Kansas City, KS to Meade, KS is 367.7 miles and takes about 6h 46m via Kansas Turnpike and The Yellow Brick Road, with a fuel budget near $65 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent, open-country feel for its entirety. You'll be driving primarily on highways, making for a straightforward transit. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground across Kansas.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
183.9 miles from Kansas City, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Kansas Turnpike
131.7 mi
2h 11m
The Yellow Brick Road
61.7 mi
1h 10m
Cannonball Stageline
60.2 mi
1h 8m
US 69
54.3 mi
56m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
49.9 mi
58m
East 1st Street
3.1 mi
6m
D Avenue
2.4 mi
5m
North 7th Street Trafficway
1.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 131.7 mi, about 2h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, KS and Meade, 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
132 mi·2 hr 11 min·Kansas Turnpike
Toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, WichitaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 53AToward US 54, US 400
7
Merge onto US 54; US 400
50 mi·58 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 54; US 400; KS 14
2.4 mi·5 min·D Avenue
9
Continue on US 54; US 400
31 mi·35 min·Cannonball Stageline
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 54; US 400
3.1 mi·6 min·East 1st Street
11
Continue on US 54; US 400
29 mi·33 min·Cannonball Stageline
12
Continue on US 54; US 400
1.3 mi·2 min·East Kansas Avenue
13
Continue on US 54; US 400
8.3 mi·9 min·The Yellow Brick Road
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 54
33 mi·37 min·The Yellow Brick Road
15
Continue on US 54
0.7 mi·48 sec·East Front Street
16
Continue on US 54
21 mi·23 min·The Yellow Brick Road
17
Continue on US 54; US 160
0.6 mi·42 sec·East Carthage Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 54; US 160
Trip Plan
Aim to depart Kansas City, KS in the morning to make the most of the 6h 46m estimated drive time. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility with stops, but consider planning your one designated stop around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move off the Kansas Turnpike, as services may become less frequent on The Yellow Brick Road. The $65 fuel estimate is a good baseline for planning your budget.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 183.9 miles from Kansas City, KS, or about 3h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 131.7 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 81 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 183.9 miles or 3h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meade, 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 367.7 miles and 6h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 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 131.7 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 187.3 — 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
6
187.3 mi into trip|~3h 11m in
Take the exit toward US 54, US 400
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 53A
Toward US 54, US 400
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.13 one way
$122.27 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg129 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$66.59
$133.18
premium
$5.18
$75.03
$150.06
diesel
$5.35
$77.45
$154.90
Estimated Tolls: $6.58
Kansas Turnpike
(131.7 mi)$6.58
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
$61
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$93–$118
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 128.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
110.3
1
$38.61
$17.65
Efficient EV
91.9
1
$32.17
$14.71
EV Truck/SUV
147.1
1
$51.48
$23.53
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 2, 2026
Origin
Kansas City, KS
Afternoon
in Kansas City on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny
E 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 10:17AM CDT until June 3 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Destination
Meade, KS
Afternoon
in Meade on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny
ESE 6 to 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 10:17AM CDT until June 3 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
87°F
Andover, KS
184 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
6h 46m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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,...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 63.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is a mix of highway and surface roads, with 51% of the driving on highways. You'll encounter the longest stretch of continuous highway at 131.7 miles on the Kansas Turnpike. After this, expect a shift to more varied surface roads as you continue toward Meade. This transition means you'll move from consistent high-speed cruising to a more rural pace.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 131.7 mi on Kansas Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 46m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 7 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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
Gently rolling terrain
2,583 ft863 ft
Total Climb
1,885 ft
Total Descent
252 ft
Highest Point
2,583 ft
~341.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,720 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 Meade, 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.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 131.7 miles on Kansas Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.58 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 10 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Meade, KS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Meade, KS before the return drive.
