Spanning 230.9 miles across the Great Plains, this drive from Hutchinson to Baxter Springs takes approximately 4 hours and 34 minutes to complete. It is a straightforward trip that functions perfectly as a single-day journey, though you should budget about $35 for fuel to cover the distance. You will navigate via a mix of routes including the Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway, the Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway, and KS 14. Because the entire route remains within the Great Plains region, the landscape maintains a consistent feel throughout. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this route offers a reliable connection across the state of Kansas.
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
115.4 miles from Hutchinson, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
70.6 mi
1h 22m
Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway
61.9 mi
1h 11m
KS 14
41.7 mi
45m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
17.5 mi
21m
KS 96
11.9 mi
15m
US 69
11 mi
12m
US 69 Alternate
9.6 mi
12m
North Main Street
2.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
— 70.6 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hutchinson, KS and Baxter Springs, KS.
1
Start on this road
62 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto East 7th Avenue
0.1 mi·21 sec·East 7th Avenue
3
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
4
Turn right onto West Avenue A
0.2 mi·29 sec·West Avenue A
5
Turn right
0.3 mi·49 sec
6
Continue on Woodie Seat Freeway
0.8 mi·1 min·Woodie Seat Freeway
7
Continue on North Main Street
1.8 mi·3 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on KS 14; KS 96
42 mi·45 min·KS 14; KS 96
Toward WichitaUse the straight lane.
9
Take the exit onto KS 96
0.3 mi·23 sec·KS 96
Exit 16AToward I 135 South, KS 96 East, US 81 South, KS 15 South
10
Merge onto I 135; US 81; KS 15
0.4 mi·28 sec·I 135; US 81; KS 15
11
Take the exit onto KS 96
0.5 mi·1 min·KS 96
Toward KS 96 East: HydraulicUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto KS 96
11 mi·12 min·KS 96
Toward KS 96 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto KS 96
0.6 mi·1 min·KS 96
Toward US 54 East, US 400 East
14
Merge onto US 54; US 400
10 mi·13 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
15
Continue on US 54; US 400
0.7 mi·1 min·West 7th Avenue
16
Continue on US 54; US 77; US 400
7.0 mi·8 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
17
Continue on US 400
62 mi·1 hr 11 min·Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway
18
Enter roundabout onto US 400
157 ft·2 sec·Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
19
Continue on US 400
71 mi·1 hr 22 min·Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto US 69; US 160; US 400
11 mi·12 min·US 69; US 160; US 400
21
Continue on US 69 Alternate; US 400
7.4 mi·8 min·US 69 Alternate; US 400
22
Enter roundabout onto US Historic 66; US 69 Alternate; US 400; KS 66
154 ft·2 sec·US Historic 66; US 69 Alternate; US 400; KS 66
23
Continue on US Historic 66; US 69 Alternate; US 400; KS 66
1.8 mi·2 min·US Historic 66; US 69 Alternate; US 400; KS 66
24
Continue on US 69 Alternate; US Historic 66; KS 66
2.2 mi·3 min·US 69 Alternate; US Historic 66; KS 66
25
Turn right onto US 166
50 ft·0 sec·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Arrive at destination
US 166
Trip Plan
Since the total drive time is under five hours, you have the flexibility to tackle the route in a single push or break it up with one planned stop. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue, especially given the significant portion of the drive spent on non-highway roads. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge when navigating the longer 70.6-mile stretch to ensure you don't run low between service points. Because this is a single-stop trip, pick a mid-way point that allows you to stretch your legs and reset before finishing the final leg to Baxter Springs. Always check local traffic conditions on the memorial highways before departing to ensure your travel time stays within the projected 4 hour and 34 minute window.
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 115.4 miles from Hutchinson, KS, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.6 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 51 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.4 miles or 2h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Baxter Springs, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hutchinson, 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 Hutchinson, KS
This is one driving day of about 230.9 miles and 4h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Hutchinson, 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 Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway for about 70.6 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 45.6 and 230.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
45.6 mi into trip|~54m in|KS 96
Take the exit onto KS 96 toward I 135 South, KS 96 East, US 81 South, KS 15 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 16A
Toward I 135 South, KS 96 East, US 81 South, KS...
6
46.3 mi into trip|~55m in|KS 96
Take the exit onto KS 96 toward KS 96 East: Hydraulic
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward KS 96 East: Hydraulic
7
46.7 mi into trip|~56m in|KS 96
Keep slight left at fork onto KS 96 toward KS 96 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward KS 96 East
6
57.3 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|KS 96
Keep slight left at fork onto KS 96 toward US 54 East, US 400 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 54 East, US 400 East
6
230.8 mi into trip|~4h 34m in|US 166 / West 12th Street
Turn right onto US 166 / West 12th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.10 one way
$72.20 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$39.63
$79.27
premium
$4.89
$44.43
$88.87
diesel
$5.61
$50.98
$101.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.3
0
$24.24
$11.08
Efficient EV
57.7
0
$20.20
$9.24
EV Truck/SUV
92.4
1
$32.33
$14.78
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 19, 2026
Origin
Hutchinson, KS
Late night
in Hutchinson on Tuesday
Local time
4:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Baxter Springs, KS
Late night
in Baxter Springs on Tuesday
Local time
4:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Andover, KS
115 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
30 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
4h 34m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience that balances highway efficiency with more localized travel. With a highway share of only 33%, you will spend the majority of your time on secondary roads rather than high-speed interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 70.6-mile segment on the Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway. This configuration creates a varied pace that keeps the drive engaging without being overly taxing. You should prepare for a transition between different types of roadway infrastructure as you move from the central plains toward the southeastern corner of the state.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.6 mi on Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 45.6 miles in near KS 96.
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 16 significant decision points across 230.9 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 45.6 miles (KS 96): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.3 miles (KS 96): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.7 miles (KS 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Baxter Springs population 4250, is a city on historic Route 66 in Southeastern Kansas. During the US Civil War, it briefly hosted a US fortress (Fort Baxter, aka Fort Blair, abandoned 1863) and was the site of the Baxter Springs Massacre battle.
Top landmarks
•Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Service Station — petrol station in Baxter Springs, Kansas
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 34m. Total distance: 230.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.6 miles on Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway. 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 Baxter Springs, 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 45.6 miles (KS 96): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.3 miles (KS 96): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.7 miles (KS 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Baxter Springs, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
