Hutchinson, KS to Leawood, KS is 213.8 miles and takes about 4h 2m via I 35 and US 50, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Kansas. You'll primarily be on major highways, making it an efficient option for getting from point A to point B. With only one recommended stop and a duration under five hours, it's well-suited for a same-day excursion.
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
106.9 miles from Hutchinson, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
94.6 mi
1h 37m
Limestone Road
35.9 mi
41m
US 50
32.2 mi
38m
Ken Kennedy Freeway
26.6 mi
29m
KS 150
16.7 mi
19m
I 135
1.7 mi
1m
State Line Road
1.5 mi
3m
East 11th Avenue
1.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 94.6 mi, about 1h 37m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~761 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,009
Quietest
2 AM
~68 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hutchinson, KS and Leawood, KS.
1
Start on this road
347 ft·27 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto East 8th Avenue
0.2 mi·46 sec·East 8th Avenue
3
Turn left onto North Maple Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·North Maple Street
4
Turn right onto East 11th Avenue
1.3 mi·3 min·East 11th Avenue
5
Turn left onto KS 61
27 mi·29 min·Ken Kennedy Freeway
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·1 min
7
Merge onto I 135; US 81
1.7 mi·1 min·I 135; US 81
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 56, McPherson, Marion
9
Turn right onto US 56
0.2 mi·16 sec·East Kansas Avenue
10
Continue on US 56
36 mi·41 min·Limestone Road
11
Enter roundabout onto KS 150
186 ft·3 sec·KS 150
12
Continue on KS 150
17 mi·19 min·KS 150
13
Turn left onto US 50
25 mi·29 min·US 50
14
Enter roundabout
364 ft·4 sec
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
15
Continue
0.2 mi·10 sec
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
16
Enter roundabout
30 ft·0 sec
Toward I 35 North: Kansas City
17
Continue
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 35 North: Kansas City
18
Merge onto I 35
95 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 35
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit onto US 50
7.5 mi·8 min·US 50
Exit 222AToward I 435 East, US 50 EastUse the slight right lane.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 75BToward State Line RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn left onto State Line Road
1.5 mi·3 min·State Line Road
Use the left lane.
22
Turn left onto West 95th Street
0.4 mi·57 sec·West 95th Street
23
Turn right onto Lee Boulevard
0.7 mi·1 min·Lee Boulevard
24
Turn left onto West 90th Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·West 90th Street
25
Arrive at destination
West 90th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 2m estimated drive time, leaving Hutchinson, KS in the morning allows ample time to reach Leawood, KS before evening. The route is efficient enough that you likely won't need more than one planned stop; consider breaking up the 94.6-mile stretch on I 35. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you get closer to your destination, and budget around $34 for gas. The flexibility of a single-day trip means you can adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
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 106.9 miles from Hutchinson, KS, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.6 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 47 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.9 miles or 2h 7m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leawood, 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 213.8 miles and 4h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 I 35 for about 94.6 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 210.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East 8th Avenue
Turn right onto East 8th Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
108.2 mi into trip|~2h 8m in
Enter roundabout toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
6
108.4 mi into trip|~2h 8m in
Enter roundabout toward I 35 North: Kansas City
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward I 35 North: Kansas City
8
203.3 mi into trip|~3h 46m in|US 50
Take the exit onto US 50 toward I 435 East, US 50 East
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 222A
Toward I 435 East, US 50 East
7
210.7 mi into trip|~3h 55m in
Take the exit toward State Line Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 75B
Toward State Line Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.66 one way
$71.33 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$38.76
$77.52
premium
$5.26
$44.27
$88.53
diesel
$6.18
$52.01
$104.02
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: 74.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.1
0
$22.45
$10.26
Efficient EV
53.5
0
$18.71
$8.55
EV Truck/SUV
85.5
1
$29.93
$13.68
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Hutchinson, KS
Morning
in Hutchinson on Sunday
Local time
8:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
S 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Leawood, KS
Morning
in Leawood on Sunday
Local time
8:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
S 6 mph0% chanceLive 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 2m 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?
This route is mostly highway, with 80% of the 213.8 miles on major roads like I 35. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 94.6 miles on I 35 before transitioning to surface roads like Limestone Road and US 50. Expect a consistent cruising experience for most of the drive, with the highway portion likely featuring relatively dense exits and merges as you approach urban areas.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.6 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Limestone Road. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 8th Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 213.8 miles you will encounter 20 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 0.1 miles (East 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 108.2 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.4 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,536 ft938 ft
Total Climb
322 ft
Total Descent
915 ft
Highest Point
1,536 ft
Elevation Range
598 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hutchinson, KS and Leawood, KS, road signs point toward Mcpherson, Marion, Kansas City, Wichita and Topeka.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 2m. Total distance: 213.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 94.6 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Leawood, 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. There are 8 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 108.2 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.4 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Leawood, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
