Spanning 91 miles across the Great Plains, this trip from Holton to Lenexa is a straightforward journey typically taking 1 hour and 44 minutes. You can easily complete this drive in a single day, as it is designed for efficiency rather than an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $14 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Kansas locations. Since the route remains entirely within the Great Plains, you will experience consistent regional terrain throughout your travel. This path serves as a practical, no-nonsense connection between the two cities for travelers who prioritize time management over sightseeing.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.5 miles from Holton, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Lawrence Trafficway
35.4 mi
38m
Arizona Avenue
27.7 mi
30m
Kansas Turnpike
14 mi
14m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
8.1 mi
9m
I 35
0.9 mi
1m
West 4th Street
0.6 mi
1m
Lenexa Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
New York Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
South Lawrence Trafficway
— 35.4 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Holton, KS and Lenexa, KS.
1
Start on New York Avenue
0.1 mi·33 sec·New York Avenue
2
Turn right onto KS 16; KS 116
0.6 mi·1 min·West 4th Street
3
Turn left onto US 75
28 mi·30 min·Arizona Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East, KS 4 East: Kansas City, Gage Boulevard
Toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines, Renner BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·47 sec
Toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des MoinesUse the straight lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
1.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 35: Wichita, Des MoinesUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 North: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 169
0.9 mi·1 min·I 35; US 56; US 169
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 224Toward 95th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork
296 ft·7 sec
Toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie CollegeUse the right lane.
18
Turn straight onto West 95th Street
189 ft·3 sec·West 95th Street
19
Turn slight right onto Lenexa Drive
0.2 mi·56 sec·Lenexa Drive
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto Rosehill Road
500 ft·18 sec·Rosehill Road
21
Turn right
71 ft·10 sec
22
Turn left
256 ft·18 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip with no required stops, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Keep in mind that because the drive is only 91 miles, you will likely not need to plan for lengthy rest breaks unless you prefer a more leisurely pace. Focus on staying alert during the turns, as the route requires more active steering than a standard straight-shot highway cruise. Given the $14 fuel estimate, topping off your tank before you leave Holton should comfortably get you to Lenexa without needing to worry about mid-trip refueling. Use your navigation system closely when transitioning onto the South Lawrence Trafficway to ensure you stay on the correct path.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 45.5 miles from Holton, KS, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.4 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 20 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.5 miles or 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 1h 23m
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 Holton, KS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Holton, KS
This is one driving day of about 91 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Holton, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Lawrence Trafficway for about 35.4 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 28.8 and 90.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
28.8 mi into trip|~33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-70 East, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
7
86.8 mi into trip|~1h 37m 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
86.9 mi into trip|~1h 37m 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
87.5 mi into trip|~1h 38m 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
9
90.5 mi into trip|~1h 42m 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
$14.23 one way
$28.45 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.62
$31.24
premium
$4.89
$17.51
$35.02
diesel
$5.61
$20.09
$40.18
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
$14
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.3
0
$9.56
$4.37
Efficient EV
22.8
0
$7.96
$3.64
EV Truck/SUV
36.4
0
$12.74
$5.82
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 12, 2026
Origin
Holton, KS
Late night
in Holton on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 15 mph60% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 6:42AM CDT until April 13 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 6:23AM CDT until April 12 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS
Destination
Lenexa, KS
Late night
in Lenexa on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms
S 14 to 17 mph95% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 6:42AM CDT until April 13 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 6:23AM CDT until April 12 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS
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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 44m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your attention as you transition between different road types. While you will spend about 16% of your time on highways, the experience is defined by local navigation rather than a monotonous interstate grind. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the South Lawrence Trafficway, which spans 35.4 miles of the trip. The route relies on a combination of the Kansas Turnpike, Arizona Avenue, and the trafficway to move you efficiently toward your destination. You will find that the road changes character frequently, requiring you to remain alert as you shift from turnpike speeds to local surface streets.
Only 16% 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: 35.4 mi on South Lawrence Trafficway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 28.8 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91 miles you will encounter 18 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 28.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,201 ft861 ft
Total Climb
243 ft
Total Descent
529 ft
Highest Point
1,201 ft
~11.4 mi in
Elevation Range
341 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Holton, KS and Lenexa, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City and Lawrence.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 91 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.4 miles on South Lawrence Trafficway. 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.
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.
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 28.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lenexa, KS before heading back.
