This 317.1-mile drive from Hill City, KS to Lenexa, KS will take approximately 5 hours and 39 minutes of driving time. Designed as a single-day trip, it's best tackled with an early start to comfortably reach your destination. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $50. You'll be navigating primarily on highways like the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and the South Lawrence Trafficway, with about 5% of the route being on these major roads. Both your origin and destination are situated within the Great Plains region, suggesting a consistent landscape throughout your travels.
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
158.5 miles from Hill City, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
147.6 mi
2h 27m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
90.3 mi
1h 32m
South Lawrence Trafficway
35.4 mi
38m
South 4th Avenue
24.7 mi
36m
Kansas Turnpike
14 mi
14m
I 35
0.9 mi
1m
Lenexa Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
West Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 147.6 mi, about 2h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hill City, KS and Lenexa, KS.
Toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines, Renner BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·47 sec
Toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des MoinesUse the straight lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
1.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 35: Wichita, Des MoinesUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 North: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 169
0.9 mi·1 min·I 35; US 56; US 169
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 224Toward 95th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
296 ft·7 sec
Toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie CollegeUse the right lane.
21
Turn straight onto West 95th Street
189 ft·3 sec·West 95th Street
22
Turn slight right onto Lenexa Drive
0.2 mi·56 sec·Lenexa Drive
Use the right lane.
23
Turn left onto Rosehill Road
500 ft·18 sec·Rosehill Road
24
Turn right
71 ft·10 sec
25
Turn left
256 ft·18 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour, 39-minute journey, aim for an early morning departure from Hill City. With a total of 317.1 miles and just one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your pace. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before heading into longer stretches, and plan your single stop strategically. Given the route's character, be prepared for more turns and varying road conditions than a typical interstate trip, particularly during the local drive segments. Your estimated fuel cost is $50.
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 158.5 miles from Hill City, KS, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 147.6 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 70 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.5 miles or 2h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lenexa, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hill City, 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 Hill City, KS
This is one driving day of about 317.1 miles and 5h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Hill City, 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 147.6 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 313 and 316.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
313 mi into trip|~5h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines, Renner Boulevard
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 I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines,...
8
313.1 mi into trip|~5h 32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines
8
313.6 mi into trip|~5h 33m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35: Wichita, Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35: Wichita, Des Moines
7
315 mi into trip|~5h 35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Des Moines
9
316.6 mi into trip|~5h 37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.57 one way
$99.15 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$54.43
$108.86
premium
$4.89
$61.02
$122.05
diesel
$5.61
$70.01
$140.02
Estimated Tolls: $0.70
Kansas Turnpike
(14 mi)$0.70
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
$50
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.1
1
$33.30
$15.22
Efficient EV
79.3
0
$27.75
$12.68
EV Truck/SUV
126.8
1
$44.39
$20.29
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Hill City, KS
Evening
in Hill City on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lenexa, KS
Evening
in Lenexa on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
80°F
Manhattan, KS
159 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
22 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
5h 39m 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
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 262.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a route that leans towards a turn-heavy local drive, despite having some highway segments. While 5% of the trip involves major highways like the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, the overall feel is less of a continuous interstate cruise and more of a connected series of local and state roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 147.6 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This suggests a driving experience with more frequent changes in speed and direction compared to a pure interstate journey.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 147.6 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 313 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 317.1 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 313 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 313.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 313.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Hill City, KS and Lenexa, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City and Lawrence.
Kansas City
262.4 mi in|~4h 37m|via I 70
Lawrence
277.2 mi in|~4h 52m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 39m. Total distance: 317.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 147.6 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.70 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 Lenexa, 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 313 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 313.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 313.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lenexa, KS before the return drive.
