Origin
Leavenworth, KS
Night in Leavenworth on Saturday
Local time
11:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Leavenworth, KS to Kansas City, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
32.4 mi
52 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Leavenworth, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion through the Great Plains, the 32.4-mile trip from Leavenworth to Kansas City is an efficient option. Expect to spend about 45 minutes on the road, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day journey that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via North Main Street, South 4th Street, and the Kansas Turnpike to bridge these two Kansas locations. With a fuel budget of just $5, it is an extremely economical route for your travel plans. Since both cities are located within the same region, you can anticipate a consistent landscape throughout your transit. Ultimately, this straightforward connection offers a practical way to move between the two hubs without unnecessary complexity.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Turnpike | 13.7 mi | 14m |
| North Main Street | 12.3 mi | 16m |
| South 4th Street | 3.2 mi | 6m |
| South 7th Street Trafficway | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Spruce Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| US 24 | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| I 70 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| US 69 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 13.7 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leavenworth, KS and Kansas City, 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 East
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
14 mi
·
14 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69 North: Saint Louis
8
Take the exit onto US 69
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 69
Exit 422A
Toward US 69 North, US 169 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto US 69
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South 7th Street Trafficway
Toward US 69 North
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto Armstrong Avenue
282 ft
·
17 sec
·
Armstrong Avenue
11
Turn left
149 ft
·
10 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.2 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 16.1 and 30.8 — 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
16.6 mi into trip
|
~25m 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 / slight right lanes.
6
30.3 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69 toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69 North: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69...
9
30.6 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
US 69
Take the exit onto US 69 toward US 69 North, US 169 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 422A
Toward US 69 North, US 169 South
5
30.8 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
US 69 / South 7th Street Trafficway
Turn left onto US 69 / South 7th Street Trafficway toward US 69 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 69 North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.07 one way
$10.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.56 | $11.12 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.24 | $12.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.15 | $14.31 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.69
Kansas Turnpike
(13.7 mi)
$0.69
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.40 | $1.56 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.07 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Kansas City, KS
Night in Kansas City on Saturday
Local time
11:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
25 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
45m 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 32.4-mile stretch offers a mixed driving profile that keeps you moving through both local streets and faster segments. About 45% of your travel occurs on highways, which helps maintain a steady pace as you transition between the cities. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch along the Kansas Turnpike, covering 13.7 miles of the total distance. Navigating the transition from South 4th Street to the turnpike changes the feel of the drive from local urban traffic to a more open, high-speed environment. It is a functional drive that balances the pace of a commute with the efficiency of a major thoroughfare.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.7 mi on Kansas Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 16.1 miles in near US 24; US 40.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 32.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 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 16.6 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.3 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 32.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.7 miles on Kansas Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.69 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 Kansas City, 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 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 16.6 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.3 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kansas City, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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