Origin
Lenexa, KS
Late night in Lenexa on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lenexa, KS to Auburn, KS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 32m
Distance
73.1 mi
118 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 25m
★
6 AM
1h 33m
8 AM
1h 47m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 38m
5 PM
1h 46m
8 PM
1h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lenexa, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Auburn, KS
Tien Nguyen
Trip Overview
This 73.1-mile drive from Lenexa, KS to Auburn, KS is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 32 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, it's an economical option for a day trip. The route predominantly utilizes major roads, offering a consistent driving experience. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, making it a convenient choice if you're looking for a quick transit between these two points within the Great Plains region of Kansas. No overnight stops are necessary for this short distance.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.5 miles from Lenexa, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| KS 10 | 36.7 mi | 40m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 20.1 mi | 20m |
| Southwest 61st Street | 5 mi | 8m |
| Southwest Burlingame Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Southwest Auburn Road | 3 mi | 7m |
| I 35 | 0.9 mi | <1m |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Washington Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
KS 10
— 36.7 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lenexa, KS and Auburn, KS.
1
Start on this road
256 ft
·
20 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
71 ft
·
10 sec
3
Turn left onto Rosehill Road
500 ft
·
21 sec
·
Rosehill Road
4
Turn right onto Lenexa Drive
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Lenexa Drive
5
Continue on Lenexa Drive
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Lenexa Drive
6
Turn right onto West 95th Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
West 95th Street
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 35 South, US 56 West, US 169 South: Wichita
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 169
0.9 mi
·
59 sec
·
I 35; US 56; US 169
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 222B
Toward I 435 West, KS 10 West
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward KS 10 West: Lawrence
Use the slight left lane.
12
Continue on KS 10
37 mi
·
40 min
·
KS 10
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
14
Merge onto I 70
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 470
6.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, Wichita
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 470 West, US 75: Topeka, Salina
17
Continue on I 470
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward US 75 South
19
Keep slight left at fork
509 ft
·
14 sec
20
Turn left onto Southwest Burlingame Road
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Southwest Burlingame Road
21
Turn straight onto Southwest 61st Street
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Southwest 61st Street
22
Enter roundabout onto Southwest 61st Street
109 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 61st Street
23
Continue on Southwest 61st Street
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Southwest 61st Street
24
Turn left onto Southwest Auburn Road
3.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Southwest Auburn Road
25
Continue on North Washington Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Street
26
Turn left onto East 8th Street
34 ft
·
1 sec
·
East 8th Street
27
Arrive at destination
East 8th Street
Trip Plan
Given its short duration of just over 1.5 hours, this drive offers considerable flexibility. You can depart anytime that suits your schedule, and with no planned stops, you're free to go directly to your destination. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $11 for the 73.1 miles. A practical tip for this route is to be aware of potential traffic on KS 10, especially if traveling during peak commute times, as it can impact your 1 hour and 32-minute estimated travel time.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.5 miles from Lenexa, KS, or about 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.7 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 16 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.5 miles or 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lenexa, KS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lenexa, KS
This is one driving day of about 73.1 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Lenexa, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on KS 10 for about 36.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.5 miles from Lenexa, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 53.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 South, US 56 West, US 169 South: Wichita
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 35 South, US 56 West, US 169 South: Wi...
8
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I 435 West, KS 10 West
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 222B
Toward I 435 West, KS 10 West
6
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward KS 10 West: Lawrence
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward KS 10 West: Lawrence
8
53.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.43 one way
$22.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.55 | $25.10 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.07 | $28.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.14 | $32.28 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.00
Kansas Turnpike
(20.1 mi)
$1.00
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
$11
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.68 | $3.51 |
| Efficient EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.40 | $2.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.2 | 0 | $10.23 | $4.68 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Auburn, KS
Late night in Auburn on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live 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
3 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
1h 32m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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,...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 58
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for 79% of this 73.1-mile trip. The primary arteries guiding you include KS 10 and the Kansas Turnpike, with a brief segment on Southwest 61st Street. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 36.7 miles on KS 10, providing a good period of steady driving. This route doesn't present significant changes in road type; it's designed for efficiency and steady progress, characteristic of travel within the open landscapes of the Great Plains.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.7 mi on KS 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on KS 10 and Kansas Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.1 miles you will encounter 18 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 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Between Lenexa, KS and Auburn, KS, road signs point toward Wichita and Salina.
Wichita
53.6 mi in
|
~1h
|
via I 470
Salina
60.3 mi in
|
~1h 7m
About the Cities
Starting in Lenexa, KS
Full guide →Lenexa is a city in Eastern Kansas.
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 1h 32m. Total distance: 73.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m 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 36.7 miles on KS 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.00 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.
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 Auburn, KS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Auburn, KS before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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