Leavenworth, KS to Maize, KS is 203.8 miles and takes about 3h 38m via Kansas Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, taking you across the state of Kansas. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward drive. With a recommended single day of travel, this route is ideal for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
101.9 miles from Leavenworth, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Kansas Turnpike
153.2 mi
2h 33m
Southwest 20th Street
25.2 mi
27m
North Main Street
11.9 mi
16m
KS 96
6.2 mi
6m
South 4th Street
3.2 mi
6m
I 235
1.6 mi
1m
Spruce Street
0.6 mi
1m
West 53rd Street North
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 153.2 mi, about 2h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leavenworth, KS and Maize, 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 left at fork onto I 470
113 mi·1 hr 53 min·Kansas Turnpike
Toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, WichitaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward KS 254, KS 196: El Dorado
9
At end of road, turn right onto Boyer Road
137 ft·2 sec·Boyer Road
10
Turn right onto KS 254
25 mi·27 min·Southwest 20th Street
11
Continue on I 235; KS 96
1.6 mi·1 min·I 235; KS 96
12
Take the exit onto KS 96
0.3 mi·20 sec·KS 96
Exit 13Toward KS 96 West: HutchinsonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto KS 96
5.9 mi·6 min·KS 96
Toward KS 96, Hutchinson
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward 53rd Street, Maize Road
15
Turn left onto West 53rd Street North
0.2 mi·36 sec·West 53rd Street North
16
Turn left onto North Maize Road
0.1 mi·18 sec·North Maize Road
17
Turn right onto East Hickory Lane
0.1 mi·29 sec·East Hickory Lane
18
Turn right onto North Heather Lane
225 ft·15 sec·North Heather Lane
19
Turn left onto Harvest Lane
500 ft·22 sec·Harvest Lane
20
Arrive at destination
North Queen Street
Trip Plan
Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early commuter traffic in Leavenworth and give yourself ample daylight. Since this is a single-day drive, you have flexibility with stops; however, with a 3h 38m estimated duration, you'll likely only need one planned stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the long highway stretch, as services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $36 is a good starting point for budgeting.
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 101.9 miles from Leavenworth, KS, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 153.2 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 45 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.9 miles or 1h 50m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maize, 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 203.8 miles and 3h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 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 Kansas Turnpike for about 153.2 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.7 and 197 — 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 470 / Kansas Turnpike
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
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, Wichita
7
196.7 mi into trip|~3h 29m in|KS 96
Take the exit onto KS 96 toward KS 96 West: Hutchinson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13
Toward KS 96 West: Hutchinson
6
197 mi into trip|~3h 29m in|KS 96
Keep slight left at fork onto KS 96 toward KS 96, Hutchinson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KS 96, Hutchinson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.88 one way
$67.77 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$36.91
$73.82
premium
$5.18
$41.59
$83.17
diesel
$5.35
$42.93
$85.85
Estimated Tolls: $7.66
Kansas Turnpike
(153.2 mi)$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
$34
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.1
0
$21.40
$9.78
Efficient EV
51
0
$17.83
$8.15
EV Truck/SUV
81.5
1
$28.53
$13.04
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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
2:05 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
Maize, KS
Afternoon
in Maize on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
NE 7 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
1 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 38m 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?
This drive is mostly highway, with 79% of the route on major roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 153.2 miles on the Kansas Turnpike before transitioning to surface roads like Southwest 20th Street and North Main Street. Expect a consistent cruising experience with relatively few exits during the highway portion.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 153.2 mi on Kansas Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and Southwest 20th Street. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 15.7 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 203.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 470 / Kansas Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,531 ft986 ft
Total Climb
545 ft
Total Descent
161 ft
Highest Point
1,531 ft
~131 mi in
Elevation Range
545 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 Maize, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Wichita along the way.
Wichita
56.3 mi in|~1h 5m|via I 470
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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 3h 38m. Total distance: 203.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 153.2 miles on Kansas Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.66 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 6 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 Maize, 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 6 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 470 / 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 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Maize, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
