Medicine Lodge to Shawnee is 286.8 miles and takes about 5h 33m via Kansas Turnpike and I 35, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains, offering a straightforward drive across Kansas. You'll primarily be on major highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day excursion. Expect a consistent, no-frills experience as you traverse the state.
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
143.4 miles from Medicine Lodge, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Kansas Turnpike
107.2 mi
1h 47m
I 35
101.7 mi
1h 45m
East Fowler Avenue
20.8 mi
30m
West 14th Street
15 mi
22m
West 10th Avenue
14.3 mi
21m
Hershey Highway
10.1 mi
15m
West 15th Street
6.3 mi
9m
US 160
6.1 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 107.2 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~751 veh/hr typical
· worst 979
Quietest
2 AM
~68 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Medicine Lodge, KS and Shawnee, KS.
1
Start on this road
66 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right
211 ft·20 sec
3
Turn left onto West Kansas Avenue
212 ft·11 sec·West Kansas Avenue
4
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.3 mi·53 sec·South Main Street
5
Turn left onto US 160
21 mi·30 min·East Fowler Avenue
6
Continue on US 160
10 mi·15 min·Hershey Highway
7
Turn left onto US 160; KS 2
2.9 mi·4 min·US 160; KS 2
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 160; KS 2
0.1 mi·13 sec·US 160; KS 2
9
Turn right onto US 160; KS 2
15 mi·22 min·West 14th Street
10
Continue on US 160
14 mi·21 min·West 10th Avenue
11
Continue on US 160
6.3 mi·9 min·West 15th Street
12
Turn left onto US 81; US 160
0.5 mi·1 min·North G Street
13
Turn right onto US 81; US 160
0.4 mi·39 sec·US 81; US 160
14
Enter roundabout onto US 160
110 ft·1 sec·US 160
15
Continue on US 160
3.1 mi·4 min·US 160
16
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·16 sec
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
18
Merge onto I 35
107 mi·1 hr 47 min·Kansas Turnpike
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
95 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 35
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on I 35; US 56; US 169
3.6 mi·4 min·I 35; US 56; US 169
Toward I 35 North, US 56 East, US 169 North: Des MoinesUse the straight lane.
21
Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 69; US 169
2.7 mi·3 min·I 35; US 56; US 69; US 169
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit onto US 56; US 69; US 169
0.2 mi·15 sec·US 56; US 69; US 169
Exit 228BToward US 56 East, US 69 North, US 169 North: Shawnee Mission ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight left at fork
106 ft·4 sec
Toward Shawnee Mission Parkway, ShawneeUse the left lane.
24
Turn left onto US 56; US 69; US 169
1.2 mi·2 min·Shawnee Mission Parkway
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn right onto Nieman Road
1.7 mi·3 min·Nieman Road
Use the right lane.
26
Turn left onto West 49th Terrace
0.3 mi·1 min·West 49th Terrace
27
Turn right onto Bond Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·Bond Street
28
Arrive at destination
Bond Street
Trip Plan
For this 286.8-mile drive, leaving in the morning is recommended to take advantage of the 5h 33m estimated travel time and arrive with plenty of daylight. With only one suggested stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $44, and while there's a significant 107.2-mile stretch on the Kansas Turnpike, planning your fuel stops before entering that long segment will be wise. This drive is easily manageable in a single day, so you can depart at your convenience.
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 143.4 miles from Medicine Lodge, KS, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.2 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 63 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.4 miles or 3h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shawnee, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Medicine Lodge, 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 Medicine Lodge, KS
This is one driving day of about 286.8 miles and 5h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Medicine Lodge, 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 Kansas Turnpike for about 107.2 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 70.8 and 284.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
70.8 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|US 160
Enter roundabout onto US 160
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
181.5 mi into trip|~3h 39m in|I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
283.2 mi into trip|~5h 25m in|US 56; US 69; US 169
Take the exit onto US 56; US 69; US 169 toward US 56 East, US 69 North, US 169 North: Shawnee Mission Parkway
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 228B
Toward US 56 East, US 69 North, US 169 North: S...
9
283.4 mi into trip|~5h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Shawnee Mission Parkway, Shawnee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Shawnee Mission Parkway, Shawnee
6
284.6 mi into trip|~5h 28m in|Nieman Road
Turn right onto Nieman Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.35 one way
$84.71 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$46.76
$93.51
premium
$4.72
$53.25
$106.50
diesel
$4.80
$54.15
$108.31
Estimated Tolls: $5.36
Kansas Turnpike
(107.2 mi)$5.36
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
$42
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86
1
$30.11
$13.77
Efficient EV
71.7
0
$25.10
$11.47
EV Truck/SUV
114.7
1
$40.15
$18.36
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Medicine Lodge, KS
Night
in Medicine Lodge on Saturday
Local time
10:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
S 7 to 13 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Shawnee, KS
Night
in Shawnee on Saturday
Local time
10:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
SSW 9 mph6% chanceLive forecast
74°F
Peabody, KS
143 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
2 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
5h 33m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 mostly highway, with 76% of the drive on roads like the Kansas Turnpike and I 35. You'll encounter a continuous stretch of 107.2 miles on the Kansas Turnpike, which means a long period of consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads like East Fowler Avenue will occur later in the drive, bringing a change in pace with more frequent intersections.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.2 mi on Kansas Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 70.8 miles in near US 160.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 286.8 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 70.8 miles (US 160): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 181.5 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 283.2 miles (US 56; US 69; US 169): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 33m. Total distance: 286.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 107.2 miles on Kansas Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.36 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.
Yes — we found about 11 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Shawnee, 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. There are 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 70.8 miles (US 160): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 181.5 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 283.2 miles (US 56; US 69; US 169): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Shawnee, KS before the return drive.
