn left onto North Broadway Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Broadway Street
15
Turn right onto East Central Avenue
368 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Central Avenue
16
Turn left onto North Market Street
358 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Market Street
17
Turn right
187 ft
·
13 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 33.7 — 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
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 135; US 81
Merge onto I 135; US 81
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
33.5 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward 13th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8
Toward 13th Street
8
33.7 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 13th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / slight right lanes.
Toward 13th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.58 one way
$11.16 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.13 | $12.26 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.87 | $13.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.88 | $15.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.75 | $1.71 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.12 | $1.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Wichita, KS
Late night in Wichita on Sunday
Local time
2:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
24 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
41m 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 route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 90% of your journey on I 135. You'll experience long stretches of uninterrupted driving, including a continuous segment of 32.1 miles on the interstate. Expect a consistent pace characteristic of major highways, with minimal deviations from high-speed travel. The road character remains largely the same throughout, prioritizing directness over scenic variety. This means you can settle in and maintain a steady speed for most of the trip.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.1 mi on I 135.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 135 and North Broadway Street. 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 Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 35.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 41m.
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 1.4 miles (I 135; US 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Wichita, KS
Full guide →Wichita is the largest city in Kansas — since Kansas City is divided between the states of Kansas and Missouri. It is not the biggest or flashiest city in the US, but it is a medium-sized city with a small-town feel. It offers much to tourists with its variety of attractions. === Tourist information === Visit Wichita website
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 41m. Total distance: 35.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.1 miles on I 135. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Wichita, KS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 1 miles (East Lincoln Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (I 135; US 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wichita, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Wichita, KS
More trips to Wichita, KS
Explore more options from Hesston, KS or browse trips ending in Wichita, KS.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KS road trips.