Spanning 369.4 miles across the Great Plains, this cross-Kansas journey takes roughly 6 hours and 21 minutes of drive time. You will navigate a combination of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, and KS 10 to reach Colby from Lenexa. Budgeting approximately $56 for fuel is a smart move for this trek. Because the total duration is manageable within a single day, this trip works well as a straightforward day drive. You will remain within the Great Plains throughout the entire journey, ensuring a consistent landscape from start to finish.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
184.7 miles from Lenexa, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
220.8 mi
3h 40m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
91.6 mi
1h 34m
KS 10
36.7 mi
40m
Kansas Turnpike
14.3 mi
14m
South Range Avenue
2.1 mi
4m
I 35
0.9 mi
<1m
Lenexa Drive
0.3 mi
1m
West 95th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 220.8 mi, about 3h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lenexa, KS and Colby, 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
0.9 mi·59 sec·I 35; US 56; US 169
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 222BToward I 435 West, KS 10 WestUse 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: LawrenceUse 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 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.
Planning for a single stop will help you break up the 6-hour and 21-minute duration, keeping you fresh behind the wheel. Since this is a turn-heavy route, try to depart early in the morning to navigate the more technical local segments while your energy levels are highest. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the long 220.8-mile stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, as services may be spaced out. Use the flexibility of a one-day timeline to your advantage by pacing your breaks to match your personal comfort. Given the $56 fuel estimate, filling up before hitting the longer highway sections is a practical way to avoid mid-trip stress.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 184.7 miles from Lenexa, KS, or about 3h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 220.8 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 81 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 184.7 miles or 3h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colby, 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 369.4 miles and 6h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 220.8 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 16
5 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 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.75 one way
$115.50 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg129 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$63.41
$126.82
premium
$4.89
$71.09
$142.18
diesel
$5.61
$81.56
$163.12
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
$58
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
110.8
1
$38.79
$17.73
Efficient EV
92.4
1
$32.32
$14.78
EV Truck/SUV
147.8
1
$51.72
$23.64
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 13, 2026
Origin
Lenexa, KS
Evening
in Lenexa on Saturday
Local time
8:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Cloudy
SSW 10 to 14 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 8:52PM CDT until April 14 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 8:52PM CDT until April 13 at 1:08PM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Destination
Colby, KS
Evening
in Colby on Saturday
Local time
8:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
80°F
Manhattan, KS
185 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
18 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
6h 21m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 mix of driving conditions that shifts from turn-heavy local roads to high-speed transit. With only 14% of the route on primary highways, you should prepare for a varied driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate grind. Your focus will be tested during the longest uninterrupted stretch, which covers 220.8 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This transition from local backroads to major highway corridors keeps the drive dynamic. Be ready to adjust your speed and attention as the road personality evolves over the course of the 369.4-mile trip.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 220.8 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 369.4 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,158 ft823 ft
Total Climb
2,522 ft
Total Descent
395 ft
Highest Point
3,158 ft
~369.4 mi in
Elevation Range
2,335 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 Colby, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.
Salina
53.6 mi in|~1h|via I 70
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 21m. Total distance: 369.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 21m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 220.8 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower 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.
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.
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 Colby, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Colby, KS before the return drive.
