Pittsburg, KS to Atchison, KS is 171.2 miles and takes about 3h 16m via US 69 and I 435, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Kansas. With only one stop planned and a 50% highway share, it’s a manageable route for a single day. Consider this a practical option if you need to cover ground efficiently between these two points.
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
85.6 miles from Pittsburg, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Parkview Drive
57.5 mi
1h 4m
US 69
50.4 mi
52m
I 435
32.7 mi
35m
45 Highway
13.7 mi
18m
273 Highway
4.7 mi
6m
Southwest 59 Highway
3.4 mi
4m
I 29
3 mi
3m
Southwest 45 Highway
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Parkview Drive
— 57.5 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pittsburg, KS and Atchison, KS.
1
Start on US 69 Business
66 ft·10 sec·North Broadway Street
2
Turn left onto KS 126
1.0 mi·1 min·West 4th Street
3
Turn slight right
313 ft·13 sec
Toward US 69 North, US 160 East
4
Merge onto US 69; US 160
2.3 mi·3 min·US 69; US 160
5
Turn left onto US 69; US 160
58 mi·1 hr 4 min·Parkview Drive
6
Continue on US 69; KS 52
48 mi·49 min·US 69; KS 52
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 435 West, US 50 WestUse the sharp right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
489 ft·11 sec
Toward I 435 West, US 50 WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 435; US 50
33 mi·35 min·I 435; US 50
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi·49 sec
Exit 31Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
12
Merge onto I 29; US 71
3.0 mi·3 min·I 29; US 71
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 20Toward MO 273 North: Tracy, WestonUse the right lane.
14
Turn left onto MO 273; MO 371
0.7 mi·1 min·273 Highway
15
Continue on MO 273
4.0 mi·5 min·273 Highway
16
Turn right onto MO 45; MO 273
14 mi·18 min·45 Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on MO 45; MO 273
1.7 mi·2 min·Southwest 45 Highway
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto US 59; MO 273
3.4 mi·4 min·Southwest 59 Highway
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on US 59; MO 273
0.5 mi·1 min·Amelia Earhart Bridge
20
Turn right onto South 4th Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·South 4th Street
21
Turn left onto Kansas Avenue
0.2 mi·30 sec·Kansas Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Kansas Avenue
Trip Plan
Leaving Pittsburg, KS in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Atchison, KS. The 3h 16m estimated drive time means you can comfortably make the trip in one day, even with the planned stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $27. Since this is a relatively short drive with only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in your timing. The longest stretch without a major road change is 57.5 miles, so plan accordingly if you prefer more frequent breaks.
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 85.6 miles from Pittsburg, KS, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.5 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 38 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.6 miles or 1h 35m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atchison, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pittsburg, 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 Pittsburg, KS
This is one driving day of about 171.2 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Pittsburg, 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 Parkview Drive for about 57.5 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 109 and 146.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
109 mi into trip|~2h in
Take the exit toward I 435 West, US 50 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the sharp right lane.
Toward I 435 West, US 50 West
6
109.3 mi into trip|~2h in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
110 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 435 West, US 50 West
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 435 West, US 50 West
6
142.8 mi into trip|~2h 37m in
Take the exit toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 31
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
8
146.6 mi into trip|~2h 41m in
Take the exit toward MO 273 North: Tracy, Weston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 20
Toward MO 273 North: Tracy, Weston
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.77 one way
$53.53 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.39
$58.77
premium
$4.89
$32.95
$65.89
diesel
$5.61
$37.80
$75.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.4
0
$17.98
$8.22
Efficient EV
42.8
0
$14.98
$6.85
EV Truck/SUV
68.5
0
$23.97
$10.96
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 20, 2026
Origin
Pittsburg, KS
Late night
in Pittsburg on Tuesday
Local time
4:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Atchison, KS
Late night
in Atchison on Tuesday
Local time
4:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°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
8 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 16m 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?
This 171.2-mile drive involves a mix of highway and surface roads, with about 50% of the route on faster highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 57.5 miles on Parkview Drive before transitioning to other roads. Expect some rural cruising segments mixed with periods of higher-speed travel on US 69 and I 435. The change from open highway to surface roads will be noticeable as you approach your destination.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.5 mi on Parkview Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 109 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 171.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 109 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 110 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Pittsburg, KS to Atchison, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Weston along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 171.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57.5 miles on Parkview Drive. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Atchison, 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. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 109 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 110 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Atchison, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
