Spanning 187.6 miles across the Kansas Great Plains, this cross-state journey takes approximately 3 hours and 48 minutes to complete. It is an ideal one-day trip, allowing you to comfortably reach Pittsburg from Newton without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget roughly $28 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating this route involves a mix of thoroughfares, including the Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway, the Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway, and KS 196/Northwest 90th Street. Because both your origin and destination sit within the Great Plains, you can expect a consistent regional landscape throughout the drive.
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
93.8 miles from Newton, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
70.6 mi
1h 22m
Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway
61.1 mi
1h 10m
KS 196/Northwest 90th Street
18.9 mi
21m
KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street
9.6 mi
11m
South Main Street
9.2 mi
11m
US 69
5.4 mi
7m
KS 15
5.3 mi
6m
West Central Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
— 70.6 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newton, KS and Pittsburg, KS.
1
Start on KS 15
65 ft·30 sec·North Main Street
2
Continue on KS 15
0.5 mi·1 min·North Main Street
3
Turn straight onto KS 15
0.9 mi·1 min·Washington Road
4
Continue on KS 15
0.3 mi·43 sec·South Kansas Avenue
5
Take the ramp onto KS 15
0.5 mi·1 min·KS 15
Toward US 50 East, KS 15 South: Wichita, Emporia
6
Keep slight right at fork onto KS 15
4.8 mi·4 min·KS 15
Toward I 135 South, US 81 South, KS 15 South: WichitaUse the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward KS 196: Whitewater, El Dorado
8
Turn left onto KS 196
9.6 mi·11 min·KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street
9
Continue on KS 196
19 mi·21 min·KS 196/Northwest 90th Street
10
Continue on KS 196
444 ft·14 sec·Northwest State Road 196
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
12
Merge onto KS 254
0.9 mi·1 min·Southwest 20th Street
13
Continue on KS 254
2.3 mi·4 min·West Central Avenue
14
Turn right onto South Denver Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Denver Street
15
Turn left onto West Kansas Avenue
0.4 mi·56 sec·West Kansas Avenue
16
Turn right onto US 54; US 77
9.2 mi·11 min·South Main Street
17
Turn left onto Southeast 100th Street
0.3 mi·23 sec·Southeast 100th Street
18
Turn left onto US 400
61 mi·1 hr 10 min·Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway
19
Enter roundabout onto US 400
157 ft·2 sec·Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
20
Continue on US 400
71 mi·1 hr 22 min·Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn left onto US 69; US 160
5.4 mi·7 min·US 69; US 160
22
Turn right onto KS 126
1.0 mi·1 min·West 4th Street
23
Turn right onto US 69 Business
66 ft·2 sec·North Broadway Street
24
Arrive at destination
US 69 Business
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward day trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Plan for at least one stop to break up the nearly four-hour duration, especially given the turn-heavy nature of the route. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the longer 70.6-mile stretch on the Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway to ensure you maintain your $28 budget comfortably. Because the majority of your travel occurs on local roads rather than major interstates, prioritize daylight driving to better manage the frequent turns and transitions. Taking advantage of the route's inherent flexibility allows you to pace your stops based on your personal energy levels rather than rigid highway exits.
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 93.8 miles from Newton, KS, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.6 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 41 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.8 miles or 1h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pittsburg, 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 187.6 miles and 3h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway for about 70.6 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 39.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.7 mi into trip|~4m in|KS 15
Take the ramp onto KS 15 toward US 50 East, KS 15 South: Wichita, Emporia
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50 East, KS 15 South: Wichita, Empori...
8
2.2 mi into trip|~5m in|KS 15
Keep slight right at fork onto KS 15 toward I 135 South, US 81 South, KS 15 South: Wichita
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 135 South, US 81 South, KS 15 South: W...
5
7 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit toward KS 196: Whitewater, El Dorado
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KS 196: Whitewater, El Dorado
4
35.8 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
39.3 mi into trip|~51m in|South Denver Street
Turn right onto South Denver Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.33 one way
$58.66 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$32.20
$64.40
premium
$4.89
$36.10
$72.20
diesel
$5.61
$41.42
$82.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.3
0
$19.70
$9.00
Efficient EV
46.9
0
$16.42
$7.50
EV Truck/SUV
75
0
$26.26
$12.01
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Night
in Newton on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pittsburg, KS
Night
in Pittsburg on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Fredonia, KS
94 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
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 48m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous cruise on a straight interstate. With only 21% of the trip spent on highways, you will spend most of your time navigating local roads that offer a more hands-on driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 70.6 miles along the Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway, which provides the most consistent pace of the entire trek. As you transition between the various designated highways and local streets, the rhythm of the drive shifts frequently. Prepare for a road character that favors winding local navigation over high-speed highway transit.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.6 mi on Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near KS 15.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 48m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (KS 15): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.2 miles (KS 15): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The longest stretch is about 70.6 miles on Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 1.7 miles (KS 15): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.2 miles (KS 15): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Pittsburg, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
