Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Leawood, KS to Clearwater, KS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 47m
Distance
208 mi
335 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 35m
★
6 AM
3h 48m
8 AM
4h 13m
10 AM
3h 57m
12 PM
3h 54m
3 PM
3h 58m
5 PM
4h 12m
8 PM
3h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Leawood, KS
Спиридон Варфаламеев
Clearwater, KS
Tien Nguyen
Trip Overview
Leawood, KS to Clearwater, KS is 208 miles and takes about 3h 47m via US 50, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a single-day trip that stays within the Great Plains region, starting and ending in Kansas. The route is predominantly highway, making it a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a good option for a quick transit or a focused journey across the state.
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
104 miles from Leawood, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 50 | 183.9 mi | 3h 8m |
| West 71st Street South | 7 mi | 9m |
| I 435 | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| South 135th Street West | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| East Grand Avenue | 2 mi | 4m |
| State Line Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| North 4th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Lee Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 183.9 mi, about 3h 8m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~751 veh/hr typical · worst 979
Quietest
2 AM
~68 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Clearwater, 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
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
I 435; US 50
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 50
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 50
Exit 83
Toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita, Des Moines
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50
183 mi
·
3 hr 7 min
·
US 50
Toward I 35 South, US 50 West, US 56 West, US 169 South: Wichita
Use the slight left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 39
Toward US 81: Haysville, Derby
10
Turn right
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
11
Continue on this road
444 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
12
Turn left onto East 71st Street South
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
East 71st Street South
13
Continue on East Grand Avenue
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
East Grand Avenue
14
Continue on West 71st Street South
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
West 71st Street South
15
Turn left onto South 135th Street West
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
South 135th Street West
16
Continue on North 4th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North 4th Street
17
Turn right onto East Ross Avenue
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
East Ross Avenue
18
Turn left onto South Lee Avenue
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
South Lee Avenue
19
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Kansas Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
East Kansas Avenue
Trip Plan
This 3 hour and 47 minute drive is easily manageable in one day, so leaving in the morning gives you plenty of flexibility. Consider departing Leawood by mid-morning to avoid the busiest local traffic. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 183.9 miles on US 50, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you hit that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the latter half of the drive, as services can be more spread out in rural Kansas.
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 104 miles from Leawood, KS, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 183.9 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 46 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104 miles or 1h 51m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clearwater, 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 208 miles and 3h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 US 50 for about 183.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
104 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 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 104 miles from Leawood, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 50 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 183.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Matfield Green Service Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Towanda Service Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 194.2 — 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.
8
9.5 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
US 50
Take the exit onto US 50 toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 83
Toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita...
8
10 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 50
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50 toward I 35 South, US 50 West, US 56 West, US 169 South: Wichita
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35 South, US 50 West, US 56 West, US 1...
6
193.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 22m in
Take the exit toward US 81: Haysville, Derby
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 39
Toward US 81: Haysville, Derby
5
194.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 24m in
|
East 71st Street South
Turn left onto East 71st Street South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.58 one way
$69.16 round trip
$4.22/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $37.67 | $75.34 |
| premium | $5.18 | $42.44 | $84.89 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $43.81 | $87.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.4 | 0 | $21.84 | $9.98 |
| Efficient EV | 52 | 0 | $18.20 | $8.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.2 | 1 | $29.12 | $13.31 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Origin
Leawood, KS
Afternoon in Leawood on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
ESE 3 mph
16% chance
Live 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
Clearwater, KS
Afternoon in Clearwater on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Clear
NE 8 mph
2% chance
Live 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 47m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 92% of this 208-mile drive. Expect about 183.9 miles on US 50, which will likely feel like a long stretch of consistent cruising. The transition from highway to surface roads will happen towards the end of your trip. Given the high highway share, anticipate a predominantly rural or suburban driving environment with fewer complex intersections.
92% 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: 183.9 mi on US 50.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and West 71st Street South. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 435; US 50.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 47m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 9.5 miles (US 50): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10 miles (US 50): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,488 ft
942 ft
Total Climb
792 ft
Total Descent
448 ft
Highest Point
1,488 ft
~118.9 mi in
Elevation Range
546 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Leawood, KS to Clearwater, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Derby along the way.
Derby
193.5 mi in
|
~3h 22m
About the Cities
Starting in Leawood, KS
Full guide →Arriving in Clearwater, KS
Full guide →Founded 1870
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 47m. Total distance: 208 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 183.9 miles on US 50. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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 2.7 miles (I 435; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles (US 50): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10 miles (US 50): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Clearwater, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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