Origin
Manhattan, KS
Late night in Manhattan on Tuesday
Local time
4:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Manhattan, KS to Hutchinson, 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
2h 23m
Distance
132 mi
212 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 13m
★
6 AM
2h 23m
8 AM
2h 43m
10 AM
2h 30m
12 PM
2h 28m
3 PM
2h 31m
5 PM
2h 42m
8 PM
2h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Manhattan, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Hutchinson, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Manhattan, KS to Hutchinson, KS is 132 miles and takes about 2h 23m via I 135, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward connection between two Kansas cities. With a 49% highway share, you'll experience a mix of faster travel and more local road driving. It's a short enough trip to complete in a single day, making it ideal for a quick visit or a travel day with plenty of time to explore your destination. Consider this route if you're looking for an uncomplicated journey through the heart of Kansas.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
66 miles from Manhattan, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 135 | 37.2 mi | 37m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 27.7 mi | 27m |
| US 81 Business | 25 mi | 27m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 24.2 mi | 24m |
| Fort Riley Boulevard | 12.9 mi | 15m |
| US 81 Bus | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| East 11th Avenue | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| South Manhattan Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 135
— 37.2 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manhattan, KS and Hutchinson, KS.
1
Start on Fremont Street
445 ft
·
27 sec
·
Fremont Street
2
Turn left onto North 11th Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
North 11th Street
3
Turn right onto Poyntz Avenue
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Poyntz Avenue
4
Turn left onto South Manhattan Avenue
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
South Manhattan Avenue
5
Turn right onto KS 18
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Fort Riley Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit onto KS 18
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
KS 18
Toward I-70 West, Salina
7
Merge onto I 70; US 40; KS 18
28 mi
·
27 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
24 mi
·
24 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 135 South, US 81 South: Wichita
10
Merge onto I 135; US 81
37 mi
·
37 min
·
I 135; US 81
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 81 Business, KS 61, McPherson, Hutchinson
12
Continue on US 81 Bus; KS 61
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 81 Bus; KS 61
13
Continue on US 81 Business; KS 61
25 mi
·
27 min
·
US 81 Business; KS 61
14
Turn right onto East 11th Avenue
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
East 11th Avenue
15
Turn left onto North Maple Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
North Maple Street
16
Turn right onto East 7th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
East 7th Avenue
17
Turn right
62 ft
·
4 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 23m duration and 132-mile distance, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize your daylight hours, especially if you plan to explore Hutchinson upon arrival. While the longest stretch without a significant change in road is 37.2 miles on I 135, there are no specified mandatory stops, giving you flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $21, and plan for any necessary breaks before embarking on the 37.2-mile segment on I 135 to ensure a smooth journey.
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 66 miles from Manhattan, KS, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.2 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 29 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66 miles or 1h 10m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hutchinson, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Manhattan, 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 Manhattan, KS
This is one driving day of about 132 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Manhattan, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 135 for about 37.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 66 miles from Manhattan, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 14.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 11th Street
Turn left onto North 11th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Poyntz Avenue
Turn right onto Poyntz Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
KS 18 / Fort Riley Boulevard
Turn right onto KS 18 / Fort Riley Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
13.8 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
KS 18
Take the exit onto KS 18 toward I-70 West, Salina
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 West, Salina
5
14.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 70; US 40; KS 18 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Merge onto I 70; US 40; KS 18 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.64 one way
$41.27 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.66 | $45.32 |
| premium | $4.89 | $25.40 | $50.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.14 | $58.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.6 | 0 | $13.86 | $6.34 |
| Efficient EV | 33 | 0 | $11.55 | $5.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.8 | 0 | $18.48 | $8.45 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Destination
Hutchinson, KS
Late night in Hutchinson on Tuesday
Local time
4:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°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
21 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 23m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is a mixed drive, with 49% of it on highways. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 37.2 miles on I 135, providing a period of steady, faster travel. As you navigate between I 135, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, and US 81 Business, expect variations in speed and road type. The drive transitions between more open highway segments and sections that may feel more integrated with local traffic. It’s a drive that keeps you engaged without being overly demanding, reflecting the character of the Kansas landscape.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.2 mi on I 135.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North 11th Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 23m 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: at 0.1 miles (North 11th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Poyntz Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (KS 18 / Fort Riley Boulevard): 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 Manhattan, KS and Hutchinson, KS, road signs point toward Salina and Mcpherson.
Salina
13.8 mi in
|
~18m
|
via KS 18
Mcpherson
103.4 mi in
|
~1h 48m
About the Cities
Starting in Manhattan, KS
Full guide →Manhattan is a college town in Kansas. It is the home of Kansas State University.
Arriving in Hutchinson, KS
Full guide →Hutchinson is a city in Central 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 2h 23m. Total distance: 132 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.2 miles on I 135. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 0.1 miles (North 11th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Poyntz Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (KS 18 / Fort Riley Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hutchinson, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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