Spanning 197.9 miles, this drive from Minneapolis to Leawood takes approximately 3 hours and 1 minute to complete. Since the entire journey remains within the Great Plains region of Kansas, you will experience a consistent landscape across the state. Budgeting about $30 for fuel should cover your travel costs for this trip. Because of the manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a one-day excursion. With only one recommended stop, it is a straightforward trek that avoids the complexity of multi-day planning.
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
99 miles from Minneapolis, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Exit 75BToward State Line RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn left onto State Line Road
1.5 mi·3 min·State Line Road
Use the left lane.
22
Turn left onto West 95th Street
0.4 mi·57 sec·West 95th Street
23
Turn right onto Lee Boulevard
0.7 mi·1 min·Lee Boulevard
24
Turn left onto West 90th Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·West 90th Street
25
Arrive at destination
West 90th Street
Trip Plan
Given the total travel time of just over three hours, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and break up the turn-heavy nature of the local roads. Since you are not utilizing major highways, keep a close eye on your navigation system to ensure you stay on the correct path through the various turns. Budgeting for your $30 fuel cost ahead of time will keep your travel day stress-free. Utilizing the local roads allows you to remain flexible, so don't hesitate to pull over if you need a quick rest.
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 99 miles from Minneapolis, KS, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.3 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 44 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99 miles or 1h 41m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leawood, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Minneapolis, KS so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
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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 Minneapolis, KS
This is one driving day of about 197.9 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Minneapolis, 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 Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway for about 90.3 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 134.7 and 194.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
134.7 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
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
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
6
149.5 mi into trip|~2h 34m in
Take the exit toward KS 10: Lecompton, Lawrence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 197
Toward KS 10: Lecompton, Lawrence
7
186.4 mi into trip|~3h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 435 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 435 East
5
186.7 mi into trip|~3h 16m in|I 435
Merge onto I 435
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
194.9 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Take the exit toward State Line Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 75B
Toward State Line Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.94 one way
$61.88 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$33.97
$67.94
premium
$4.89
$38.08
$76.17
diesel
$5.61
$43.69
$87.39
Estimated Tolls: $0.70
Kansas Turnpike
(14 mi)$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
$31
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.4
0
$20.78
$9.50
Efficient EV
49.5
0
$17.32
$7.92
EV Truck/SUV
79.2
0
$27.71
$12.67
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Minneapolis, KS
Night
in Minneapolis on Saturday
Local time
10:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Leawood, KS
Night
in Leawood on Saturday
Local time
10:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 21 mph78% chanceLive 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
2 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
3h 33m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The path to equality has been anything but smooth. It's taken courage and dedication by everyday people coming together for a common goal to carry the country toward true equality. Parents, teachers,...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 129.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate via North Rock Street, East 1st Street, and South Rothsay Avenue, which keeps the experience focused on local roadways. This configuration requires more active engagement behind the wheel compared to a typical highway commute. Because the route relies entirely on local streets, you should prepare for a slower, more deliberate pace throughout the entire 197.9-mile journey.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.3 mi on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 134.7 miles in near I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway.
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 18 significant decision points across 197.9 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 134.7 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 149.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 186.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Minneapolis, KS and Leawood, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City and Lawrence.
Kansas City
134.7 mi in|~2h 19m|via I 70
Lawrence
149.5 mi in|~2h 34m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 33m. Total distance: 197.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.3 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.70 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 Leawood, 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 134.7 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 149.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 186.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Leawood, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
