Leawood, KS to Clay Center, KS is 164.1 miles and takes about 3 hours 8 minutes via Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway and KS 10, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, moving from the Kansas City metro area into more central Kansas. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads as you head northwest. With only one recommended stop and a drive under four hours, this is a straightforward, same-day excursion.
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
82 miles from Leawood, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
52.4 mi
54m
KS 10
36.7 mi
40m
Tuttle Creek Boulevard
15.2 mi
19m
Kansas Turnpike
14.3 mi
14m
Madison Road
9.1 mi
10m
KS 177
8.5 mi
10m
I 435
8.3 mi
9m
18th Road
7.8 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
— 52.4 mi, about 54m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,289 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,574
Quietest
2 AM
~86 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15×
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 Leawood, KS and Clay Center, KS.
1
Start on West 90th Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·West 90th Street
2
Turn right onto Lee Boulevard
0.7 mi·1 min·Lee Boulevard
3
Turn left onto West 95th Street
0.4 mi·53 sec·West 95th Street
4
Turn right onto State Line Road
1.3 mi·2 min·State Line Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·33 sec
6
Merge onto I 435; US 50
8.3 mi·9 min·I 435; US 50
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 1BToward KS 10 West: LawrenceUse the slight right lane.
8
Continue on KS 10
37 mi·40 min·KS 10
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
10
Merge onto I 70
13 mi·13 min·Kansas Turnpike
11
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.
Toward KS 18, KS 177, Tuttle Creek Boulevard, Fort Riley Boulevard
16
Continue on KS 177
0.2 mi·39 sec·Fort Riley Boulevard
17
Continue on Tuttle Creek Boulevard
5.7 mi·8 min·Tuttle Creek Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
18
Enter roundabout onto US 24
232 ft·2 sec·Tuttle Creek Boulevard
19
Continue on US 24
0.9 mi·1 min·Tuttle Creek Boulevard
20
Enter roundabout onto US 24
161 ft·1 sec·Tuttle Creek Boulevard
21
Continue on US 24
8.6 mi·10 min·Tuttle Creek Boulevard
22
Turn left onto US 24; US 77
9.1 mi·10 min·Madison Road
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto KS 82
4.0 mi·4 min·Cavalry Road
24
Turn left onto US 24
2.5 mi·2 min·Barton Road
25
Continue on US 24
7.8 mi·9 min·18th Road
26
Continue on US 24
0.9 mi·2 min·Crawford Street
27
Turn left onto KS 15
0.2 mi·27 sec·6th Street
28
Arrive at destination
KS 15
Trip Plan
For this short, 1-day trip of 164.1 miles, consider an early morning departure from Leawood to maximize your daylight. Since the drive is only about 3 hours and 8 minutes, you have flexibility with stops; however, planning one stop for fuel or a quick break is recommended. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $25, and service areas might be spaced out on the surface road portions. The longest stretch on the highway is 52.4 miles, so be aware of that segment before you reach the mixed highway and surface roads.
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 82 miles from Leawood, KS, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.4 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 36 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82 miles or 1h 32m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clay Center, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Leawood, 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 Leawood, KS
This is one driving day of about 164.1 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Leawood, 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 52.4 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 115.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.7 mi into trip|~6m in|I 435; US 50
Merge onto I 435; US 50
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
11 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward KS 10 West: Lawrence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1B
Toward KS 10 West: Lawrence
5
48.1 mi into trip|~56m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
8
62 mi into trip|~1h 11m 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
115.3 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Take the exit toward Manhattan, Council Grove
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Manhattan, Council Grove
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.28 one way
$54.57 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$29.72
$59.44
premium
$5.18
$33.49
$66.97
diesel
$5.35
$34.56
$69.13
Estimated Tolls: $0.72
Kansas Turnpike
(14.3 mi)$0.72
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
$27
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.2
0
$17.23
$7.88
Efficient EV
41
0
$14.36
$6.56
EV Truck/SUV
65.6
0
$22.97
$10.50
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 May 10, 2026
Origin
Leawood, KS
Afternoon
in Leawood on Wednesday
Local time
4:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNE 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Clay Center, KS
Afternoon
in Clay Center on Wednesday
Local time
4:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Mostly Sunny
NE 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
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 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 8m 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?
About 41% of this 164.1-mile route is on highways. You'll spend the longest continuous stretch, 52.4 miles, on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway before transitioning to KS 10. Expect to encounter more surface roads and potentially a denser exit pattern as you move from highway cruising into more local routes. The profile is mixed highway and surface, so be prepared for a change in driving conditions.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.4 mi on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 435; US 50.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 164.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 435; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,364 ft847 ft
Total Climb
965 ft
Total Descent
707 ft
Highest Point
1,364 ft
~152.3 mi in
Elevation Range
517 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Leawood, KS and Clay Center, KS, road signs point toward Salina, Manhattan and Council Grove.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 164.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.4 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.72 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 Clay Center, 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 2.7 miles (I 435; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Clay Center, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
