Spanning 178.9 miles across the Kansas Great Plains, this route from Newton to Atchison is a manageable trek that typically takes about 3 hours and 26 minutes to complete. You should budget approximately $27 for fuel, making this an affordable journey for a solo traveler or a small group. Because the total drive time is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day trip, though you are welcome to spend the night in Atchison to extend your visit. Navigating this path involves transitioning through local thoroughfares like East 5th Street, North Oak Street, and East Broadway Street rather than major interstates. It is an ideal option if you prefer a steady, ground-level pace over the monotony of high-speed highway travel.
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
89.4 miles from Newton, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 50
69 mi
1h 21m
Kansas Turnpike
54.5 mi
54m
Northeast Sherman Road
29.4 mi
33m
US 59
14.7 mi
16m
Oakland Expressway
3.9 mi
4m
East Broadway Street
1.1 mi
3m
Main Street
1 mi
1m
KS 4
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 69 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newton, KS and Atchison, KS.
1
Start on KS 15
286 ft·16 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn right onto East 5th Street
391 ft·17 sec·East 5th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on North Oak Street
0.2 mi·47 sec·North Oak Street
4
Turn right onto East Broadway Street
1.1 mi·3 min·East Broadway Street
5
Enter roundabout
330 ft·6 sec
6
Continue
0.3 mi·33 sec
7
Merge onto I 135; US 50; US 81
0.5 mi·30 sec·I 135; US 50; US 81
8
Take the exit onto US 50
26 mi·31 min·US 50
Exit 33Toward US 50: Peabody, Emporia
9
Enter roundabout onto US 50
213 ft·9 sec·US 50
Toward US 50 East: Emporia
10
Continue on US 50
43 mi·50 min·US 50
Toward US 50 East: Emporia
11
Enter roundabout
364 ft·4 sec
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
12
Continue
0.2 mi·10 sec
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
13
Enter roundabout
440 ft·5 sec
Toward I 35 South: Wichita, Topeka
14
Continue
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 35 South: Wichita, Topeka
15
Merge onto I 35
0.1 mi·10 sec·I 35
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 335 North: Topeka, Kansas City
17
Merge onto I 335
55 mi·54 min·Kansas Turnpike
18
Take the exit
0.7 mi·48 sec
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West, KS 4 West: Topeka, Valley Falls
19
Continue on this road
0.6 mi·40 sec·this road
20
Keep slight left at fork
459 ft·11 sec
21
Merge onto US 40; KS 4
3.9 mi·4 min·Oakland Expressway
22
Take the exit onto KS 4
0.6 mi·51 sec·KS 4
23
Take the exit onto KS 4
0.3 mi·40 sec·KS 4
24
Turn left onto KS 4
29 mi·33 min·Northeast Sherman Road
25
Continue on US 59
15 mi·16 min·US 59
26
Turn left onto US 73
0.1 mi·12 sec·South 22nd Street
27
Turn right onto Woodlawn Avenue
0.4 mi·46 sec·Woodlawn Avenue
28
Keep slight right at fork
472 ft·9 sec
29
Turn slight right onto Main Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
30
Turn left onto South 10th Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·South 10th Street
31
Turn right onto Kansas Avenue
0.3 mi·44 sec·Kansas Avenue
32
Arrive at destination
Kansas Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy local drive, aim to depart during daylight hours to ensure you can navigate the local intersections with ease. Planning for at least one stop along the way will help you break up the 3-hour and 26-minute duration and keep your focus sharp. Given the $27 fuel estimate, filling your tank before you leave Newton is a smart way to avoid searching for stations on smaller, unfamiliar roads. Because the route is entirely local, stay alert for changing speed limits as you pass through various municipal areas. Embracing the flexibility of this shorter drive allows you to set your own pace and enjoy the local scenery at your leisure.
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 89.4 miles from Newton, KS, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69 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 39 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.4 miles or 1h 46m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atchison, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Newton, 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 Newton, KS
This is one driving day of about 178.9 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Newton, 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 US 50 for about 69 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 71.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East 5th Street
Turn right onto East 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
2.2 mi into trip|~5m in|US 50
Take the exit onto US 50 toward US 50: Peabody, Emporia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 33
Toward US 50: Peabody, Emporia
6
71.3 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Enter roundabout toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
7
71.5 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Enter roundabout toward I 35 South: Wichita, Topeka
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South: Wichita, Topeka
6
71.9 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward I 335 North: Topeka, Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 335 North: Topeka, Kansas City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.97 one way
$55.94 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.71
$61.42
premium
$4.89
$34.43
$68.86
diesel
$5.61
$39.50
$79.00
Estimated Tolls: $2.73
Kansas Turnpike
(54.5 mi)$2.73
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
$28
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.7
0
$18.78
$8.59
Efficient EV
44.7
0
$15.65
$7.16
EV Truck/SUV
71.6
0
$25.05
$11.45
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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 15, 2026
Origin
Newton, KS
Late night
in Newton on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Atchison, KS
Late night
in Atchison on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°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
22 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 26m 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.
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,...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 123.4
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 that demands your full attention as you navigate away from the typical interstate experience. With a highway share of 0%, this route relies entirely on local roads, offering a more intimate look at the Kansas landscape as you transition between towns. You will find that the personality of the road remains consistent, favoring winding local paths over straight, high-speed corridors. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, you will need to be comfortable with frequent turns and varying road conditions. The lack of major highway segments ensures that your focus remains on the local surroundings throughout the duration of your trip.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69 mi on US 50.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and Kansas Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 5th Street.
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 24 significant decision points across 178.9 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 0.1 miles (East 5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (US 50): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Newton, KS and Atchison, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka and Valley Falls.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 26m. Total distance: 178.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69 miles on US 50. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.73 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 Atchison, 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 0.1 miles (East 5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (US 50): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Atchison, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
