Leavenworth, KS to Galena, KS is 170.6 miles and takes about 3h 21m via Overland Parkway and I-435, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward trip between two Kansas locations. With a recommended one-day itinerary, this route is ideal for those looking for a relatively short and efficient drive. Most of the driving involves highway travel, making it a predictable and manageable excursion for most vehicles.
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
85.3 miles from Leavenworth, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Overland Parkway
104.3 mi
1h 53m
West Atkinson Road
18.7 mi
23m
I 435
13.9 mi
15m
North Main Street
12.3 mi
16m
US 69 Alternate
6.5 mi
7m
US Historic 66
3.6 mi
4m
Kansas Turnpike
3.5 mi
3m
South 4th Street
3.2 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Overland Parkway
— 104.3 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leavenworth, KS and Galena, 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
Take the exit onto US 24; US 40
0.5 mi·1 min·US 24; US 40
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 EastUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
3.5 mi·3 min·Kansas Turnpike
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 411AToward I 435 South
8
Merge onto I 435
14 mi·15 min·I 435
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 81Toward US 69Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward US 69 South: College BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward US 69 SouthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 69 South
13
Merge onto US 69
104 mi·1 hr 53 min·Overland Parkway
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit onto US 69
319 ft·8 sec·US 69
15
Merge onto US 69; US 160
19 mi·23 min·West Atkinson Road
16
Continue on US 69 Alternate; US 400
6.5 mi·7 min·US 69 Alternate; US 400
17
Turn left onto Southeast 70th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Southeast 70th Street
18
Turn left onto US Historic 66; KS 66
3.6 mi·4 min·US Historic 66; KS 66
19
Turn left onto Short Street
201 ft·10 sec·Short Street
20
Turn right onto West 6th Street
154 ft·12 sec·West 6th Street
21
Turn left
150 ft·11 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 21m duration, leaving Leavenworth in the morning should allow you to reach Galena with plenty of daylight to spare. The route is mostly highway, with a significant 104.3-mile stretch on Overland Parkway, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, perhaps before you begin this longer segment. While the overall drive is manageable in one day, the flexibility of a shorter trip means you can stop as needed. Keep an eye out for the transition from highway driving to surface roads as you approach your destination.
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 85.3 miles from Leavenworth, KS, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.3 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 38 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.3 miles or 1h 42m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Galena, 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 170.6 miles and 3h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 Overland Parkway for about 104.3 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 16.1 and 35.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
16.1 mi into trip|~24m in|US 24; US 40
Take the exit onto US 24; US 40 toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East
5
20.2 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the exit toward I 435 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 411A
Toward I 435 South
7
34.7 mi into trip|~45m in
Take the exit toward US 69
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 81
Toward US 69
7
35.3 mi into trip|~47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 69 South: College Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 69 South: College Boulevard
7
35.5 mi into trip|~47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 69 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward US 69 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.67 one way
$53.34 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.28
$58.57
premium
$4.89
$32.83
$65.66
diesel
$5.61
$37.67
$75.33
Estimated Tolls: $0.18
Kansas Turnpike
(3.5 mi)$0.18
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
$27
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.2
0
$17.91
$8.19
Efficient EV
42.7
0
$14.93
$6.82
EV Truck/SUV
68.2
0
$23.88
$10.92
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 19, 2026
Origin
Leavenworth, KS
Late night
in Leavenworth on Tuesday
Local time
4:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Galena, KS
Late night
in Galena on Tuesday
Local time
4:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Garden City, MO
85 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
29 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 21m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 75% of this 170.6-mile trip on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch on highways is 104.3 miles on Overland Parkway, so expect extended periods of consistent cruising. After this highway portion, you'll transition to surface roads for the remaining miles into Galena. Be prepared for the shift in driving conditions as you move from faster highway speeds to potentially more local traffic and intersections.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.3 mi on Overland Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Overland Parkway and West Atkinson Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.1 miles in near US 24; US 40.
Driving Effort10/10
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 18 significant decision points across 170.6 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 16.1 miles (US 24; US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 34.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Galena, population 3000, is a city in Southeastern Kansas. This city is an old mining town which was named after its abundance of the mineral galena, a lead sulfide ore formerly extracted in the region.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 21m. Total distance: 170.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 104.3 miles on Overland Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.18 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 3 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.
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 Galena, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 3 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 16.1 miles (US 24; US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 34.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Galena, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
