Spanning 452.2 miles across the heart of the Great Plains, this journey from Pittsburg to Colby takes approximately 8 hours and 8 minutes of pure drive time. Because of the significant distance, you should plan for a two-day trip rather than attempting to tackle it all in one long push. You will navigate via West 4th Street, Clayton J, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway to reach your destination. Budget about $69 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Since both cities are located within Kansas, you will experience the consistency of the Great Plains landscape throughout the entire traverse.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
226.1 miles from Pittsburg, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
196.6 mi
3h 16m
I 135
83.3 mi
1h 23m
US 400
70.5 mi
1h 22m
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
61.6 mi
1h 11m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
17.9 mi
21m
KS 96
12.3 mi
14m
US 69
5.3 mi
7m
South Range Avenue
2.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 196.6 mi, about 3h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pittsburg, KS and Colby, 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
11 mi·13 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 35, KS 96: Kansas Turnpike
11
Continue on KS 96
10 mi·11 min·KS 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto KS 96
2.2 mi·2 min·KS 96
Toward I 135 North, KS 96 West, US 81 North, KS 15 North: Salina, HutchinsonUse the slight right lane.
13
Continue on I 135; US 81; KS 15
18 mi·18 min·I 135; US 81; KS 15
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Continue on I 135; US 50; US 81
2.1 mi·2 min·I 135; US 50; US 81
15
Continue on I 135; US 81
63 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 135; US 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·41 sec
Toward I 70 West: Hays
17
Merge onto I 70; US 40
197 mi·3 hr 16 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward KS 25, Atwood, Leoti
19
Turn right onto KS 25
2.1 mi·4 min·South Range Avenue
20
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·West 3rd Street
21
Arrive at destination
West 3rd Street
Trip Plan
To manage the 452.2-mile journey effectively, aim to break your travel into two days as recommended to avoid driver fatigue. Since you have two planned stops, use them strategically to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping that $69 fuel budget in mind as you plan your stops. Departing early in the morning is your best bet to handle the technical nature of these local roads while visibility is at its peak. Given the turn-heavy profile of the route, verify your navigation tools before you head out to ensure you stay on track through the local connections along West 4th Street and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial 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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 226.1 miles from Pittsburg, KS, or about 4h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 196.6 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 99 miles or 1h 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 226.1 miles or 4h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 226.1 miles or 4h 19m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colby, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pittsburg, KS
Aim for roughly 226 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Colby, KS
Aim for roughly 226 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 99 miles from Pittsburg, KS.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 196.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 449.8 — 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.
5
157.1 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Take the exit toward I 35, KS 96: Kansas Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35, KS 96: Kansas Turnpike
8
167.5 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|KS 96
Keep slight right at fork onto KS 96 toward I 135 North, KS 96 West, US 81 North, KS 15 North: Salina, Hutchinson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 135 North, KS 96 West, US 81 North, KS...
5
449.8 mi into trip|~8h 3m in
Take the exit toward KS 25, Atwood, Leoti
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KS 25, Atwood, Leoti
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$70.70 one way
$141.39 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg158 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$77.62
$155.24
premium
$4.89
$87.02
$174.04
diesel
$5.61
$99.84
$199.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$71
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$201–$311
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 158.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
135.7
1
$47.48
$21.71
Efficient EV
113.1
1
$39.57
$18.09
EV Truck/SUV
180.9
2
$63.31
$28.94
Gas CO2
158 kg
EV CO2
53 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Pittsburg, KS
Evening
in Pittsburg on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Colby, KS
Evening
in Colby on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Newton, KS
226 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
28 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
8h 8m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will be navigating local roads, which requires more active attention behind the wheel compared to a standard highway haul. The personality of this drive is defined by its winding local segments, making it a more engaged experience for those who prefer backroads over monotonous high-speed lanes. Because the route lacks long, uninterrupted stretches, you should prepare for a steady pace that demands focus through every turn.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 196.6 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near KS 126 / West 4th 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 452.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 (KS 126 / West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 69; US 160): Lane positioning matters here; at 157.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Colby, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Hutchinson along the way.
Hutchinson
167.5 mi in|~3h 19m|via KS 96
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
8h 8m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 196.6 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 226 miles on day one.
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 Colby, 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 (KS 126 / West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 69; US 160): Lane positioning matters here; at 157.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.1 hours each way, a round trip means 16.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Colby, KS before the return drive.
