Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
40 mi
64 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kiowa, KS
Tien Nguyen
Lake City, KS
yongbing li
Kiowa to Lake City is 40 miles and takes about 1 hour 12 minutes via US 281, US 160, and Main Street, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short, straightforward drive primarily through the Great Plains region of Kansas. Expect a highway-focused experience that makes for an easy, no-fuss journey. Given its brevity, this route is ideal for a quick relocation or a segment of a larger trip where you need to cover a short distance efficiently.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 281 | 18 mi | 26m |
| US 160 | 12.3 mi | 18m |
| Main Street | 4.7 mi | 8m |
| Lake City Road | 4.2 mi | 16m |
| Seminary Street | 0.8 mi | 3m |
| Cleveland Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North 7th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kiowa, KS and Lake City, KS.
Start on KS 2
Turn right onto KS 2
At end of road, turn right onto US 281
Turn left onto US 160
Turn right onto Lake City Road
Continue on Seminary Street
Turn right onto Cleveland Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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.
A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 20 miles from Kiowa, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 40 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto KS 2 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto US 281
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 160
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Lake City Road
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Cleveland Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$6.65 one way
$13.30 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $7.24 | $14.49 |
| premium | $5.18 | $8.16 | $16.32 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $8.43 | $16.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12 | 0 | $4.20 | $1.92 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.50 | $1.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16 | 0 | $5.60 | $2.56 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Kiowa on Wednesday
Local time
3:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Afternoon in Lake City on Wednesday
Local time
3:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 76% of the journey on higher-speed roads. You'll spend a significant portion on US 281, including an uninterrupted stretch of 18 miles, before transitioning to US 160 and then local roads like Main Street into Lake City. The character is consistent, offering a steady pace without many dramatic shifts. It's the kind of drive where you can settle in and cover ground without much fuss.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 281 and US 160. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near KS 2 / Main Street.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Kiowa, KS to Lake City, KS is easy. At 1h 12m with 76% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (KS 2 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (US 281): Navigation decision point; at 22.7 miles (US 160): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
460 ft
Total Descent
178 ft
Highest Point
1,674 ft
~34.3 mi in
Elevation Range
339 ft
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 40 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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