Junction City, KS to Fort Scott, KS is 201.7 miles and takes about 3h 36m via Overland Parkway and Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, traversing Kansas for its entirety. Given the relatively short duration and moderate distance, this route is well-suited for a single day of travel. You'll experience a mix of highway driving and surface roads as you make your way southeast.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
100.8 miles from Junction City, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Overland Parkway
76.6 mi
1h 18m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
66.1 mi
1h 8m
South Lawrence Trafficway
36.5 mi
40m
Kansas Turnpike
14 mi
14m
I 435
2.2 mi
2m
West 6th Street
1.7 mi
3m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1.1 mi
1m
East 3rd Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Overland Parkway
— 76.6 mi, about 1h 18m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,289 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,574
Quietest
2 AM
~86 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 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 Junction City, KS and Fort Scott, KS.
Exit 81Toward US 69Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward US 69 South: College BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward US 69 SouthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 69 South
18
Merge onto US 69
77 mi·1 hr 18 min·Overland Parkway
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto East 3rd Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·East 3rd Street
20
Turn right onto South National Avenue
375 ft·14 sec·South National Avenue
21
Turn left onto West 2nd Street
280 ft·12 sec·West 2nd Street
22
Arrive at destination
West 2nd Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under four hours, you have flexibility on when to depart. Leaving Junction City anytime in the morning should allow you to reach Fort Scott with plenty of daylight remaining. The route has one recommended stop, so plan for a brief break about midway through your drive. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you transition to surface roads where stations might be less frequent than on the interstate. The estimated fuel cost of $36 is a good starting point for budgeting.
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 100.8 miles from Junction City, KS, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.6 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 44 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.8 miles or 1h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Scott, 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 201.7 miles and 3h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Junction City, 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 Overland Parkway for about 76.6 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 123.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.8 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I-70 East, US 40 East, KS 18 East: Topeka
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 East, US 40 East, KS 18 East: Topek...
7
120.1 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 435 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 435 East
7
122.7 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Take the exit toward US 69
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 81
Toward US 69
7
123.3 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 69 South: College Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 69 South: College Boulevard
7
123.5 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 69 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward US 69 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.79 one way
$59.57 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$32.88
$65.77
premium
$4.72
$37.45
$74.90
diesel
$4.80
$38.08
$76.17
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
$30
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.5
0
$21.18
$9.68
Efficient EV
50.4
0
$17.65
$8.07
EV Truck/SUV
80.7
1
$28.24
$12.91
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Junction City, KS
Morning
in Junction City on Sunday
Local time
6:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Partly Cloudy
S 0 to 5 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:57PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Hastings NE
Destination
Fort Scott, KS
Morning
in Fort Scott on Sunday
Local time
6:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:57PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Hastings NE
92°F
Reno, KS
101 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
1 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
3h 36m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The path to equality has been anything but smooth. It's taken courage and dedication by everyday people coming together for a common goal to carry the country toward true equality. Parents, teachers,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a 46% highway share, meaning you'll spend less than half of your time on high-speed roadways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 76.6 miles along the Overland Parkway. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface roads for a significant portion of the trip. You'll notice a shift from faster highway speeds to more moderate speeds as you approach more populated areas and utilize surface streets.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.6 mi on Overland Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 1.8 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 201.7 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 1.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 120.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 122.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,406 ft795 ft
Total Climb
603 ft
Total Descent
863 ft
Highest Point
1,406 ft
~14.4 mi in
Elevation Range
611 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Junction City, KS and Fort Scott, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City and Lawrence.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 36m. Total distance: 201.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.6 miles on Overland Parkway. 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.
Yes — we found about 10 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 Fort Scott, 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 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 120.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 122.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Fort Scott, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
