Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 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
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
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
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.
| 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 |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,514 veh/hr typical · worst 1,807
Quietest
1 AM
~49 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
30.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 50 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Junction City, KS and Shawnee County, KS.
Start on North Jefferson Street
Turn left onto West 6th Street
Turn right onto J Hill Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 70; US 40; KS 18
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Take the exit onto I 470
Take the exit
Turn left onto Southwest Huntoon Street
Turn right onto Southwest Arrowhead Road
Turn left
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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.
5 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.
Turn left onto West 6th Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I-70 East, US 40 East, KS 18 East: Topeka
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Take the exit toward Huntoon Street, Wanamaker Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto Southwest Arrowhead Road
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$9.93 one way
$19.85 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $10.81 | $21.62 |
| premium | $5.18 | $12.18 | $24.36 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $12.57 | $25.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Junction City on Wednesday
Local time
3:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Shawnee County on Wednesday
Local time
3:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
577 ft
Total Descent
700 ft
Highest Point
1,436 ft
~17.1 mi in
Elevation Range
454 ft
Founded 1854
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.
Top landmarks
Founded 1855
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
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.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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