Hutchinson to Manhattan is 131.8 miles and takes about 2h 23m via I 135, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, mostly on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway (I-135). Expect a straightforward drive with a mix of highway and surface roads, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. The relatively short distance and clear route mean you can easily reach your destination without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
65.9 miles from Hutchinson, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 135
36.9 mi
36m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
27.7 mi
27m
Ken Kennedy Freeway
26.6 mi
29m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
23.9 mi
23m
KS 18
13.2 mi
16m
East 11th Avenue
1.3 mi
3m
South Manhattan Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
North 11th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 135
— 36.9 mi, about 36m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~727 veh/hr typical
· worst 987
Quietest
1 AM
~64 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 103 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 Manhattan, KS.
Given the 2h 23m duration, leaving Hutchinson in the morning allows ample time to reach Manhattan with daylight to spare. While there are no designated stops in the data, the drive is short enough that you might not need more than one brief pause for fuel or a stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel as you approach Manhattan, as the longest stretch on I-135 is nearly 37 miles. This route's manageable length means you have flexibility; you can depart whenever works best for you and still arrive comfortably.
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 65.9 miles from Hutchinson, KS, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.9 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 29 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.9 miles or 1h 12m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manhattan, 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 131.8 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Hutchinson, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 135 for about 36.9 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 131.4 — 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
117.9 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|KS 18
Turn left onto KS 18
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
130.9 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|South Manhattan Avenue
Turn left onto South Manhattan Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
131.2 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|Poyntz Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Poyntz Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
131.4 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|North 11th Street
Turn left onto North 11th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.43 one way
$40.87 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$22.41
$44.81
premium
$4.93
$25.57
$51.14
diesel
$5.60
$29.05
$58.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.5
0
$13.84
$6.33
Efficient EV
33
0
$11.53
$5.27
EV Truck/SUV
52.7
0
$18.45
$8.44
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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 Aug 25, 2026
Origin
Hutchinson, KS
Morning
in Hutchinson on Monday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Clear
E 3 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Manhattan, KS
Morning
in Manhattan on Monday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Partly Cloudy
E 0 to 5 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
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
2h 23m 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?
About 58% of this 131.8-mile drive is on highways like I-135. You'll encounter your longest stretch of continuous highway for 36.9 miles on I-135. After the highway portion concludes, expect to transition to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. The higher highway percentage suggests a good amount of uninterrupted cruising before you start encountering more local traffic and intersections.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.9 mi on I 135.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 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 131.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 117.9 miles (KS 18): Lane positioning matters here; at 130.9 miles (South Manhattan Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 131.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.9 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 Manhattan, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 117.9 miles (KS 18): Lane positioning matters here; at 130.9 miles (South Manhattan Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Manhattan, KS before heading back.
