Leavenworth, KS to Lindsborg, KS is 196.1 miles and takes about 3h 31m via Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway and Kansas Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive through Kansas. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a manageable distance for most drivers. You'll primarily be on well-maintained highways, making it a practical choice for a focused road trip.
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
98 miles from Leavenworth, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
For this 3h 31m drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with stops; plan for one break around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 91.6-mile stretch on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $31 is a helpful budgeting tool.
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 98 miles from Leavenworth, KS, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.6 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 43 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98 miles or 1h 48m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lindsborg, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Leavenworth, KS so your first major turns are already loaded.
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Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
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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 196.1 miles and 3h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway for about 91.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.7 and 190.8 — 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
173 mi into trip|~3h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 135 South, US 81 South: Wichita
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 135 South, US 81 South: Wichita
5
190.8 mi into trip|~3h 22m in|US 81 Business; KS 4
Take the exit onto US 81 Business; KS 4 toward KS 4, Lindsborg, Bridgeport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KS 4, Lindsborg, Bridgeport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.60 one way
$65.21 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$35.51
$71.03
premium
$5.18
$40.02
$80.03
diesel
$5.35
$41.30
$82.61
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
$33
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.8
0
$20.59
$9.41
Efficient EV
49
0
$17.16
$7.84
EV Truck/SUV
78.4
0
$27.45
$12.55
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Leavenworth, KS
Afternoon
in Leavenworth on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 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
Lindsborg, KS
Afternoon
in Lindsborg on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Patchy Fog
NE 3 mph0% 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
2 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
3h 31m 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.
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?
You'll spend about 32% of this 196.1-mile trip on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway covering 91.6 miles. This means you'll experience both highway cruising and surface road travel. Expect a mix of efficient travel and more local driving as you transition between the two.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91.6 mi on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway.
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 11 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 196.1 miles you will encounter 11 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
Mostly flat terrain
1,375 ft841 ft
Total Climb
925 ft
Total Descent
433 ft
Highest Point
1,375 ft
~112.1 mi in
Elevation Range
534 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Leavenworth, KS to Lindsborg, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.
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
Lindsborg is a city of 3,300 people (2020) in Kansas, in the United States of America. Settled by Swedish immigrants in the 1880s, Lindsborg is known as Little Sweden, USA.
Top landmarks
•Berquist & Nelson Drugstore Building — historic drugstore at 105 N. Main Street in Lindsborg, Kansas
•Rosberg-Holmgren-Clareen Block — building in Kansas, United States
•Swedish Pavilion — exhibition hall in Lindsborg, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 31m. Total distance: 196.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). 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 91.6 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. 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 17 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 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Lindsborg, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
