Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 23m
Distance
191.3 mi
308 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Leavenworth, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Kechi, KS
Tien Nguyen
Leavenworth, KS to Kechi, KS is 191.3 miles and takes about 3h 23m via Kansas Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, taking you from eastern Kansas to the south-central part of the state. The majority of this drive is on the highway, making it a straightforward and efficient option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two points. Plan for a single day, as the driving time is manageable and there's only one recommended stop.
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
95.6 miles from Leavenworth, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Turnpike | 153.2 mi | 2h 33m |
| Southwest 20th Street | 20 mi | 21m |
| North Main Street | 11.9 mi | 16m |
| South 4th Street | 3.2 mi | 6m |
| Spruce Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East 61st Street North | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Kechi Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Boyer Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Leavenworth, KS and Kechi, KS.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn left onto KS 92
Turn right onto US 73; K-7
Continue on US 73; K-7
Turn left
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 470
Take the exit
At end of road, turn right onto Boyer Road
Turn right onto KS 254
Take the exit
Continue on Kechi Road
Continue on East 61st Street North
Arrive at destination
Given the 3h 23m duration and 191.3 miles, this is comfortably a one-day trip. To make the most of it, consider leaving Leavenworth in the morning to avoid any potential rush hour traffic. The Kansas Turnpike is your main artery for the bulk of the drive, so keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you approach the 153.2-mile mark. With only one stop recommended and a modest fuel cost around $28, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to take a break. As you near Kechi, be prepared for the shift from highway cruising to navigating local streets.
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.
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 42 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.6 miles or 1h 44m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kechi, KS than in the middle of the route.
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 191.3 miles and 3h 23m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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.
A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 95.6 miles from Leavenworth, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Kansas Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 153.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 169.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto KS 92 / Spruce Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left toward I 70 West: Topeka
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward KS 254, KS 196: El Dorado
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$28.25 one way
$56.50 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.14 | $31.19 | $62.38 |
| premium | $4.72 | $35.52 | $71.04 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $36.12 | $72.24 |
Estimated Tolls: $7.66
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
$28
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.4 | 0 | $20.09 | $9.18 |
| Efficient EV | 47.8 | 0 | $16.74 | $7.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.5 | 0 | $26.78 | $12.24 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Leavenworth on Sunday
Local time
1:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Kechi on Sunday
Local time
1:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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.
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 80% of the 191.3 miles on roads like the Kansas Turnpike. You'll experience the longest continuous stretch of highway at 153.2 miles on the Kansas Turnpike. After this long highway segment, you'll transition to surface streets like Southwest 20th Street and North Main Street as you approach your destination. Expect a more urban feel with denser exits as you get closer to Kechi.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and Southwest 20th 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.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 23m 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 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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
773 ft
Total Descent
232 ft
Highest Point
1,460 ft
~150.3 mi in
Elevation Range
619 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Leavenworth, KS to Kechi, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Wichita along the way.
Wichita
Founded 1854
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 23m. Total distance: 191.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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