Pittsburg, KS to Park, KS is 405.7 miles and takes about 7h 21m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and I 135, with a fuel budget near $63 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape throughout your journey. It's a straightforward drive, primarily utilizing major highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day transit. Expect a mixed drive profile with a significant portion on interstates. This route is best suited if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground across Kansas without extensive detours.
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
202.8 miles from Pittsburg, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
150.8 mi
2h 30m
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
KS 211
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 150.8 mi, about 2h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pittsburg, KS and Park, 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
151 mi·2 hr 30 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward KS 211, Park
19
Turn right onto KS 211
1.0 mi·1 min·KS 211
20
Continue on Old Highway 40
0.2 mi·28 sec·Old Highway 40
21
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·Main Street
22
Turn right onto 4th Street
0.2 mi·44 sec·4th Street
23
Turn left onto Cottonwood Street
255 ft·11 sec·Cottonwood Street
24
Arrive at destination
Cottonwood Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 405.7-mile drive, consider departing early in the morning to allow ample time for the 7h 21m journey. With a fuel cost estimated around $63, planning for at least two stops is recommended for both refueling and stretching. The longest stretch is 150.8 miles, so identify your midway point before you start. Since this is a single-day trip, flexibility is key; adjust your pace as needed. Pay attention to potential construction zones, especially on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and I 135, as they can impact travel time.
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 202.8 miles from Pittsburg, KS, or about 3h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 150.8 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 89 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 202.8 miles or 3h 55m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Park, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pittsburg, KS
This is one driving day of about 405.7 miles and 7h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from Pittsburg, 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 150.8 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 405.3 — 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
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
403.9 mi into trip|~7h 17m in
Take the exit toward KS 211, Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KS 211, Park
5
405.3 mi into trip|~7h 20m in|Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$63.43 one way
$126.85 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg142 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$69.64
$139.28
premium
$4.89
$78.07
$156.15
diesel
$5.61
$89.57
$179.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$63
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 141.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
121.7
1
$42.60
$19.47
Efficient EV
101.4
1
$35.50
$16.23
EV Truck/SUV
162.3
2
$56.80
$25.96
Gas CO2
142 kg
EV CO2
47 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.
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
Park, KS
Evening
in Park on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°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
30 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
7h 21m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This journey features a mixed drive profile, with 43% of the travel on highways. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and I 135, which are typically fast-paced stretches. The longest continuous segment you'll encounter is 150.8 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, so be prepared for an extended period of highway driving. While the route is largely highway-focused, it offers a practical way to navigate across the state. Expect consistent driving conditions for much of the 7h 21m duration.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 150.8 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 13 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 405.7 miles you will encounter 13 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 157.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 167.5 miles (KS 96): 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 Park, 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?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 21m. Total distance: 405.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 21m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 150.8 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. 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.
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 Park, 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 157.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 167.5 miles (KS 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.4 hours each way, a round trip means 14.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Park, KS before the return drive.
