Lenexa, KS to Derby, KS is 186 miles and takes about 3h 15m via I 35, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward journey south. With a highway share of 96%, you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The recommended one-day trip is ideal for those looking for an efficient connection between these Kansas cities. If you're seeking a quick, no-fuss drive, this route fits the bill perfectly.
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
93 miles from Lenexa, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
178.9 mi
3h 2m
South Southeast Boulevard
5.1 mi
7m
North Baltimore Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Lenexa Drive
0.3 mi
1m
Turnpike Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
West 95th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Rosehill Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 178.9 mi, about 3h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lenexa, KS and Derby, 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
140 mi·2 hr 20 min·I 35; US 50; US 59
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward KS 15: Wichita K-15
12
Keep slight left at fork
149 ft·4 sec
13
Turn right onto Turnpike Drive
0.2 mi·19 sec·Turnpike Drive
14
At end of road, turn left onto KS 15
5.1 mi·7 min·South Southeast Boulevard
15
Continue on KS 15
0.4 mi·44 sec·North Baltimore Avenue
16
Turn left onto East Main Street
271 ft·17 sec·East Main Street
17
Turn left
121 ft·8 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 3h 15m duration, you can comfortably leave Lenexa any time of day and arrive in Derby with plenty of daylight remaining. The longest stretch without a major road change is nearly 179 miles on I 35, so plan your stops accordingly. With a fuel cost estimated at $29, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise, especially during that long interstate segment. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility; consider departing in the morning to enjoy your destination without feeling rushed.
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 93 miles from Lenexa, KS, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 178.9 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 41 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93 miles or 1h 37m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Derby, 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 186 miles and 3h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 178.9 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 186 — 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.
5
186 mi into trip|~3h 15m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.08 one way
$58.16 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.93
$63.86
premium
$4.89
$35.79
$71.59
diesel
$5.61
$41.07
$82.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.8
0
$19.53
$8.93
Efficient EV
46.5
0
$16.28
$7.44
EV Truck/SUV
74.4
0
$26.04
$11.90
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Lenexa, KS
Night
in Lenexa on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Derby, KS
Night
in Derby on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
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 15m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with a 96% highway share. Expect long stretches on I 35, including one uninterrupted segment of 178.9 miles. The character of the drive is primarily that of a swift interstate journey, connecting you directly from point A to point B. While the main roads include I 35, South Southeast Boulevard, and North Baltimore Avenue, the vast majority of your travel will be on the interstate.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 178.9 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and South Southeast Boulevard. 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 3h 15m drive. You will face about 12 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.
The longest stretch is about 178.9 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 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Derby, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
