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Trip from Junction City, KS to Johnson County, KS

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 11m

Distance

120.4 mi

194 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
2h 3m ★
6 AM
2h 12m
8 AM
2h 30m
10 AM
2h 18m
12 PM
2h 16m
3 PM
2h 19m
5 PM
2h 29m
8 PM
2h 6m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Geary County, Kansas, United States

Junction City, KS

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Junction City, KS to Johnson County, KS is 120.4 miles and takes about 2h 11m via Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, South Lawrence Trafficway, and Kansas Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, primarily on surface roads with a short highway share of about 12%. Expect a straightforward drive that's easily manageable in a single day, making it a convenient option for a quick trip between these two Kansas locations. The relatively low mileage and moderate duration mean you won't need extensive planning for an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

60.2 miles from Junction City, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway 66.1 mi 1h 8m
South Lawrence Trafficway 31.6 mi 34m
Kansas Turnpike 14 mi 14m
K-7 4 mi 5m
West 6th Street 1.7 mi 3m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 1.1 mi 1m
West Santa Fe Street 0.7 mi 1m
J Hill Road 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway — 66.1 mi, about 1h 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Jefferson Street

130 ft · 11 sec · North Jefferson Street
2

Turn left onto West 6th Street

1.7 mi · 3 min · West 6th Street
3

Turn right onto J Hill Road

0.1 mi · 22 sec · J Hill Road
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward I-70 East, US 40 East, KS 18 East: Topeka
5

Merge onto I 70; US 40; KS 18

51 mi · 50 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
6

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.1 mi · 1 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7

Continue on I 70; US 40

15 mi · 17 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70

0.8 mi · 52 sec · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
9

Continue on I 70

14 mi · 14 min · Kansas Turnpike
10

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Exit 197 Toward KS 10: Lecompton, Lawrence
11

Turn right onto KS 10

32 mi · 34 min · South Lawrence Trafficway
12

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Toward KS 7 South: Olathe Use the right lane.
13

Merge onto K-7

4.0 mi · 5 min · K-7
Use the straight lane.
14

Turn left onto West Santa Fe Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Santa Fe Street
15

Arrive at destination

West Santa Fe Street

Trip Plan

Given the 2h 11m estimated drive time and 120.4 miles, this trip is easily doable in a single day. Departing in the morning will give you ample flexibility for any unscheduled stops or to simply enjoy the drive without feeling rushed. The fuel cost is estimated at $19, so ensure your tank is full before leaving Junction City. While there are no designated stops mentioned, keep an eye out for local eateries or rest areas along the way, particularly when you transition off the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, as this is where you'll encounter more services.

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 60.2 miles from Junction City, KS, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.1 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 26 miles or 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 60.2 miles or 1h 3m 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 Johnson County, 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 120.4 miles and 2h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Junction City, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway for about 66.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

unincorporated community in Shawnee County, Kansas

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tecumseh, KS

60 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

Saint George, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Shawnee County, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 60.2 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 Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.1 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Perkins American Food Co.

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Topeka, Kansas

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour Moderately mile 60.2

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+17852730300

Visit website

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Topeka, Kansas

2.4 mi

Cafe Quetzal

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Topeka, Kansas

2.3 mi

Perkins American Food Co.

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour Moderately mile 60.2

Topeka, Kansas

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+17852730300

Visit website

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour Moderately mile 60.2

Topeka, Kansas

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+17852717526

Visit website

Cafe Quetzal

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 60.2

Topeka, Kansas

Hours: 6:45 am–9 pm

+17853295527

Visit website

Yuki Restaurant of Japan

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $20 to $30 mile 60.2

Topeka, Kansas

Hours: 4:30–9:30 pm

+17852717878

Visit website

Globe Indian Cuisine Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour Moderately mile 68.8

Topeka, Kansas

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+17853541500

Visit website

Oriental Express

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 60.2

Topeka, Kansas

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+17852712308

Visit website

Cafe The Mani 더마니

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 94.6

Lawrence, Kansas

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+17857275958

Visit website

Blue Moose

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 60.2

Topeka, Kansas

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+17852726800

Visit website

Rest Area

0 mi from route

Paxico Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Topeka Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Topeka Fleet Garage

0.2 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.2 mi from route

Plaza of the Flint Hills

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

1 mi from route

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 115.7 — 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...
6
68.5 mi into trip | ~1h 13m in | I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway toward I-70 East, Kansas City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
6
83.2 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in

Take the exit toward KS 10: Lecompton, Lawrence

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

Exit 197 Toward KS 10: Lecompton, Lawrence
6
115.3 mi into trip | ~2h 4m in

Take the exit toward KS 7 South: Olathe

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward KS 7 South: Olathe
5
115.7 mi into trip | ~2h 5m in | K-7

Merge onto K-7

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.82 one way

$37.65 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $20.67 $41.33
premium $4.89 $23.17 $46.34
diesel $5.61 $26.58 $53.17

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

$19

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 42.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 36.1 0 $12.64 $5.78
Efficient EV 30.1 0 $10.54 $4.82
EV Truck/SUV 48.2 0 $16.86 $7.71

Gas CO2

42 kg

EV CO2

14 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Junction City, KS

Morning in Junction City on Sunday

Local time

6:32 AM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Johnson County, KS

Morning in Johnson County on Sunday

Local time

6:32 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

54°F

Tecumseh, KS

60 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

3 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 11m 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?

You'll spend most of your time on surface roads, with only about 12% of the 120.4 miles on higher-speed highways. The longest stretch on these main roads, the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, covers 66.1 miles. Expect to encounter numerous intersections and varying speed limits as you transition between highway segments and city streets. The profile suggests a drive where you'll notice frequent changes in scenery and traffic patterns typical of surface road travel.

Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.1 mi on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 120.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 1.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.5 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Johnson County, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City and Lawrence.

Kansas City

68.5 mi in | ~1h 13m | via I 70

Lawrence

83.2 mi in | ~1h 28m

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 11m. Total distance: 120.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (12%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 66.1 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. 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 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.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.5 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Johnson County, 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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Return Trip

Johnson County, KS to Junction City, KS

Plan the drive back the other way.

121.5 mi 2h 12m

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