Traveling from Lenexa to Baxter Springs covers 138.7 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 39 minutes. Since this journey stays entirely within the Great Plains, you can expect a consistent landscape as you travel south through Kansas. It is a straightforward trip that works perfectly as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stay. Budget approximately $21 for fuel to cover the distance. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick change of scenery, the route is manageable and efficient, making it a stress-free option for your weekend plans.
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
69.3 miles from Lenexa, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Overland Parkway
106.8 mi
1h 55m
West Atkinson Road
18.7 mi
23m
US 69 Alternate
9.6 mi
12m
US Historic 66
1.8 mi
2m
West 95th Street
1.1 mi
2m
Lenexa Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Rosehill Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
US 69
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Overland Parkway
— 106.8 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lenexa, KS and Baxter Springs, 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
0.2 mi·50 sec·Lenexa Drive
5
At end of road, turn right onto West 95th Street
1.1 mi·2 min·West 95th Street
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward US 69 South: Fort ScottUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto US 69
107 mi·1 hr 55 min·Overland Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto US 69
319 ft·8 sec·US 69
9
Merge onto US 69; US 160
19 mi·23 min·West Atkinson Road
10
Continue on US 69 Alternate; US 400
7.4 mi·8 min·US 69 Alternate; US 400
11
Enter roundabout onto US Historic 66; US 69 Alternate; US 400; KS 66
154 ft·2 sec·US Historic 66; US 69 Alternate; US 400; KS 66
12
Continue on US Historic 66; US 69 Alternate; US 400; KS 66
1.8 mi·2 min·US Historic 66; US 69 Alternate; US 400; KS 66
13
Continue on US 69 Alternate; US Historic 66; KS 66
2.2 mi·3 min·US 69 Alternate; US Historic 66; KS 66
14
Turn right onto US 166
50 ft·0 sec·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
US 166
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs during the 138.7-mile trek. Because the route relies heavily on major highways, monitor your fuel levels before leaving Lenexa to avoid unnecessary detours in smaller towns. Departing in the morning gives you the most flexibility to manage the 2 hour and 39 minute duration without feeling rushed. Since this is a relatively short trip, use your one recommended stop to break up the long 106.8-mile stretch on Overland Parkway. Staying alert during these high-speed sections is the best way to ensure a safe arrival in Baxter Springs.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.3 miles from Lenexa, KS, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.8 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 31 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.3 miles or 1h 18m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Baxter Springs, 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.
+
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 Lenexa, KS
This is one driving day of about 138.7 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Lenexa, 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 Overland Parkway for about 106.8 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 138.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Lenexa Drive
Turn right onto Lenexa Drive
Navigation decision point
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|West 95th Street
At end of road, turn right onto West 95th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.5 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward US 69 South: Fort Scott
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 69 South: Fort Scott
6
138.6 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|US 166 / West 12th Street
Turn right onto US 166 / West 12th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.68 one way
$43.37 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.81
$47.62
premium
$4.89
$26.69
$53.38
diesel
$5.61
$30.62
$61.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.6
0
$14.56
$6.66
Efficient EV
34.7
0
$12.14
$5.55
EV Truck/SUV
55.5
0
$19.42
$8.88
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Lenexa, KS
Late night
in Lenexa on Tuesday
Local time
3:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 20 mph82% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Baxter Springs, KS
Late night
in Baxter Springs on Tuesday
Local time
3:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
9 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
2h 39m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive is dominated by fast, open stretches, with 84% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will navigate via Overland Parkway, West Atkinson Road, and US 69 Alternate, which keep the momentum high throughout the trip. Prepare for a significant 106.8-mile stretch on Overland Parkway, which accounts for the bulk of your time behind the wheel. The road personality leans toward a utilitarian, efficient transit rather than a winding backroads tour. By staying primarily on major thoroughfares, you maintain a steady pace as you transition from the northern part of the state toward the southern border.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 106.8 mi on Overland Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Overland Parkway and West Atkinson Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 39m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Lenexa Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (West 95th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Baxter Springs population 4250, is a city on historic Route 66 in Southeastern Kansas. During the US Civil War, it briefly hosted a US fortress (Fort Baxter, aka Fort Blair, abandoned 1863) and was the site of the Baxter Springs Massacre battle.
Top landmarks
•Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Service Station — petrol station in Baxter Springs, Kansas
The longest stretch is about 106.8 miles on Overland Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Lenexa Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (West 95th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Baxter Springs, KS before heading back.
