Spanning 199.8 miles across the Kansas Great Plains, this drive typically takes about 3 hours and 35 minutes to complete. Because the duration is quite manageable, you can easily handle this as a single-day trip without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily rely on I-35 for the majority of the journey before transitioning onto West 71st Street South and South 135th Street West. With an estimated fuel cost of $30, it is a budget-friendly way to cross the state. Whether you are traveling for business or visiting family, the direct nature of this route makes it a straightforward choice for those looking to reach Clearwater 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
99.9 miles from Lenexa, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
184.5 mi
3h 7m
West 71st Street South
7 mi
9m
South 135th Street West
3.3 mi
5m
East Grand Avenue
2 mi
4m
North 4th Street
0.7 mi
1m
East Ross Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Lenexa Drive
0.3 mi
1m
East 71st Street South
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 184.5 mi, about 3h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lenexa, KS and Clearwater, 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: WichitaUse the straight / left lanes.
8
Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 169
1.7 mi·1 min·I 35; US 56; US 169
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on I 35; US 50; US 56; US 169
37 mi·39 min·I 35; US 50; US 56; US 169
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on I 35; US 50; US 59
146 mi·2 hr 26 min·I 35; US 50; US 59
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 39Toward US 81: Haysville, Derby
12
Turn right
0.4 mi·46 sec
13
Continue on this road
444 ft·16 sec·this road
14
Turn left onto East 71st Street South
0.3 mi·39 sec·East 71st Street South
15
Continue on East Grand Avenue
2.0 mi·4 min·East Grand Avenue
16
Continue on West 71st Street South
7.0 mi·9 min·West 71st Street South
17
Turn left onto South 135th Street West
3.3 mi·5 min·South 135th Street West
18
Continue on North 4th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North 4th Street
19
Turn right onto East Ross Avenue
0.4 mi·50 sec·East Ross Avenue
20
Turn left onto South Lee Avenue
0.1 mi·35 sec·South Lee Avenue
21
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
48 ft·2 sec·East Kansas Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
East Kansas Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and break up the 3-hour and 35-minute drive, especially since the longest stretch on I-35 spans nearly 185 miles. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving the interstate, as transitioning to the local roads of West 71st Street South and South 135th Street West may offer fewer service options. By budgeting your $30 fuel cost ahead of time, you can focus on a stress-free arrival in Clearwater. Because the route is so highway-dependent, try to avoid peak commuting hours if your travel plans allow, ensuring a smoother transition when you eventually exit the main interstate.
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 99.9 miles from Lenexa, KS, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 184.5 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 44 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.9 miles or 1h 44m 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 48m
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 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 199.8 miles and 3h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 I 35 for about 184.5 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 185.3 — 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
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...
5
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|I 35; US 56; US 169
Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 169
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
185.3 mi into trip|~3h 10m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.24 one way
$62.47 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$34.30
$68.59
premium
$4.89
$38.45
$76.90
diesel
$5.61
$44.11
$88.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.9
0
$20.98
$9.59
Efficient EV
50
0
$17.48
$7.99
EV Truck/SUV
79.9
0
$27.97
$12.79
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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 12, 2026
Origin
Lenexa, KS
Late night
in Lenexa on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms
S 14 to 17 mph95% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 6:42AM CDT until April 13 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 6:23AM CDT until April 12 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS
Destination
Clearwater, KS
Late night
in Clearwater on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 15 to 22 mph41% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 6:42AM CDT until April 13 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 6:23AM CDT until April 12 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS
66°F
Eureka, KS
100 mi in
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
8 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 35m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 92% of this trip is spent on high-speed roads. The vast majority of your time behind the wheel will be spent on a 184.5-mile stretch along I-35, which serves as the backbone of your journey. This long, uninterrupted segment allows you to settle into a steady rhythm as you navigate the open plains. Once you exit the interstate, the character of the drive shifts as you move onto local roads to reach your final destination. It is a functional and efficient drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 184.5 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and West 71st Street South. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 35m 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Lenexa Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,529 ft954 ft
Total Climb
727 ft
Total Descent
473 ft
Highest Point
1,529 ft
~116.6 mi in
Elevation Range
575 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 Lenexa, KS to Clearwater, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Derby along the way.
The longest stretch is about 184.5 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Clearwater, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
