Origin
Leavenworth, KS
Night in Leavenworth on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Leavenworth, KS to Carbondale, 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 29m
Distance
77.3 mi
124 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Leavenworth, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Carbondale, KS
Tien Nguyen
Trip Overview
Leavenworth, KS to Carbondale, KS is 77.3 miles and takes about 1h 29m via Kansas Turnpike and US 75, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily follows the Kansas Turnpike and US 75, offering a straightforward journey through the Great Plains region. It's a good option for a quick trip when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently within the state of Kansas. Expect a highway-focused experience that makes for a predictable and easy drive, suitable for a single-day excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Turnpike | 46.8 mi | 46m |
| US 75 | 12.1 mi | 12m |
| North Main Street | 11.9 mi | 16m |
| South 4th Street | 3.2 mi | 6m |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Spruce Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Burlingame Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 46.8 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leavenworth, KS and Carbondale, 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: Topeka
Use 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
6.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, Wichita
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 470 West, US 75: Topeka, Salina
9
Continue on I 470
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward US 75 South
11
Keep slight left at fork
509 ft
·
14 sec
12
Turn left onto Southwest Burlingame Road
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Southwest Burlingame Road
13
Turn left onto Southwest 42nd Street
306 ft
·
13 sec
·
Southwest 42nd Street
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
15
Merge onto US 75
12 mi
·
12 min
·
US 75
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
17
Turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Main Street
18
Turn left onto South 4th Street
130 ft
·
5 sec
·
South 4th Street
19
Arrive at destination
South 4th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.6 miles from Leavenworth, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 15.7 and 64 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
63 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 470 West, US 75: Topeka, Salina
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 470 West, US 75: Topeka, Salina
5
64 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.08 one way
$24.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.27 | $26.54 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.88 | $29.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.07 | $34.13 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.34
Kansas Turnpike
(46.8 mi)
$2.34
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$2
Total
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 27 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.2 | 0 | $8.12 | $3.71 |
| Efficient EV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.76 | $3.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.9 | 0 | $10.82 | $4.95 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Carbondale, KS
Night in Carbondale on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Reno, KS
39 mi in
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
4 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
1h 29m 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 route is largely a highway-focused drive, with 76% of the journey on high-speed roads like the Kansas Turnpike and US 75. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 46.8 miles on the Kansas Turnpike, allowing for steady progress. The character of the drive is predominantly that of efficient travel, with the main roads providing a consistent driving experience for most of the 77.3 miles. Expect a practical rather than scenic journey, where the focus is on reaching your destination.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.8 mi on Kansas Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and US 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.3 miles you will encounter 14 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: 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; at 56.3 miles (I 470 / Kansas Turnpike): 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 Leavenworth, KS and Carbondale, KS, road signs point toward Wichita and Salina.
Wichita
56.3 mi in
|
~1h 5m
|
via I 470
Salina
63 mi in
|
~1h 11m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 77.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.8 miles on Kansas Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.34 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.
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 Carbondale, 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: 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; at 56.3 miles (I 470 / Kansas Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Carbondale, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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