Origin
Overland Park, KS
Late night in Overland Park on Sunday
Local time
4:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Overland Park, KS to Paola, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
34.8 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Overland Park, KS
Sam McCool
Paola, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Overland Park to Paola, you can expect a straightforward 34.8-mile journey that typically takes about 46 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to head out and return with ease. With an estimated fuel cost of just $5, it is an economical choice for a weekend outing. The drive keeps you within the Great Plains region the entire time, transitioning from the suburban edge of Overland Park into the more rural landscape of Paola. Because the trip is short and efficient, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics or complex planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 169 | 20.8 mi | 24m |
| I 35 | 9 mi | 10m |
| West 87th Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Peoria Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Santa Fe Drive | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Baptiste Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Valley View Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Newton Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 169
— 20.8 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Overland Park, KS and Paola, KS.
1
Start on this road
134 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto West 81st Street
232 ft
·
16 sec
·
West 81st Street
3
Turn left onto Overland Park Drive
267 ft
·
12 sec
·
Overland Park Drive
4
Turn right onto Valley View Drive
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Valley View Drive
5
Turn right onto Newton Street
515 ft
·
28 sec
·
Newton Street
6
Turn left onto Santa Fe Drive
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Santa Fe Drive
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Continue on West 87th Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West 87th Street
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Use the left lane.
9
Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 169
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
I 35; US 56; US 169
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on I 35; US 50; US 56; US 169
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
I 35; US 50; US 56; US 169
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit onto US 169
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
US 169
Exit 215
Toward US 169 South, KS 7: Paola
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto US 169; K-7
21 mi
·
23 min
·
US 169; K-7
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Baptiste Drive
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto Baptiste Drive
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Baptiste Drive
15
Turn left onto Hedge Lane
334 ft
·
12 sec
·
Hedge Lane
16
Turn right onto East Peoria Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Peoria Street
17
Turn left onto South Silver Street
222 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Silver Street
18
Arrive at destination
South Silver Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 34.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.4 miles from Overland Park, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 33.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Overland Park Drive
Turn left onto Overland Park Drive
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Newton Street
Turn right onto Newton Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Santa Fe Drive
Turn left onto Santa Fe Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
12.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
US 169
Take the exit onto US 169 toward US 169 South, KS 7: Paola
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 215
Toward US 169 South, KS 7: Paola
6
33.1 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward Baptiste Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Baptiste Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.44 one way
$10.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.97 | $11.95 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.70 | $13.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.68 | $15.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Paola, KS
Late night in Paola on Sunday
Local time
4:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
46m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 86% of your drive will be spent on major roads like US 169, I-35, and West 87th Street. The most significant portion of your travel happens on US 169, which features a 20.8-mile stretch that allows for steady, uninterrupted driving. While you start by navigating local connections, the route quickly transitions into a faster-paced highway environment. You will find that the personality of the road is functional and direct, prioritizing speed and efficiency over winding backroads. It is a no-nonsense drive that gets you from point A to point B without any mandatory stops along the way.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.8 mi on US 169.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 169 and I 35. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Overland Park Drive.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 34.8 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 0.1 miles (Overland Park Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Newton Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Santa Fe Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 34.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.8 miles on US 169. 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 Paola, 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 0.1 miles (Overland Park Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Newton Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Santa Fe Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Paola, 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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