Leavenworth to Holcomb is 382.9 miles and takes about 7h 16m via US 56 and KS 156, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Kansas, traversing the Great Plains region for its entirety. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you head west. With a recommended one-day drive and two planned stops, this trip is straightforward for anyone looking to cover ground efficiently across the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
191.4 miles from Leavenworth, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 56
118.4 mi
2h 22m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
91.6 mi
1h 34m
KS 156
51.8 mi
1h 2m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
49.4 mi
49m
Kansas Turnpike
41.1 mi
41m
North Main Street
12.2 mi
16m
US 50
8.7 mi
10m
South 4th Street
3.2 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
US 56
— 118.4 mi, about 2h 22m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,105 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,367
Quietest
2 AM
~81 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Holcomb, 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 right at fork onto I 70
0.9 mi·1 min·Kansas Turnpike
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, SalinaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
Given the 7h 16m estimated drive time, leaving early in the morning from Leavenworth is your best bet to complete this trip comfortably within a single day. With two recommended stops, you can easily break up the 382.9 miles into manageable segments. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 118.4-mile stretch on US 56, as services might be more spread out. Planning your fuel stops around the halfway point or before entering longer rural stretches will help avoid any inconvenience.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 191.4 miles from Leavenworth, KS, or about 3h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.4 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 84 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 191.4 miles or 3h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Holcomb, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Leavenworth, KS
This is one driving day of about 382.9 miles and 7h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Leavenworth, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 56 for about 118.4 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 15.7 and 381.7 — 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 70 / Kansas Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 / Kansas Turnpike toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
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-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
5
198.2 mi into trip|~3h 29m in
Take the exit toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend
5
381.7 mi into trip|~7h 14m in|North Jones Avenue
Turn left onto North Jones Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$63.66 one way
$127.32 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg134 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$69.34
$138.69
premium
$5.18
$78.13
$156.27
diesel
$5.35
$80.65
$161.30
Estimated Tolls: $2.06
Kansas Turnpike
(41.1 mi)$2.06
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
$64
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 134 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
114.9
1
$40.20
$18.38
Efficient EV
95.7
1
$33.50
$15.32
EV Truck/SUV
153.2
1
$53.61
$24.51
Gas CO2
134 kg
EV CO2
45 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Leavenworth, KS
Afternoon
in Leavenworth on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Patchy Fog
NE 3 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 4:14AM CDT until June 1 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 2:49AM CDT until June 1 at 7:45AM CDT by NWS Wichita KS
Destination
Holcomb, KS
Afternoon
in Holcomb on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Clear
ESE 9 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 4:14AM CDT until June 1 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 2:49AM CDT until June 1 at 7:45AM CDT by NWS Wichita 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
8 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 16m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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?
About 57% of this 382.9-mile drive is on highways, meaning you'll spend a significant portion of your time on higher-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 118.4 miles along US 56. You'll transition from highway driving to surface roads, so be prepared for varying speed limits and road conditions. This route offers a good balance of efficient travel and more leisurely cruising.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.4 mi on US 56.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 15.7 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 382.9 miles you will encounter 18 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 70 / Kansas Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,885 ft841 ft
Total Climb
2,348 ft
Total Descent
304 ft
Highest Point
2,885 ft
~382.9 mi in
Elevation Range
2,044 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 Holcomb, KS, road signs point toward Salina, Ellsworth and Great Bend.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 16m. Total distance: 382.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 16m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 118.4 miles on US 56. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.06 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 24 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Holcomb, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 70 / 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Holcomb, KS before the return drive.
