Kansas City, KS to Benton, KS is 181.8 miles and takes about 3h 9m via Kansas Turnpike and US 69, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This largely highway-focused drive stays within the Great Plains region, making it a straightforward journey across Kansas. With a recommended one-day trip, you'll spend most of your time on major roadways, so expect a functional rather than a scenic experience. This route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
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
90.9 miles from Kansas City, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Kansas Turnpike
113.1 mi
1h 53m
US 69
54.3 mi
56m
Southwest 20th Street
11.8 mi
13m
North 7th Street Trafficway
1.3 mi
3m
North Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
Armstrong Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Benton Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Boyer Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 113.1 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, KS and Benton, 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
113 mi·1 hr 53 min·Kansas Turnpike
Toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, WichitaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward KS 254, KS 196: El Dorado
7
At end of road, turn right onto Boyer Road
137 ft·2 sec·Boyer Road
8
Turn right onto KS 254
12 mi·13 min·Southwest 20th Street
9
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Main Street
10
Turn right onto Benton Street
177 ft·7 sec·Benton Street
11
Arrive at destination
Benton Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 9m estimated drive time, starting your journey in Kansas City, KS, in the morning allows ample daylight to reach Benton, KS. The single stop suggested is likely sufficient for a trip of this length, but feel free to make additional brief breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 113.1-mile stretch on the Kansas Turnpike, as services can be spaced out. Plan your fuel stops accordingly to stay within your estimated $28 budget and avoid any unnecessary detours.
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 90.9 miles from Kansas City, KS, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.1 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 40 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.9 miles or 1h 35m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benton, 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 181.8 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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 113.1 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 168.7 — 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
168.7 mi into trip|~2h 52m in
Take the exit toward KS 254, KS 196: El Dorado
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KS 254, KS 196: El Dorado
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.23 one way
$60.45 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$32.92
$65.85
premium
$5.18
$37.10
$74.19
diesel
$5.35
$38.29
$76.59
Estimated Tolls: $5.65
Kansas Turnpike
(113.1 mi)$5.65
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
$30
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.5
0
$19.09
$8.73
Efficient EV
45.5
0
$15.91
$7.27
EV Truck/SUV
72.7
0
$25.45
$11.64
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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 May 27, 2026
Origin
Kansas City, KS
Afternoon
in Kansas City on Wednesday
Local time
4:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Benton, KS
Afternoon
in Benton on Wednesday
Local time
4:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
E 5 to 12 mph19% chanceLive 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 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 9m 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 predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the journey on high-speed roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of the Kansas Turnpike, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted segment at 113.1 miles. The character of the drive is consistent, emphasizing efficient travel over winding backroads. Expect a smooth, direct experience for the majority of your time behind the wheel, as you navigate through the open landscapes of the Great Plains.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113.1 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 9m 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 (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
1,547 ft859 ft
Total Climb
938 ft
Total Descent
425 ft
Highest Point
1,547 ft
~129.9 mi in
Elevation Range
688 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 Benton, 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 113.1 miles on Kansas Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.65 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 7 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 (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 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Benton, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
