Kansas City, KS to Andover, KS is 184.6 miles and takes about 3h 12m via Kansas Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This largely highway-focused drive keeps you within the Great Plains region for its entirety, moving south through Kansas. Expect a straightforward journey with minimal complexity, making it an ideal option for a single-day trip. The relatively short duration and clear route mean you can focus on getting to your destination efficiently.
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
92.3 miles from Kansas City, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Kansas Turnpike
126.6 mi
2h 6m
US 69
54.3 mi
56m
North 7th Street Trafficway
1.3 mi
3m
East 21st Street
1.2 mi
3m
North Andover Road
0.6 mi
1m
Harrison Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Armstrong Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
North Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 126.6 mi, about 2h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, KS and Andover, KS.
1
Start on this road
149 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Armstrong Avenue
282 ft·14 sec·Armstrong Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 69
1.3 mi·3 min·North 7th Street Trafficway
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp onto US 69
54 mi·56 min·US 69
Toward I 70 West, US 24 West, US 40 West, US 69 South: TopekaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 470
127 mi·2 hr 6 min·Kansas Turnpike
Toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, WichitaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward Andover
7
Turn right
0.2 mi·26 sec
8
Turn left onto East 21st Street
1.2 mi·3 min·East 21st Street
9
Turn left onto North Andover Road
0.6 mi·1 min·North Andover Road
10
Turn right onto Harrison Street
340 ft·20 sec·Harrison Street
11
Turn left onto North Main Street
65 ft·2 sec·North Main Street
12
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 12m estimated drive time, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Departing in the morning will give you ample time to reach Andover with plenty of daylight remaining. With a fuel cost estimate of around $29, plan accordingly before you set off. While there's only one suggested stop, the relatively short distance means you can be flexible with breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest 126.6-mile stretch on the Kansas Turnpike, as services can sometimes be spaced out on turnpikes.
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 92.3 miles from Kansas City, KS, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.6 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 41 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.3 miles or 1h 36m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Andover, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kansas 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 Kansas City, KS
This is one driving day of about 184.6 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Kansas 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 Kansas Turnpike for about 126.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 184.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Armstrong Avenue
Turn right onto Armstrong Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway
Turn right onto US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in|US 69
Take the ramp onto US 69 toward I 70 West, US 24 West, US 40 West, US 69 South: Topeka
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70 West, US 24 West, US 40 West, US 69...
8
55.6 mi into trip|~59m in|I 470 / Kansas Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 470 / Kansas Turnpike toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, Wichita
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, Wichita
5
184.6 mi into trip|~3h 12m in|North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.69 one way
$61.38 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$33.43
$66.86
premium
$5.18
$37.67
$75.34
diesel
$5.35
$38.88
$77.76
Estimated Tolls: $6.33
Kansas Turnpike
(126.6 mi)$6.33
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
$31
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.4
0
$19.38
$8.86
Efficient EV
46.2
0
$16.15
$7.38
EV Truck/SUV
73.8
0
$25.84
$11.81
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Kansas City, KS
Afternoon
in Kansas City on Wednesday
Local time
4:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
NE 8 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 1 at 5:15PM CDT until June 1 at 5:45PM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 1 at 4:15PM MDT until June 1 at 4:45PM MDT by NWS Goodland KS
Destination
Andover, KS
Afternoon
in Andover on Wednesday
Local time
4:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
E 12 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 1 at 5:15PM CDT until June 1 at 5:45PM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 1 at 4:15PM MDT until June 1 at 4:45PM MDT by NWS Goodland KS
87°F
Wakarusa, KS
92 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
4 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 12m 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 is overwhelmingly a highway experience, with 98% of the drive taking place on major roads like the Kansas Turnpike and US 69. You'll encounter a 126.6-mile stretch primarily on the Kansas Turnpike, offering a consistent, high-speed environment for a significant portion of your travel. The profile is generally highway-focused, suggesting a predictable and uninterrupted driving experience. Expect smooth sailing with limited need for navigation through complex local roads.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 126.6 mi on Kansas Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and US 69. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Armstrong Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 12m drive. You will face about 10 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 (Armstrong Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (US 69): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,522 ft862 ft
Total Climb
863 ft
Total Descent
374 ft
Highest Point
1,522 ft
~131.9 mi in
Elevation Range
660 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Kansas City, KS to Andover, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Wichita along the way.
Kansas City is a city in the state of Kansas, in the United States of America, and a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. Kansas City, Kansas, is often referred to as KCK, and Kansas City, Missouri, as KCMO. The two Kansas Cities form the core of the wider Kansas City metropolitan area.
The longest stretch is about 126.6 miles on Kansas Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.33 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 (Armstrong Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (US 69): Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Andover, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
