Pittsburg, KS to Tecumseh, KS is 167 miles and takes about 3 hours via US 69 and KS 10, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Kansas. With a highway share of 63%, expect a good portion of your travel to be on faster roads. This trip is designed for a single day, making it ideal for a quick transit or a day trip without needing an overnight stay.
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
83.4 miles from Pittsburg, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Parkview Drive
57.5 mi
1h 4m
US 69
50.4 mi
52m
KS 10
36.7 mi
40m
Kansas Turnpike
14.8 mi
15m
I 435
2.4 mi
2m
US 40
1.4 mi
2m
West 4th Street
1 mi
1m
Southeast Tecumseh Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Parkview Drive
— 57.5 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pittsburg, KS and Tecumseh, 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
2.4 mi·2 min·I 435; US 50
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 1BToward KS 10 West: LawrenceUse the slight right lane.
12
Continue on KS 10
37 mi·40 min·KS 10
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
14
Merge onto I 70
13 mi·13 min·Kansas Turnpike
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
0.2 mi·12 sec·Kansas Turnpike
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, SalinaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto I 70
1.2 mi·2 min·Kansas Turnpike
Use the right lane.
17
Merge onto US 40; KS 4
0.2 mi·15 sec·Oakland Expressway
18
Take the exit onto US 40
0.4 mi·59 sec·US 40
19
Turn left onto US 40
0.9 mi·1 min·US 40
20
Turn left onto Southeast Tecumseh Road
0.3 mi·45 sec·Southeast Tecumseh Road
21
Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Terrace
0.2 mi·36 sec·Southeast 3rd Terrace
22
Arrive at destination
Southeast 3rd Terrace
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, leaving Pittsburg, KS in the morning will allow ample time to reach Tecumseh, KS well before evening. You'll encounter only one recommended stop, so plan your breaks accordingly, perhaps midway through your drive. With a fuel cost estimated at $26, ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing, though gas stations are generally available along US 69 and KS 10. The longest stretch without a designated stop is 57.5 miles, so keep this in mind for your fuel and restroom needs.
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 83.4 miles from Pittsburg, KS, or about 1h 33m 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 37 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.4 miles or 1h 33m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tecumseh, 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 166.9 miles and 3h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 109 and 163.4 — 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
7
112.4 mi into trip|~2h 5m in
Take the exit toward KS 10 West: Lawrence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1B
Toward KS 10 West: Lawrence
8
163.4 mi into trip|~3h 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
$26.09 one way
$52.19 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.65
$57.30
premium
$4.89
$32.12
$64.24
diesel
$5.61
$36.85
$73.70
Estimated Tolls: $0.74
Kansas Turnpike
(14.8 mi)$0.74
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
$26
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.1
0
$17.52
$8.01
Efficient EV
41.7
0
$14.60
$6.68
EV Truck/SUV
66.8
0
$23.37
$10.68
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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
3:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tecumseh, KS
Late night
in Tecumseh on Tuesday
Local time
3:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
7 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 6m 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.
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,...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 166.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 63% of the drive on faster roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 57.5 miles on Parkview Drive before transitioning to US 69. Expect a significant period of rural cruising as you navigate the open landscapes of Kansas. The route generally involves straightforward driving with fewer complex interchanges.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
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?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Parkview Drive and US 69. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 109 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 166.9 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 6m. Total distance: 166.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 6m 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.
Expect about $0.74 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.
Yes — we found about 3 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 Tecumseh, 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 3 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.
Yes — Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Tecumseh, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
