Lakin, KS to Leawood, KS is 402.6 miles and takes about 7h 39m via KS 156 and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $71 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route traverses the Great Plains, beginning and ending in Kansas. The drive is primarily on a mix of highway and surface roads. With only two recommended stops and a longest stretch of 166.3 miles, it's a manageable drive for a single day if you're looking to cover ground efficiently.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
201.3 miles from Lakin, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
KS 156
166.3 mi
3h 18m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
90.3 mi
1h 32m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
50.5 mi
50m
South Lawrence Trafficway
36.5 mi
40m
US 50
24.8 mi
28m
Kansas Turnpike
14 mi
14m
I 435
8.2 mi
9m
10th Street
3.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
KS 156
— 166.3 mi, about 3h 18m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,105 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,367
Quietest
2 AM
~81 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakin, KS and Leawood, KS.
Exit 75BToward State Line RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn left onto State Line Road
1.5 mi·3 min·State Line Road
Use the left lane.
26
Turn left onto West 95th Street
0.4 mi·57 sec·West 95th Street
27
Turn right onto Lee Boulevard
0.7 mi·1 min·Lee Boulevard
28
Turn left onto West 90th Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·West 90th Street
29
Arrive at destination
West 90th Street
Trip Plan
Given this route's 7h 39m estimated duration, departing in the morning is your best bet to allow ample daylight for the drive. You'll want to plan for your two stops strategically, perhaps one midway for a longer break and another shorter one for fuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 166.3-mile segment on KS 156, as services might be more spread out. The $71 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting, but always factor in potential price fluctuations.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 201.3 miles from Lakin, KS, or about 4h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 166.3 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 89 miles or 1h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 201.3 miles or 4h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leawood, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lakin, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lakin, KS
This is one driving day of about 402.6 miles and 7h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from Lakin, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on KS 156 for about 166.3 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 26 and 399.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
26 mi into trip|~31m in|KS 156
Turn left onto KS 156
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
339.4 mi into trip|~6h 25m in|I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway toward I-70 East, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
6
354.2 mi into trip|~6h 40m in
Take the exit toward KS 10: Lecompton, Lawrence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 197
Toward KS 10: Lecompton, Lawrence
7
391 mi into trip|~7h 22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 435 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 435 East
7
399.6 mi into trip|~7h 32m in
Take the exit toward State Line Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 75B
Toward State Line Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.45 one way
$118.91 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg141 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$65.64
$131.27
premium
$4.72
$74.75
$149.50
diesel
$4.80
$76.02
$152.04
Estimated Tolls: $0.70
Kansas Turnpike
(14 mi)$0.70
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
$59
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 140.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
120.8
1
$42.27
$19.32
Efficient EV
100.7
1
$35.23
$16.10
EV Truck/SUV
161
2
$56.36
$25.77
Gas CO2
141 kg
EV CO2
47 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Lakin, KS
Evening
in Lakin on Saturday
Local time
8:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 6 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Leawood, KS
Evening
in Leawood on Saturday
Local time
8:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph10% 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
9 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
7h 39m 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,...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 333.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 53% of your time on highways, with the remaining portion on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch without a significant road change is 166.3 miles on KS 156. Expect a mixed driving experience, transitioning from more rural cruising on surface roads to higher speeds on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This means you'll notice a shift in the pace and the density of exits as you progress.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 166.3 mi on KS 156.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 26 miles in near KS 156.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 402.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 26 miles (KS 156): Lane positioning matters here; at 339.4 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 354.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,004 ft842 ft
Total Climb
395 ft
Total Descent
2,456 ft
Highest Point
3,004 ft
Elevation Range
2,162 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lakin, KS and Leawood, KS, road signs point toward Salina, Kansas City and Lawrence.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 39m. Total distance: 402.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 39m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 166.3 miles on KS 156. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.70 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Leawood, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 26 miles (KS 156): Lane positioning matters here; at 339.4 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 354.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 7.7 hours each way, a round trip means 15.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Leawood, KS before the return drive.
