Origin
Kansas City, KS
Afternoon in Kansas City on Sunday
Local time
4:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kansas City, KS to Wathena, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
55.7 mi
90 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wathena, KS
Tien Nguyen
Trip Overview
Kansas City, KS to Wathena, KS is 55.7 miles and takes about 1h 7m via I 29 and US 36, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, one-day trip primarily within the Great Plains region, staying within Kansas the entire way. Given its short distance and highway focus, it's an easy drive that doesn't require extensive planning. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, making it a convenient option for a quick journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 29 | 39 mi | 42m |
| US 36 | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| I 229 | 4.5 mi | 4m |
| North 7th Street Trafficway | 3.8 mi | 8m |
| Harry Darby Memorial Highway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Saint Joseph Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Armstrong Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 5th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 39 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, KS and Wathena, KS.
1
Start on this road
149 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Armstrong Avenue
282 ft
·
17 sec
·
Armstrong Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 69
3.8 mi
·
8 min
·
North 7th Street Trafficway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto I 635
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Harry Darby Memorial Highway
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 12A
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
Use the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 29; US 71
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 29; US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71
2.7 mi
·
2 min
·
I 29; I 435; US 71
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71
26 mi
·
27 min
·
I 29; US 71
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 43
Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
10
Continue on I 229
4.5 mi
·
4 min
·
I 229
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 4B
Toward US 36: Kansas, Cameron
12
Turn left onto US 36
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
US 36
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto Saint Joseph Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Saint Joseph Street
14
Turn right onto South 5th Street
93 ft
·
4 sec
·
South 5th Street
15
Arrive at destination
South 5th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.9 miles from Kansas 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 49.7 — 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
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway
Turn left onto US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
9
5.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 12A
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport,...
6
18.7 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
I 29; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71 toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
6
49.7 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward US 36: Kansas, Cameron
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 4B
Toward US 36: Kansas, Cameron
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.71 one way
$17.42 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.56 | $19.12 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.72 | $21.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.30 | $24.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.85 | $2.67 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.80 | $3.56 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (63% 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
Wathena, KS
Afternoon in Wathena on Sunday
Local time
4:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
21 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
1h 7m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 88% of the route utilizing major interstates and highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 39 miles on I 29, offering a consistent, faster pace for a significant portion of your journey. The profile suggests a relatively smooth and direct experience, typical of interstate travel, without many sharp turns or significant elevation changes. Expect a straightforward drive that prioritizes efficiency over winding scenic byways.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39 mi on I 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and US 36. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Armstrong Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.7 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 5.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Kansas City, KS and Wathena, KS, road signs point toward Saint Joseph and Cameron.
Saint Joseph
5.3 mi in
|
~10m
Cameron
49.7 mi in
|
~59m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 55.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39 miles on I 29. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Wathena, KS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 5.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Wathena, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Wathena, KS
Explore more options from Kansas City, KS or browse trips ending in Wathena, KS.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KS road trips.