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Trip from Junction City, KS to Andover, KS

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 8m

Distance

106.8 mi

172 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
1h 59m ★
6 AM
2h 8m
8 AM
2h 27m
10 AM
2h 15m
12 PM
2h 13m
3 PM
2h 16m
5 PM
2h 26m
8 PM
2h 3m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in and county seat of Geary County, Kansas, United States

Junction City, KS

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Andover, KS, KS

Andover, KS

Tien Nguyen

Trip Overview

Junction City, KS to Andover, KS is 106.8 miles and takes about 2h 8m via US 77 and Kansas Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward trip across Kansas. It's a predominantly highway-focused route, ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without many detours. With a total duration under three hours, this journey is easily accomplished in a single day, making it a convenient option for a quick transition between these two Kansas locations.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

53.4 miles from Junction City, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 77 82 mi 1h 35m
Kansas Turnpike 18.4 mi 18m
North Washington Street 1.5 mi 3m
East 21st Street 1.2 mi 3m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway 1.2 mi 1m
North Andover Road 0.6 mi 1m
KS 18 0.3 mi <1m
US 40 Business 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 77 — 82 mi, about 1h 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Junction City, KS and Andover, KS.

1

Start on North Jefferson Street

130 ft · 11 sec · North Jefferson Street
2

Turn left onto West 6th Street

0.1 mi · 25 sec · West 6th Street
3

Turn right onto US 40 Business

1.5 mi · 3 min · North Washington Street
4

Enter roundabout onto US 40 Business

136 ft · 3 sec · US 40 Business
5

Continue on US 40 Business

0.2 mi · 24 sec · US 40 Business
6

Merge onto I 70; US 40; KS 18

1.2 mi · 1 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
7

Take the exit onto KS 18

0.2 mi · 27 sec · KS 18
Toward US 77, KS 18 West, Marysville, Herington
8

Keep slight left at fork onto KS 18

0.1 mi · 24 sec · KS 18
Toward US 77, KS 18 West, Marysville, Herington Use the left lane.
9

Turn right onto US 77

46 mi · 54 min · US 77
Toward US 77, KS 18 West: Marysville, Herington Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Enter roundabout onto US 77

175 ft · 3 sec · US 77
11

Continue on US 77

8.8 mi · 10 min · US 77
12

Enter roundabout onto US 77

177 ft · 7 sec · US 77
Toward US 77 South: El Dorado
13

Continue on US 77

27 mi · 31 min · US 77
Toward US 77 South: El Dorado
14

Turn left

0.3 mi · 34 sec
15

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
16

Merge onto I 35

18 mi · 18 min · Kansas Turnpike
17

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward Andover
18

Turn right

0.2 mi · 26 sec
19

Turn left onto East 21st Street

1.2 mi · 3 min · East 21st Street
20

Turn left onto North Andover Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Andover Road
21

Turn right onto Harrison Street

340 ft · 20 sec · Harrison Street
22

Turn left onto North Main Street

65 ft · 2 sec · North Main Street
23

Arrive at destination

North Main Street

Trip Plan

Given this is a relatively short, 2-hour drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, perhaps after a leisurely morning in Junction City. Since the longest stretch without a significant change in road is 82 miles, plan for a single fuel and rest stop midway if needed, though you'll likely reach Andover well before needing to refuel. Keep an eye on the fuel cost estimate of $17 to manage your budget. The straightforward highway nature of this route means you can focus on reaching your destination efficiently without worrying about complex navigation or frequent speed changes.

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 53.4 miles from Junction City, KS, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82 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 23 miles or 29m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 53.4 miles or 1h 5m 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 45m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Andover, KS than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Junction 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 Junction City, KS

This is one driving day of about 106.8 miles and 2h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Junction City, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 77 for about 82 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hillsboro, KS

53 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Herington, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Peabody, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 53.4 miles from Junction City, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 82 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 58.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West 6th Street

Turn left onto West 6th Street

Navigation decision point

5
3 mi into trip | ~6m in | KS 18

Take the exit onto KS 18 toward US 77, KS 18 West, Marysville, Herington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 77, KS 18 West, Marysville, Herington
9
3.2 mi into trip | ~6m in | KS 18

Keep slight left at fork onto KS 18 toward US 77, KS 18 West, Marysville, Herington

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward US 77, KS 18 West, Marysville, Herington
6
3.3 mi into trip | ~6m in | US 77

Turn right onto US 77 toward US 77, KS 18 West: Marysville, Herington

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward US 77, KS 18 West: Marysville, Herington
5
58.6 mi into trip | ~1h 11m in | US 77

Enter roundabout onto US 77 toward US 77 South: El Dorado

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Toward US 77 South: El Dorado

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.70 one way

$33.39 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 37 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $18.33 $36.67
premium $4.89 $20.55 $41.11
diesel $5.61 $23.58 $47.16

Estimated Tolls: $0.92

Kansas Turnpike (18.4 mi) $0.92

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

$17

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 37.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 32 0 $11.21 $5.13
Efficient EV 26.7 0 $9.34 $4.27
EV Truck/SUV 42.7 0 $14.95 $6.84

Gas CO2

37 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (68% 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 20, 2026

Origin

Junction City, KS

Late night in Junction City on Tuesday

Local time

5:38 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Andover, KS

Late night in Andover on Tuesday

Local time

5:38 AM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

46°F

Hillsboro, KS

53 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

2 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

2h 8m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the journey taking place on major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on US 77, including an uninterrupted stretch of 82 miles, before transitioning to the Kansas Turnpike and finally North Washington Street. Expect consistent speeds and minimal traffic interruptions, characteristic of driving on major highways across the Great Plains. The road primarily consists of well-maintained, high-speed corridors designed for efficient travel.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82 mi on US 77.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 77 and Kansas Turnpike. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 6th Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 106.8 miles you will encounter 19 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: near the start (West 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (KS 18): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (KS 18): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

About the Cities

Starting in Junction City, KS

Full guide →

Junction City is the seat of Geary County, in the Flint Hills region of Kansas. It is a small city of around 23,000 people.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 106.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 82 miles on US 77. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.92 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 Andover, 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: near the start (West 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (KS 18): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (KS 18): 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 Andover, KS before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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