Origin
Manhattan, KS
Late night in Manhattan on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 21m
Distance
124.7 mi
201 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Manhattan, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Leawood, KS
Спиридон Варфаламеев
Manhattan, KS to Leawood, KS is 124.7 miles and takes about 2h 21m via Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Kansas, traversing the Great Plains region. While mostly on surface roads, it does incorporate some highway driving, offering a relatively straightforward trip. Expect a quick transition between different road types, making this a convenient option for a same-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
62.3 miles from Manhattan, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 51.4 mi | 53m |
| South Lawrence Trafficway | 36.5 mi | 40m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 14 mi | 14m |
| Pillsbury Drive | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| I 435 | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| State Line Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Lee Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Manhattan, KS and Leawood, KS.
Start on Fremont Street
Turn right onto North 10th Street
Turn left onto Leavenworth Street
Turn right onto North Juliette Avenue
Turn left onto Pierre Street
Continue on Pillsbury Drive
Continue on KS 177
Take the exit
Merge onto I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
Continue on I 70
Take the exit
Turn right onto KS 10
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 435
Take the exit
Turn left onto State Line Road
Turn left onto West 95th Street
Turn right onto Lee Boulevard
Turn left onto West 90th Street
Arrive at destination
Since this is a manageable 1-day trip, you have flexibility with your departure time. Aim to leave Manhattan, KS in the morning to give yourself plenty of time to reach Leawood, KS. With a total drive time under 2.5 hours, you likely won't need extensive stops, but consider a brief break around the halfway point if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $20, and it's always wise to top off before embarking on the longer highway sections.
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.
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 27 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.3 miles or 1h 9m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leawood, KS than in the middle of the route.
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 124.7 miles and 2h 21m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
62 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.
A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 62.3 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 121.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Pierre Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I-70 East, Topeka
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway toward I-70 East, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 435 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward State Line Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$19.50 one way
$38.99 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $21.41 | $42.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $24.00 | $47.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.53 | $55.06 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.70
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
$20
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.4 | 0 | $13.09 | $5.99 |
| Efficient EV | 31.2 | 0 | $10.91 | $4.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49.9 | 0 | $17.46 | $7.98 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Manhattan on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Leawood on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
43°F
Reno, KS
62 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Your drive will spend about 18% of its total mileage on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway covering 51.4 miles. After that highway segment, you'll transition to mostly surface roads for the remainder of your trip. You'll notice a change from highway cruising to navigating more local traffic and intersections as you approach your destination.
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 0.7 miles in near Pierre Street.
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 124.7 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 0.7 miles (Pierre Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.5 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Manhattan, KS and Leawood, KS, road signs point toward Topeka, Kansas City and Lawrence.
Topeka
Kansas City
Lawrence
Manhattan is a college town in Kansas. It is the home of Kansas State University.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 21m. Total distance: 124.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Manhattan, KS or browse trips ending in Leawood, KS.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KS road trips.