Spanning 229.6 miles across the Kansas Great Plains, this drive from Pittsburg to Attica typically takes about 5 hours to complete. Because it functions well as a single-day journey, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Budgeting roughly $35 for fuel should cover your trip expenses, keeping this a cost-effective excursion for your travel plans. You will primarily navigate via US 400, along with segments of the Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, the route offers a straightforward path between these two points in the heart of the state.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
114.8 miles from Pittsburg, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 400
70.5 mi
1h 22m
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
61.6 mi
1h 11m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
30 mi
37m
KS 2
17.7 mi
31m
State Highway 42
17.3 mi
30m
US 160
13.5 mi
20m
West Southwest Boulevard
7.7 mi
9m
US 69
5.3 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
US 400
— 70.5 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pittsburg, KS and Attica, 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 left onto US 69; US 160
5.3 mi·7 min·US 69; US 160
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Turn right onto US 400
71 mi·1 hr 22 min·US 400
Use the straight lane.
5
Enter roundabout onto US 400
170 ft·2 sec·Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
6
Continue on US 400
62 mi·1 hr 11 min·Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
7
Continue on US 54; US 77; US 400
7.3 mi·8 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
8
Continue on US 54; US 77; US 400
0.7 mi·1 min·East 7th Avenue
9
Continue on US 54; US 400
23 mi·28 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 235 SouthUse the right lane.
11
Merge onto I 235
1.6 mi·1 min·I 235
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 5Toward KS 42
13
Turn right onto KS 42
0.5 mi·55 sec·West Southwest Boulevard
14
Continue on KS 42
1.1 mi·1 min·West Cessna Boulevard
15
Continue on KS 42
7.2 mi·9 min·West Southwest Boulevard
16
Continue on KS 42
17 mi·30 min·State Highway 42
17
Turn left onto KS 2
18 mi·31 min·KS 2
18
At end of road, turn right onto US 160; KS 2
1.1 mi·1 min·East 14th Street
19
Turn left onto US 160; KS 2
3.0 mi·4 min·US 160; KS 2
20
Turn right onto US 160
10 mi·15 min·US 160
21
Turn left onto North Main Street
116 ft·3 sec·North Main Street
22
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a 5-hour drive, aiming for a morning departure will ensure you arrive in Attica with plenty of daylight to spare. You only need to plan for one major stop to refuel and stretch your legs, making this an efficient route to manage. Because the longest stretch on US 400 covers over 70 miles, be sure to check your gas gauge before committing to that section to avoid any mid-route stress. Flexibility is a major advantage here, as the manageable duration allows you to adjust your pace based on traffic or personal preference. Keep a steady eye on your odometer to track your progress against the 229.6-mile total distance.
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 114.8 miles from Pittsburg, KS, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.5 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 51 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.8 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Attica, 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 229.6 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 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 US 400 for about 70.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 170.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|KS 126 / West 4th Street
Turn left onto KS 126 / West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|US 69; US 160
Turn left onto US 69; US 160
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
6.4 mi into trip|~9m in|US 400
Turn right onto US 400
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
169.2 mi into trip|~3h 22m in
Take the exit toward I 235 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 235 South
5
170.9 mi into trip|~3h 24m in
Take the exit toward KS 42
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 5
Toward KS 42
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.90 one way
$71.79 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$39.41
$78.82
premium
$4.89
$44.18
$88.37
diesel
$5.61
$50.69
$101.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.9
0
$24.11
$11.02
Efficient EV
57.4
0
$20.09
$9.18
EV Truck/SUV
91.8
1
$32.14
$14.69
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Pittsburg, KS
Night
in Pittsburg on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Attica, KS
Night
in Attica on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
82°F
Andover, KS
115 mi in
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
4 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
5h on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 mixed driving profile that keeps you engaged as you transition across the region. With 55% of the trip spent on highways, you will encounter varying road conditions that shift from major thoroughfares to smaller stretches. You should prepare for a longest uninterrupted segment of 70.5 miles on US 400, which serves as the backbone of your journey. The road personality balances fast highway transit with the more relaxed pace of regional Kansas routes. Staying alert is key, as the character of the road fluctuates between these higher-speed sections and more localized driving environments.
55% 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: 70.5 mi on US 400.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near KS 126 / West 4th Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (KS 126 / West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 69; US 160): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (US 400): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,455 ft832 ft
Total Climb
858 ft
Total Descent
347 ft
Highest Point
1,455 ft
~229.6 mi in
Elevation Range
623 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h. Total distance: 229.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 70.5 miles on US 400. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 (KS 126 / West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 69; US 160): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (US 400): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Attica, KS before the return drive.
