Embarking on the 297.1-mile journey from Prairie Village to Colby takes you across the heart of the Kansas Great Plains. With a travel time of approximately 5 hours and 6 minutes, this trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion. You should budget about $45 for fuel to cover the distance, which primarily utilizes North Andover Road, West 13th Street, and I-135 North. Because this route is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate shot, expect a more hands-on experience behind the wheel. It serves as a straightforward connection between two points in the same state, making it an ideal choice if you prefer staying off the major interstates.
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
148.5 miles from Prairie Village, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
196.6 mi
3h 16m
I 135
83.3 mi
1h 23m
KS 96
9.9 mi
11m
West 13th Street
3.5 mi
6m
South Range Avenue
2.1 mi
4m
North Andover Road
0.6 mi
1m
West 8th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
West 3rd Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 196.6 mi, about 3h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Prairie Village, KS and Colby, KS.
1
Start on West 8th Street
0.2 mi·42 sec·West 8th Street
2
Turn left onto North Andover Road
0.6 mi·1 min·North Andover Road
3
Turn left onto West 13th Street
3.5 mi·6 min·West 13th Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
5
Merge onto KS 96
7.7 mi·8 min·KS 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
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.
7
Continue on I 135; US 81; KS 15
18 mi·18 min·I 135; US 81; KS 15
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Continue on I 135; US 50; US 81
2.1 mi·2 min·I 135; US 50; US 81
9
Continue on I 135; US 81
63 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 135; US 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·41 sec
Toward I 70 West: Hays
11
Merge onto I 70; US 40
197 mi·3 hr 16 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward KS 25, Atwood, Leoti
13
Turn right onto KS 25
2.1 mi·4 min·South Range Avenue
14
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·West 3rd Street
15
Arrive at destination
West 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is key, as the turn-heavy nature of this 5-hour and 6-minute drive can be more fatiguing than a standard highway route. Aim to leave early in the day to take advantage of daylight hours, especially since you will be navigating local roads for the duration of the 297.1 miles. You only need to build in one primary stop to refresh and refuel, which fits perfectly within your $45 fuel budget. Given the local road focus, keep a close watch on your navigation tools to ensure you don't miss any critical turns along the way. Flexibility is your greatest asset here, so don't hesitate to pull over for a quick break whenever you feel the need to stretch your legs.
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 148.5 miles from Prairie Village, KS, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 196.6 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 65 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.5 miles or 2h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 10m
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 Prairie Village, 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 Prairie Village, KS
This is one driving day of about 297.1 miles and 5h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Prairie Village, 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 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 294.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|North Andover Road
Turn left onto North Andover Road
Navigation decision point
5
4.6 mi into trip|~8m in|KS 96
Merge onto KS 96
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
12.3 mi into trip|~17m 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...
4
97.8 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Hays
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 70 West: Hays
5
294.6 mi into trip|~5h 1m 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
$46.45 one way
$92.90 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$51.00
$102.00
premium
$4.89
$57.17
$114.35
diesel
$5.61
$65.60
$131.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.1
1
$31.20
$14.26
Efficient EV
74.3
0
$26.00
$11.88
EV Truck/SUV
118.8
1
$41.59
$19.01
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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
Prairie Village, KS
Evening
in Prairie Village on Saturday
Local time
8:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Colby, KS
Evening
in Colby on Saturday
Local time
8:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
82°F
Lincoln, KS
149 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
6 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 6m 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 road trip that prioritizes local navigation over high-speed interstate cruising. Since this route features a 0% highway share, you will spend your time navigating turns and local thoroughfares rather than settling into a monotonous highway rhythm. The drive demands your full attention as you transition off West 13th Street and onto I-135 North, requiring constant adjustments compared to a typical freeway commute. You will find that the personality of the road shifts as you move through the Great Plains, keeping the experience engaging for those who dislike long, repetitive stretches of pavement. It is a technical, winding path that rewards drivers who enjoy staying active at the wheel.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 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?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Andover Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 297.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.2 miles (North Andover Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles (KS 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.3 miles (KS 96): 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 5h 6m. Total distance: 297.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
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: at 0.2 miles (North Andover Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles (KS 96): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.3 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 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 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.
