Origin
Newton, KS
Morning in Newton on Tuesday
Local time
9:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Newton, KS to Wichita, KS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
26.4 mi
43 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Newton, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Wichita, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel between Newton and Wichita, you are facing a straightforward 26.4-mile journey across the Kansas Great Plains. Expect to spend about 34 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect quick day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $4 for fuel should easily cover your transit costs for this short distance. Since you will be navigating strictly local roads rather than interstates, the pace is steady and predictable. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection between two neighboring communities that is well-suited for a simple afternoon excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| KS 15 | 22.6 mi | 25m |
| North Broadway Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Washington Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East 13th Street North | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.5 mi | 2m |
| South Kansas Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Central Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
KS 15
— 22.6 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newton, KS and Wichita, 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
22 mi
·
24 min
·
KS 15
Toward I 135 South, US 81 South, KS 15 South: Wichita
Use the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 8
Toward 13th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
521 ft
·
12 sec
Toward 13th Street
Use the left / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto East 13th Street North
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 13th Street North
10
Turn left onto North Broadway Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Broadway Street
11
Turn right onto East Central Avenue
368 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Central Avenue
12
Turn left onto North Market Street
358 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Market Street
13
Turn right
187 ft
·
13 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 26.3 — 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...
7
24.3 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward 13th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8
Toward 13th Street
8
24.4 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 13th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / slight right lanes.
Toward 13th Street
5
26.3 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
North Market Street
Turn left onto North Market Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.13 one way
$8.25 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.53 | $9.06 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.08 | $10.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.83 | $11.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.77 | $1.27 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.31 | $1.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Destination
Wichita, KS
Morning in Wichita on Tuesday
Local time
9:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
34m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Forget about monotonous interstate grinds; this route is a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged with the road. You will navigate via North Main Street, Washington Road, and South Kansas Avenue, which account for 0% of your time on major highways. Because this path relies entirely on local infrastructure, you should prepare for frequent turns rather than long, uninterrupted stretches. The drive offers a direct look at the regional landscape as you transition between these two Great Plains hubs. You will find that the road surface and traffic patterns remain consistent throughout the entire 26.4-mile span.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.6 mi on KS 15.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on KS 15 and North Broadway Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near KS 15.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 26.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.
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 24.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Newton, KS to Wichita, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Emporia along the way.
Emporia
1.7 mi in
|
~4m
|
via KS 15
About the Cities
Starting in Newton, KS
Full guide →Founded 1871
Newton is a city in Harvey County, Kansas.
Top landmarks
- • Newton station — train station in Newton, Kansas, US
Arriving in Wichita, KS
Full guide →Wichita is the largest city in Kansas — since Kansas City is divided between the states of Kansas and Missouri. It is not the biggest or flashiest city in the US, but it is a medium-sized city with a small-town feel. It offers much to tourists with its variety of attractions. === Tourist information === Visit Wichita website
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 26.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.6 miles on KS 15. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Wichita, KS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 24.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wichita, KS before heading back.
How this page is built
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.
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