Leavenworth, KS to Benton, KS is 182.5 miles and takes about 3h 14m via Kansas Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward journey for a single day. The majority of your travel will be on the Kansas Turnpike, which makes for a predictable and efficient trip. Expect a highway-focused experience that's ideal for getting from point A to point B without much fuss. Plan for a single stop as you make your way south.
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
91.2 miles from Leavenworth, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Kansas Turnpike
153.2 mi
2h 33m
North Main Street
12.6 mi
18m
Southwest 20th Street
11.8 mi
13m
South 4th Street
3.2 mi
6m
Spruce Street
0.6 mi
1m
Benton Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Boyer Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 153.2 mi, about 2h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leavenworth, KS and Benton, KS.
1
Start on this road
277 ft·25 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto KS 92
0.6 mi·1 min·Spruce Street
3
Turn right onto US 73; K-7
3.2 mi·6 min·South 4th Street
4
Continue on US 73; K-7
12 mi·16 min·North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 70 West: TopekaUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
40 mi·40 min·Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 470
113 mi·1 hr 53 min·Kansas Turnpike
Toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, WichitaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward KS 254, KS 196: El Dorado
9
At end of road, turn right onto Boyer Road
137 ft·2 sec·Boyer Road
10
Turn right onto KS 254
12 mi·13 min·Southwest 20th Street
11
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Main Street
12
Turn right onto Benton Street
177 ft·7 sec·Benton Street
13
Arrive at destination
Benton Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over three hours, this is a perfect same-day trip, so you can leave mid-morning and arrive in Benton with plenty of daylight left. The main road, Kansas Turnpike, is straightforward, but be mindful of toll charges along the way. Your longest stretch without a significant turn is over 150 miles, so plan your single stop strategically within that segment for fuel or a quick break. The estimated fuel cost is around $29, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing Leavenworth to minimize any last-minute detours for gas.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 91.2 miles from Leavenworth, KS, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 153.2 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 40 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.2 miles or 1h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benton, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Leavenworth, 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 Leavenworth, KS
This is one driving day of about 182.5 miles and 3h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Leavenworth, 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 153.2 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 169.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|KS 92 / Spruce Street
At end of road, turn left onto KS 92 / Spruce Street
Navigation decision point
7
15.7 mi into trip|~23m in
Turn left toward I 70 West: Topeka
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 70 West: Topeka
5
16.1 mi into trip|~24m in|I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
56.3 mi into trip|~1h 5m 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
5
169.3 mi into trip|~2h 58m in
Take the exit toward KS 254, KS 196: El Dorado
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KS 254, KS 196: El Dorado
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.53 one way
$57.06 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.33
$62.65
premium
$4.89
$35.12
$70.24
diesel
$5.61
$40.29
$80.59
Estimated Tolls: $7.66
Kansas Turnpike
(153.2 mi)$7.66
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
$29
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.8
0
$19.16
$8.76
Efficient EV
45.6
0
$15.97
$7.30
EV Truck/SUV
73
0
$25.55
$11.68
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Leavenworth, KS
Late night
in Leavenworth on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Benton, KS
Late night
in Benton on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Carbondale, KS
91 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
7 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
3h 14m 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.
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,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 84% of the trip utilizing major highways. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 153.2 miles on the Kansas Turnpike, which forms the backbone of this journey. While it's primarily highway driving, you'll navigate through local roads like North Main Street and Southwest 20th Street at the beginning and end of your trip. The character is largely consistent, offering a predictable driving experience across the Great Plains.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 153.2 mi on Kansas Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and North Main Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near KS 92 / Spruce Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 14m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (KS 92 / Spruce Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Leavenworth, KS to Benton, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Wichita along the way.
Wichita
56.3 mi in|~1h 5m|via I 470
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 14m. Total distance: 182.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 153.2 miles on Kansas Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.66 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.
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: at 0.1 miles (KS 92 / Spruce Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Benton, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
