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Trip from Prairie Village, KS to Atchison, KS

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 19m

Distance

59.5 mi

96 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 13m ★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Prairie Village, KS, KS

Prairie Village, KS

Tom Fisk

Downtown Atchison, KS, KS

Atchison, KS

Tien Nguyen

Trip Overview

This 59.5-mile journey from Prairie Village, KS, to Atchison, KS, is a manageable 1-hour and 19-minute drive. Designed as a single-day trip, it offers a straightforward route through the Great Plains region. You can expect a fuel cost of approximately $9 for this excursion. The route primarily utilizes local roads, making it a more intimate travel experience than a highway-focused drive. Given its short duration, this trip allows for flexibility and ample time to explore your destination.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 29 16.8 mi 18m
45 Highway 13.7 mi 18m
Harry Darby Memorial Highway 12.4 mi 14m
273 Highway 4.7 mi 6m
Southwest 59 Highway 3.4 mi 4m
Metcalf Avenue 3.2 mi 5m
West 75th Street 1.9 mi 4m
Southwest 45 Highway 1.7 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 29 — 16.8 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Prairie Village, KS and Atchison, KS.

1

Start on this road

0.1 mi · 58 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto West 75th Street

1.9 mi · 4 min · West 75th Street
3

Turn right onto Metcalf Avenue

3.2 mi · 5 min · Metcalf Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
4

Keep slight left at fork onto I 635

8.2 mi · 9 min · Harry Darby Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
5

Keep slight left at fork onto I 635

2.8 mi · 3 min · Harry Darby Memorial Highway
Use the slight left lane.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 635

1.4 mi · 1 min · Harry Darby Memorial Highway
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Exit 12A Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph Use the slight left lane.
8

Merge onto I 29; US 71

10 mi · 11 min · I 29; US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71

2.7 mi · 2 min · I 29; I 435; US 71
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71

3.8 mi · 4 min · I 29; US 71
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 20 Toward MO 273 North: Tracy, Weston Use the right lane.
12

Turn left onto MO 273; MO 371

0.7 mi · 1 min · 273 Highway
13

Continue on MO 273

4.0 mi · 5 min · 273 Highway
14

Turn right onto MO 45; MO 273

14 mi · 18 min · 45 Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Continue on MO 45; MO 273

1.7 mi · 2 min · Southwest 45 Highway
Use the left lane.
16

Turn left onto US 59; MO 273

3.4 mi · 4 min · Southwest 59 Highway
Use the left lane.
17

Continue on US 59; MO 273

0.5 mi · 1 min · Amelia Earhart Bridge
18

Turn right onto South 4th Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · South 4th Street
19

Turn left onto Kansas Avenue

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Kansas Avenue
20

Arrive at destination

Kansas Avenue

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Riverside, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Riverside, MO

30 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Kansas City, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Riverside, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29.8 miles from Prairie Village, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 34.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
2.1 mi into trip | ~5m in | Metcalf Avenue

Turn right onto Metcalf Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
6
5.2 mi into trip | ~10m in | I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
13.5 mi into trip | ~20m in | I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
9
17.7 mi into trip | ~25m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Exit 12A Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport,...
8
34.9 mi into trip | ~44m 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

$9.30 one way

$18.60 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $10.21 $20.43
premium $4.89 $11.45 $22.90
diesel $5.61 $13.14 $26.27

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17.8 0 $6.25 $2.86
Efficient EV 14.9 0 $5.21 $2.38
EV Truck/SUV 23.8 0 $8.33 $3.81

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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 18, 2026

Origin

Prairie Village, KS

Late night in Prairie Village on Sunday

Local time

5:28 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Sunny

NW 9 to 13 mph 5% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 9:02AM CDT until April 19 at 2:21AM CDT by NWS Wichita KS

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 9:02AM CDT until April 19 at 7:51AM CDT by NWS Wichita KS

Destination

Atchison, KS

Late night in Atchison on Sunday

Local time

5:28 AM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

57°F

Riverside, MO

30 mi in

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

3 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

1h 19m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 59.5-mile route, with no highway segments. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, but the drive's profile suggests frequent turns and changes in direction. This means you'll be navigating through various local streets and avenues, rather than cruising on high-speed roads. The focus is on local connectivity, so be prepared for a more engaged driving experience as you make your way across the landscape.

Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.8 mi on I 29.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in near Metcalf Avenue.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.5 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 2.1 miles (Metcalf Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles (I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles (I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Prairie Village, KS and Atchison, KS, road signs point toward Saint Joseph and Weston.

Saint Joseph

17.7 mi in | ~25m

Weston

34.9 mi in | ~44m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 59.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 16.8 miles on I 29. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles (Metcalf Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles (I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles (I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Atchison, KS before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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