Leavenworth, KS to Eureka, KS is 163.1 miles and takes about 3h 13m via I 35 and US 75, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, transitioning from the area around Leavenworth to the more open plains surrounding Eureka. The route is primarily highway driving, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, you can expect a focused drive with minimal detours.
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
81.6 miles from Leavenworth, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
58.5 mi
59m
US 75
38.2 mi
46m
80th Road
31.2 mi
35m
North Main Street
28.6 mi
37m
South 4th Street
3.2 mi
6m
South Lone Elm Road
1.6 mi
2m
Spruce Street
0.6 mi
1m
South Maple Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 58.5 mi, about 59m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~943 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,180
Quietest
2 AM
~81 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 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 Leavenworth, KS and Eureka, 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
29 mi·37 min·North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on South Lone Elm Road
1.6 mi·2 min·South Lone Elm Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Turn left
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 35 South, US 50 West, US 56 West: Wichita
7
Merge onto I 35; US 50; US 56
29 mi·30 min·I 35; US 50; US 56
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on I 35; US 50; US 59
29 mi·29 min·I 35; US 50; US 59
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward US 75, Lynden, Burlington
10
Turn left onto US 75
38 mi·46 min·US 75
11
Turn right onto US 54
0.2 mi·16 sec·West Mary Street
12
Continue on US 54
31 mi·35 min·80th Road
13
Turn right onto South Maple Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Maple Street
14
Arrive at destination
North Maple Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 13m estimated drive time, leaving Leavenworth in the morning allows ample time to reach Eureka before evening. You'll have 163.1 miles to cover, with the option of one stop. Plan your fuel stops accordingly, as the estimated cost is $29, but always check your gauge. The longest stretch without a major road change is 58.5 miles on I 35, so ensure you're comfortable with that duration before needing to exit or find services. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility to depart later if needed.
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 81.6 miles from Leavenworth, KS, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.5 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 36 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.6 miles or 1h 37m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eureka, 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 163.1 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 I 35 for about 58.5 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 92.8 — 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
6
34 mi into trip|~48m in
Turn left toward I 35 South, US 50 West, US 56 West: Wichita
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, US 50 West, US 56 West: Wich...
5
34.3 mi into trip|~49m in|I 35; US 50; US 56
Merge onto I 35; US 50; US 56
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
92.8 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward US 75, Lynden, Burlington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 75, Lynden, Burlington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.12 one way
$54.23 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$29.54
$59.08
premium
$5.18
$33.28
$66.56
diesel
$5.35
$34.35
$68.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.9
0
$17.13
$7.83
Efficient EV
40.8
0
$14.27
$6.52
EV Truck/SUV
65.2
0
$22.83
$10.44
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 May 27, 2026
Origin
Leavenworth, KS
Afternoon
in Leavenworth on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Eureka, KS
Afternoon
in Eureka on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
E 5 to 9 mph19% chanceLive forecast
86°F
Stanton, KS
82 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
21 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 13m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is 59% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on I 35. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 58.5 miles on I 35. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface roads as you approach your destination, with US 75 and 80th Road making up the latter part of the drive. Expect more rural cruising once you leave the interstate.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.5 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 13m drive. You will face about 8 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 34 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,128 ft841 ft
Total Climb
540 ft
Total Descent
299 ft
Highest Point
1,128 ft
~104.9 mi in
Elevation Range
287 ft
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 Eureka, KS, road signs point toward Lynden and Burlington.
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
Eureka is a city in Humboldt County, California. With a population of slightly over 25,000, it is the largest coastal city on the West Coast of the United States north of San Francisco and south of Portland and the center of the California North Coast (Redwood Coast). Eureka is Ancient Greek for "I have found it," and the city got its name as a hopeful statement made by miners during the California Gold Rush, but it was the timber industry that gave the town its early wealth. Now, with logging in decline, it retains the charm of that era with older Victorian buildings and the feel of an old-fashioned working town.
Situated on the shores of Humboldt Bay, Eureka provides an urban environment in this rugged corner of California with a quaint but lively city center, thriving arts scene, and variety of shopping and dining options without the hectic rush of other major cities in the state.
Top landmarks
•Westside Service Station and Riverside Motel — historic building in Eureka, Kansas, USA
The longest stretch is about 58.5 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 34 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Eureka, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
