Origin
Overland Park, KS
Night in Overland Park on Tuesday
Local time
11:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Overland Park, KS to Saint Francis, KS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 1, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 58m
Distance
445.2 mi
716 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$69
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 50m
★
6 AM
7h 59m
8 AM
8h 16m
10 AM
8h 5m
12 PM
8h 3m
3 PM
8h 6m
5 PM
8h 15m
8 PM
7h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Overland Park, KS
Sam McCool
Saint Francis, KS
Lucas Bower
Trip Overview
Overland Park, KS to Saint Francis, KS is 445.2 miles and takes about 7h 58m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $71 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape throughout your drive. Since you're staying within Kansas, you won't need to worry about crossing state lines. With a single recommended day of travel and a manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a straightforward, one-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
222.6 miles from Overland Park, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 51m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 257.4 mi | 4h 17m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 91.6 mi | 1h 34m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 51.8 mi | 52m |
| Commerce Road | 29.9 mi | 52m |
| US 36 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| Harry Darby Memorial Highway | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| Metcalf Avenue | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| South Benton Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 257.4 mi, about 4h 17m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~828 veh/hr typical · worst 1,121
Quietest
2 AM
~71 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Overland Park, KS and Saint Francis, KS.
1
Start on this road
134 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto West 81st Street
182 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 81st Street
3
Turn left onto Marty Street
482 ft
·
23 sec
·
Marty Street
4
Turn right onto West 80th Street
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
West 80th Street
5
Turn left onto Metcalf Avenue
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Metcalf Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 635
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Harry Darby Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 4B
Toward I 70 West: Topeka
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
51 mi
·
51 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 70
92 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Toward I-70 West
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
257 mi
·
4 hr 17 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 24 Business, KS 27, Sharon Springs, Saint Francis
13
Turn right onto US 24 Bus; KS 27
30 mi
·
52 min
·
Commerce Road
14
Turn left onto US 36; K-27
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
US 36; K-27
15
Turn right onto RS 115
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Benton Street
16
Turn right onto Spencer Street
79 ft
·
3 sec
·
Spencer Street
17
Arrive at destination
Spencer Street
Trip Plan
Given the 7h 58m estimated drive time, starting your trip in Overland Park early in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. You'll have two designated stops, so plan for breaks roughly every two to three hours. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you move onto surface roads where stations might be less frequent. The 257.4-mile stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway presents an opportunity for a longer, uninterrupted drive before you need to navigate off the highway.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 222.6 miles from Overland Park, KS, or about 3h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 257.4 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 98 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 222.6 miles or 3h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Francis, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Overland Park, KS
This is one driving day of about 445.2 miles and 7h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 98 miles from Overland Park, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 257.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
223 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 98 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 222.6 miles from Overland Park, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 257.4 miles.
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 and 59.9 — 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 left onto Metcalf Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
4.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
8.8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Topeka
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 4B
Toward I 70 West: Topeka
8
59.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
I 70 / Kansas Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 / Kansas Turnpike toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$69.02 one way
$138.05 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
156 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $75.68 | $151.37 |
| premium | $4.93 | $86.38 | $172.75 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $98.14 | $196.27 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.59
Kansas Turnpike
(51.8 mi)
$2.59
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
$69
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$97–$122
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 155.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 133.6 | 1 | $46.75 | $21.37 |
| Efficient EV | 111.3 | 1 | $38.96 | $17.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 178.1 | 2 | $62.33 | $28.49 |
Gas CO2
156 kg
EV CO2
52 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Saint Francis, KS
Night in Saint Francis on Tuesday
Local time
11:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
25 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
7h 58m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 61.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a 13% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is 257.4 miles before transitioning to other roads. Expect a significant portion of your drive to involve navigating various surface roads after leaving the main highway.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 257.4 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 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 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 445.2 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: near the start (West 81st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Metcalf Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,650 ft
861 ft
Total Climb
2,788 ft
Total Descent
552 ft
Highest Point
3,650 ft
~413.4 mi in
Elevation Range
2,788 ft
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.
Between Overland Park, KS and Saint Francis, KS, road signs point toward Salina and Sharon Springs.
Salina
59.9 mi in
|
~1h 6m
|
via I 70
Sharon Springs
409.8 mi in
|
~6h 58m
About the Cities
Starting in Overland Park, KS
Full guide →Founded 1960
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.
Top landmarks
- • Campbell Dome House — house in Overland Park, Kansas
Arriving in Saint Francis, KS
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Cheyenne County Courthouse — courthouse in St. Francis, Kansas, United States
- • Howard T. Sawhill City Park — park in St. Francis, Kansas
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 7h 58m. Total distance: 445.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 58m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 257.4 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.59 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 Saint Francis, 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 2 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 4.1 miles (I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 16.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Saint Francis, KS before the return drive.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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