Origin
Junction City, KS
Late night in Junction City on Sunday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Junction City, KS to Shawnee 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
1h 4m
Distance
59.7 mi
96 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Junction City, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Shawnee County, KS
David Guerrero
Trip Overview
This straightforward 59.7-mile drive from Junction City, KS, to Shawnee County, KS, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 4 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, this trip is perfect for a single day, requiring no overnight stays. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $9, it offers an economical option for exploring the Great Plains region. The route's turn-heavy local drive profile means you'll be navigating through a series of intersections rather than a continuous highway stretch. It's a practical journey for those looking to connect two points within Kansas efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 54.9 mi | 55m |
| West 6th Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| I 470 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Huntoon Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| J Hill Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Southwest Arrowhead Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Jefferson Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
— 54.9 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Junction City, KS and Shawnee 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
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
8
Take the exit onto I 470
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 470
Toward I 470 South, US 75 South
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward Huntoon Street, Wanamaker Road
10
Turn left onto Southwest Huntoon Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Huntoon Street
11
Turn right onto Southwest Arrowhead Road
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
·
Southwest Arrowhead Road
12
Turn left
269 ft
·
19 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.8 miles from Junction City, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 59.5 — 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...
5
58 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
I 470
Take the exit onto I 470 toward I 470 South, US 75 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 470 South, US 75 South
5
58.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward Huntoon Street, Wanamaker Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Huntoon Street, Wanamaker Road
4
59.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
Southwest Arrowhead Road
Turn right onto Southwest Arrowhead Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.33 one way
$18.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.25 | $20.50 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.49 | $22.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.18 | $26.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.27 | $2.87 |
| Efficient EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.22 | $2.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.9 | 0 | $8.36 | $3.82 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Shawnee County, KS
Late night in Shawnee County on Sunday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
80°F
Newbury, KS
30 mi in
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
6 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
1h 4m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a high highway share of 100%. The bulk of your journey, a continuous stretch of 54.9 miles, will be on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. While this offers a consistent pace for a significant portion, the overall character suggests a need for attention to navigation as you transition between roads and potentially encounter more local traffic patterns. The drive is not a monotonous interstate grind but rather a connected sequence of major roadways within the state.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.9 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 Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 4m drive. You will face about 8 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 58 miles (I 470): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 1h 4m. Total distance: 59.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.9 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 58 miles (I 470): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Shawnee 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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