Riverside, KS to Lenexa, KS is 319.5 miles and takes about 6h 23m via I 35 and surface streets, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. You'll be traveling entirely within the Great Plains region of Kansas. This trip features a mix of highway and surface roads, offering a varied driving experience. It's a manageable one-day drive, perfect if you're looking for a relatively straightforward trip between two points in the state.
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
159.8 miles from Riverside, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
96.1 mi
1h 38m
Sycamore Street
62.4 mi
1h 13m
Limestone Road
52.9 mi
1h 1m
East Santa Fe Avenue
35.9 mi
40m
US 50
24.7 mi
29m
KS 150
16.7 mi
19m
10th Street
12.4 mi
17m
US 283
11.3 mi
16m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 96.1 mi, about 1h 38m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~751 veh/hr typical
· worst 979
Quietest
2 AM
~68 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside, KS and Lenexa, KS.
1
Start on this road
5.0 mi·19 min·this road
2
Continue on this road
1.0 mi·3 min·this road
3
Turn right onto US 283
11 mi·16 min·US 283
4
Turn right onto KS 96
62 mi·1 hr 13 min·Sycamore Street
5
Turn left onto US 56; KS 96; KS 156
12 mi·17 min·10th Street
6
Continue on US 56; KS 96
36 mi·40 min·East Santa Fe Avenue
7
Continue on US 56
53 mi·1 hr 1 min·Limestone Road
8
Enter roundabout onto KS 150
186 ft·3 sec·KS 150
9
Continue on KS 150
17 mi·19 min·KS 150
10
Turn left onto US 50
25 mi·29 min·US 50
11
Enter roundabout
364 ft·4 sec
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
12
Continue
0.2 mi·10 sec
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
13
Enter roundabout
30 ft·0 sec
Toward I 35 North: Kansas City
14
Continue
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 35 North: Kansas City
15
Merge onto I 35
95 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 35
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on I 35; US 56; US 169
1.6 mi·1 min·I 35; US 56; US 169
Toward I 35 North, US 56 East, US 169 North: Des MoinesUse the straight lane.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 224Toward 95th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
296 ft·7 sec
Toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie CollegeUse the right lane.
19
Turn straight onto West 95th Street
189 ft·3 sec·West 95th Street
20
Turn slight right onto Lenexa Drive
0.2 mi·56 sec·Lenexa Drive
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto Rosehill Road
500 ft·18 sec·Rosehill Road
22
Turn right
71 ft·10 sec
23
Turn left
256 ft·18 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Consider leaving Riverside, KS in the morning to maximize daylight for the 6h 23m drive. With a total distance of 319.5 miles, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip. There's one recommended stop, which could be a good point to break up the drive around the halfway mark or when you transition from I 35 to surface roads. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 96.1-mile stretch on I 35, as services can be spaced out in some parts of the Great Plains. The estimated fuel cost is $49.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 159.8 miles from Riverside, KS, or about 3h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.1 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 70 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.8 miles or 3h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lenexa, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Riverside, 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 Riverside, KS
This is one driving day of about 319.5 miles and 6h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Riverside, 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 I 35 for about 96.1 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 222.3 and 319.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
222.3 mi into trip|~4h 41m in
Enter roundabout toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
6
222.5 mi into trip|~4h 42m in
Enter roundabout toward I 35 North: Kansas City
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward I 35 North: Kansas City
5
222.8 mi into trip|~4h 42m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
318.9 mi into trip|~6h 21m in
Take the exit toward 95th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 224
Toward 95th Street
9
319.1 mi into trip|~6h 22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.18 one way
$94.37 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$52.09
$104.18
premium
$4.72
$59.32
$118.64
diesel
$4.80
$60.33
$120.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.9
1
$33.55
$15.34
Efficient EV
79.9
0
$27.96
$12.78
EV Truck/SUV
127.8
1
$44.73
$20.45
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
37 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Riverside, KS
Late night
in Riverside on Sunday
Local time
1:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
S 12 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lenexa, KS
Late night
in Lenexa on Sunday
Local time
1:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 9 mph18% chanceLive forecast
71°F
Hillsboro, KS
160 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
6h 23m 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 route is 47% highway, meaning you'll spend a significant portion of your time on surface roads, particularly on Sycamore Street and Limestone Road. The longest continuous stretch on I 35 covers 96.1 miles. Expect to transition from higher-speed highway driving to more local road conditions as you approach your destination. The change in road type will be noticeable with more intersections and varied speed limits.
47% 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: 96.1 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 222.3 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 23m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 17 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 222.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 222.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 222.8 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,223 ft1,031 ft
Total Climb
0 ft
Total Descent
1,191 ft
Highest Point
2,223 ft
~22.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,191 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Riverside, KS and Lenexa, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City, Wichita and Topeka.
The longest stretch is about 96.1 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Lenexa, 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 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 222.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 222.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 222.8 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lenexa, KS before the return drive.
