If you are looking to head south through the Great Plains, the 138.5-mile journey from Overland Park to Baxter Springs is a straightforward excursion. You should plan for a total drive time of approximately 2 hours and 41 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate sprint, you can easily complete the entire trip in a single day. Budgeting about $21 for fuel will cover your gas costs for the duration of the trip. Since you will be sticking to local roads like Metcalf Avenue and Marty Street, this route offers a more intimate look at the Kansas landscape compared to major highways. It is a manageable distance for a day trip, giving you plenty of flexibility to explore once you arrive.
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
69.2 miles from Overland Park, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 69
102.2 mi
1h 50m
West Atkinson Road
18.7 mi
23m
US 69 Alternate
9.6 mi
12m
Metcalf Avenue
4.5 mi
8m
US Historic 66
1.8 mi
2m
Blue Valley Parkway
0.7 mi
1m
Marty Street
0.2 mi
<1m
West 81st Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 69
— 102.2 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Overland Park, KS and Baxter Springs, KS.
1
Start on this road
134 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto West 81st Street
182 ft·9 sec·West 81st Street
3
Turn right onto Marty Street
0.2 mi·55 sec·Marty Street
4
Turn right onto Metcalf Avenue
4.5 mi·8 min·Metcalf Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn straight onto Blue Valley Parkway
0.7 mi·1 min·Blue Valley Parkway
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·15 sec·this road
Toward US 69 South: Fort ScottUse the left / straight lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·17 sec
Toward US 69 South: Fort ScottUse the straight lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·36 sec
9
Merge onto US 69
102 mi·1 hr 50 min·US 69
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto US 69
319 ft·8 sec·US 69
11
Merge onto US 69; US 160
19 mi·23 min·West Atkinson Road
12
Continue on US 69 Alternate; US 400
7.4 mi·8 min·US 69 Alternate; US 400
13
Enter roundabout onto US Historic 66; US 69 Alternate; US 400; KS 66
154 ft·2 sec·US Historic 66; US 69 Alternate; US 400; KS 66
14
Continue on US Historic 66; US 69 Alternate; US 400; KS 66
1.8 mi·2 min·US Historic 66; US 69 Alternate; US 400; KS 66
15
Continue on US 69 Alternate; US Historic 66; KS 66
2.2 mi·3 min·US 69 Alternate; US Historic 66; KS 66
16
Turn right onto US 166
50 ft·0 sec·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Arrive at destination
US 166
Trip Plan
Because this drive is entirely local and features many turns, it is best to depart during daylight hours when visibility is high and navigation is easier. With only one recommended stop planned, you have the freedom to pace yourself and pull over whenever you need to stretch your legs or grab a quick snack. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $21 budget assumes a steady pace, and local traffic could impact your consumption. Since you aren't tied to any major highway systems, use your navigation tools to stay alert for turn-by-turn prompts on Metcalf Avenue and Marty Street. Embracing the flexibility of this short trip will ensure you arrive in Baxter Springs without the fatigue of a long-distance highway commute.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.2 miles from Overland Park, KS, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.2 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 30 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.2 miles or 1h 20m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Baxter Springs, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Overland Park, 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 Overland Park, KS
This is one driving day of about 138.5 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Overland Park, 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 69 for about 102.2 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 138.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West 81st Street
Turn right onto West 81st Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|Metcalf Avenue
Turn right onto Metcalf Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
5.7 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the ramp toward US 69 South: Fort Scott
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 69 South: Fort Scott
5
6.3 mi into trip|~12m in|US 69
Merge onto US 69
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
138.5 mi into trip|~2h 41m in|US 166 / West 12th Street
Turn right onto US 166 / West 12th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.65 one way
$43.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.77
$47.55
premium
$4.89
$26.65
$53.31
diesel
$5.61
$30.58
$61.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.6
0
$14.54
$6.65
Efficient EV
34.6
0
$12.12
$5.54
EV Truck/SUV
55.4
0
$19.39
$8.86
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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 16, 2026
Origin
Overland Park, KS
Late night
in Overland Park on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Sunny
SSW 6 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 10:01AM MDT until April 16 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Goodland KS
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 16 at 10:21AM CDT until April 18 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS
Destination
Baxter Springs, KS
Late night
in Baxter Springs on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
10 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
2h 41m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a hands-on driving experience as you navigate this route entirely on local roads. With zero percent of the trip spent on highways, you will spend your time navigating turns rather than cruising at high speeds. The journey relies on surface streets like West 81st Street and Metcalf Avenue, creating a driving environment that requires your full attention. This is not a monotonous highway grind; instead, it is a technical, local-focused trek through the Great Plains. You will find that the character of the road remains consistent in its local, turn-heavy nature from the moment you leave Overland Park until you reach your destination.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.2 mi on US 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 69 and West Atkinson Road. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 81st Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 138.5 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 81st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Metcalf Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Overland Park is a city in northeastern Kansas within the Kansas City metropolitan area. It is a melting-pot of both urban and suburban living. With 197,000 residents (2020), it is one of the most affluent cities in the U.S.
Baxter Springs population 4250, is a city on historic Route 66 in Southeastern Kansas. During the US Civil War, it briefly hosted a US fortress (Fort Baxter, aka Fort Blair, abandoned 1863) and was the site of the Baxter Springs Massacre battle.
Top landmarks
•Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Service Station — petrol station in Baxter Springs, Kansas
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 138.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.2 miles on US 69. 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 Baxter Springs, 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: near the start (West 81st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Metcalf Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Baxter Springs, KS before heading back.
