Leavenworth, KS to Douglass, KS is 198 miles and takes about 3h 39m via Kansas Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Kansas. It's a single-day trip with a high percentage of highway driving, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B. Expect a practical, no-frills experience focused on covering ground quickly.
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
99 miles from Leavenworth, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Kansas Turnpike
148.1 mi
2h 28m
North Main Street
25.3 mi
34m
Walnut Street
11.3 mi
14m
US 54
7.9 mi
10m
South 4th Street
3.2 mi
6m
Spruce Street
0.6 mi
1m
East 1st Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 148.1 mi, about 2h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leavenworth, KS and Douglass, 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
108 mi·1 hr 47 min·Kansas Turnpike
Toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, WichitaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward US 77: El Dorado
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 77
13 mi·18 min·North Main Street
10
Take the exit onto US 54; US 77
7.9 mi·10 min·US 54; US 77
11
Turn left onto US 77
11 mi·14 min·Walnut Street
12
Turn right onto East 1st Street
0.5 mi·52 sec·East 1st Street
13
Arrive at destination
East 1st Street
Trip Plan
For this 3h 39m drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and arrive with plenty of time. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without feeling rushed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch is 148.1 miles on the Kansas Turnpike; ensure you're fueled up before entering this segment. Your estimated fuel cost is around $31, so plan accordingly.
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 99 miles from Leavenworth, KS, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.1 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 44 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99 miles or 1h 47m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Douglass, 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 198 miles and 3h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 148.1 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 56.3 — 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
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|US 73; K-7 / South 4th Street
Turn right onto US 73; K-7 / South 4th 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.03 one way
$66.06 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$35.90
$71.79
premium
$5.26
$41.00
$81.99
diesel
$6.18
$48.17
$96.33
Estimated Tolls: $7.41
Kansas Turnpike
(148.1 mi)$7.41
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
$33
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.4
0
$20.79
$9.50
Efficient EV
49.5
0
$17.33
$7.92
EV Truck/SUV
79.2
0
$27.72
$12.67
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Leavenworth, KS
Morning
in Leavenworth on Sunday
Local time
9:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Areas Of Frost then Sunny
SSW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 8:40AM MDT until October 17 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Goodland KS
Destination
Douglass, KS
Morning
in Douglass on Sunday
Local time
9:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Patchy Frost then Sunny
SSE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 8:40AM MDT until October 17 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Goodland KS
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 39m on the road
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.
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?
You'll spend about 79% of this 198-mile trip on highways. The longest stretch without a significant road change is 148.1 miles on the Kansas Turnpike. After this extended highway portion, expect to transition to surface streets like North Main Street and Walnut Street as you enter Douglass. This means you'll be cruising on high-speed roads for the majority of the drive before a more local approach to your destination.
79% 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: 148.1 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 39m drive. You will face about 10 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 0.6 miles (US 73; K-7 / South 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,417 ft841 ft
Total Climb
782 ft
Total Descent
412 ft
Highest Point
1,417 ft
~127.3 mi in
Elevation Range
576 ft
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 Douglass, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Wichita along the way.
Leavenworth is a city in Eastern Kansas.
Leavenworth, the "First City in Kansas", established in 1854, is located on the west banks of the Missouri River and became nationally known as the "jumping off point" for the opening of the West. Buffalo Bill Cody spent part of his youth here and later worked in the area as a Pony Express rider and Army scout. Cody's parents are buried in Leavenworth.
Top landmarks
•Leavenworth Riverfront Community Center — historic building in Leavenworth, Kansas, United States
•Carnegie Arts Center of Leavenworth — building in Leavenworth, Kansas, USA
•Western Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers — historic district in Leavenworth, Kansas, United States
The longest stretch is about 148.1 miles on Kansas Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.41 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.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 0.6 miles (US 73; K-7 / South 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.7 miles: 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 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Douglass, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
