This 113.2-mile journey from Junction City, Kansas, to Leavenworth County, Kansas, will take you about 2 hours and 9 minutes to complete. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, this drive is easily manageable as a single-day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. You'll primarily navigate along the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway and the Kansas Turnpike. The drive offers a practical transition between two points within the Great Plains region. Consider this route for its straightforward and efficient travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.6 miles from Junction City, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Given the 2-hour duration, departing Junction City in the morning allows ample time to reach Leavenworth County without feeling rushed. Since there are no designated stops, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps around the halfway mark or when you feel the need to stretch. With a fuel cost of only $18, you likely won't need to make a dedicated fuel stop. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to signage for Tonganoxie Drive, as it's a key part of your transition and may require careful navigation if you're not familiar with the area.
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 56.6 miles from Junction City, KS, or about 59m 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 25 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.6 miles or 59m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leavenworth County, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Junction City, KS so your first major turns are already loaded.
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Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
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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 113.2 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 111.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West 6th Street
Turn left onto West 6th Street
Navigation decision point
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
97.9 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward Tonganoxie, Eudora
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 212
Toward Tonganoxie, Eudora
4
111.8 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|CR-8 / Dempsey Road
Turn left onto CR-8 / Dempsey Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.70 one way
$35.40 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.43
$38.86
premium
$4.89
$21.78
$43.57
diesel
$5.61
$24.99
$49.99
Estimated Tolls: $1.43
Kansas Turnpike
(28.7 mi)$1.43
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
$18
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34
0
$11.89
$5.43
Efficient EV
28.3
0
$9.91
$4.53
EV Truck/SUV
45.3
0
$15.85
$7.24
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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 15, 2026
Origin
Junction City, KS
Late night
in Junction City on Sunday
Local time
5:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Leavenworth County, KS
Late night
in Leavenworth County on Sunday
Local time
5:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live 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
18 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 9m 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.
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?
Expect a drive with a fair number of turns, suggesting a more local feel rather than a pure interstate cruise. While 25% of this route is on highways, you'll encounter a significant 66.1-mile stretch on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, offering a good period of consistent travel. The profile indicates a 'turn-heavy local drive,' so be prepared for frequent adjustments in direction. This isn't a monotonous highway experience; it's more about engaging with the local road network.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 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?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 6th Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 9m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 6th Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
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 Leavenworth County, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City, Tonganoxie and Eudora.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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 $1.43 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: near the start (West 6th Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Yes — Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Leavenworth County, KS before heading back.
