Origin
Kansas City, KS
Late night in Kansas City on Sunday
Local time
3:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kansas City, KS to Milford, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 34m
Distance
137.9 mi
222 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 24m
★
6 AM
2h 35m
8 AM
2h 55m
10 AM
2h 42m
12 PM
2h 40m
3 PM
2h 43m
5 PM
2h 54m
8 PM
2h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Milford, KS
Dave Luzi, Litchfield CT REALTOR
Trip Overview
This 137.9-mile journey from Kansas City, KS, to Milford, KS, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 34 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway and US-69, with about 45% of the drive on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is $22, making it an economical option. This drive offers a mixed driving experience as you transition within the Great Plains region. It's a straightforward route perfect for a day trip without the need for overnight stays.
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
68.9 miles from Kansas City, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 67.4 mi | 1h 9m |
| US 69 | 54.3 mi | 56m |
| US 77 | 7.3 mi | 9m |
| North Jackson Street | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| East 6th Street | 2 mi | 4m |
| North 7th Street Trafficway | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Houston Road | 0.8 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
— 67.4 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, KS and Milford, 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: Topeka
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 70
67 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Toward I-70 West
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward J Hill Road, Flinthills Boulevard
8
Turn right onto J Hill Road
292 ft
·
11 sec
·
J Hill Road
9
Turn left onto US 40 Business; KS 57
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
East 6th Street
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
North Jackson Street
11
Turn right onto US 77
7.3 mi
·
9 min
·
US 77
12
Turn left onto Houston Road
0.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Houston Road
13
Turn left
384 ft
·
32 sec
14
Turn left
140 ft
·
7 sec
15
Turn right
377 ft
·
21 sec
16
At end of road, turn left onto Whiting Street
35 ft
·
1 sec
·
Whiting Street
17
Arrive at destination
Whiting Street
Trip Plan
With a duration of just over two and a half hours, this trip is best tackled in a single day. Leaving Kansas City in the morning will give you ample time to reach Milford and explore. Since there's only one suggested stop and the longest stretch is manageable, you can be quite flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $22, and plan your refueling accordingly, especially before embarking on the 67.4-mile segment on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. This route is straightforward, so focus on enjoying the drive.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.9 miles from Kansas City, KS, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.4 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 30 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.9 miles or 1h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Milford, 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 137.9 miles and 2h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway for about 67.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 68.9 miles from Kansas City, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.4 miles.
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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 124 — 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 70 / Kansas Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 / Kansas Turnpike toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
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-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
5
124 mi into trip
|
~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward J Hill Road, Flinthills Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward J Hill Road, Flinthills Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.56 one way
$43.12 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
48 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $23.67 | $47.34 |
| premium | $4.89 | $26.54 | $53.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.45 | $60.89 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.05
Kansas Turnpike
(0.9 mi)
$0.05
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
$22
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.4 | 0 | $14.48 | $6.62 |
| Efficient EV | 34.5 | 0 | $12.07 | $5.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.2 | 0 | $19.31 | $8.83 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Milford, KS
Late night in Milford on Sunday
Local time
3:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live 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
20 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 34m 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 mixed drive on this route, with a significant portion on highways. You'll encounter 67.4 miles of uninterrupted driving on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, offering a consistent pace. The overall highway share is around 45%, indicating a blend of faster road travel and potentially more local road sections. This drive won't feel like a monotonous interstate grind, but rather a varied experience as you make your way across Kansas.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.4 mi on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway.
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 Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 34m drive. You will face about 15 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Milford, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.
Salina
55.6 mi in
|
~59m
|
via I 70
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 34m. Total distance: 137.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.4 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.05 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, 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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Milford, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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