Saint Marys, KS to Leavenworth, KS is 216.3 miles and takes about 3h 59m via Kansas Turnpike, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, and K-7, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Kansas. Given its relatively short duration and manageable fuel costs, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, so it's a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
108.2 miles from Saint Marys, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Kansas Turnpike
171.1 mi
2h 51m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
23.5 mi
29m
K-7
15.5 mi
23m
North 247th Street West
3 mi
7m
West 13th Street North
0.8 mi
3m
Spruce Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 171.1 mi, about 2h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Marys, KS and Leavenworth, KS.
1
Start on West 13th Street North
0.8 mi·3 min·West 13th Street North
2
Turn right onto North 247th Street West
3.0 mi·7 min·North 247th Street West
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 54; US 400
24 mi·29 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
448 ft·10 sec
Toward I 35: Kansas Turnpike Toll, Kansas City, Oklahoma City
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
6
Merge onto I 35
75 mi·1 hr 14 min·Kansas Turnpike
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 335
96 mi·1 hr 36 min·Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 224Toward KS 7, US 73, US 24 West, US 40 West: Bonner Springs, LeavenworthUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
238 ft·13 sec
Toward KS 7 North, US 73 North, US 24 West, US 40 West: LansingUse the straight / left lanes.
10
Turn left onto K-7
16 mi·23 min·K-7
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto KS 92
0.6 mi·1 min·Spruce Street
12
Turn right
277 ft·20 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 216.3-mile trip, consider departing in the morning to allow for flexibility. With a drive time under 4 hours, you can easily complete it in one day, but you might want to plan for one stop to break up the longest stretch of 171.1 miles on the Kansas Turnpike. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $33, and plan your refueling accordingly, especially before hitting the more rural sections. Watch for the transition off the Kansas Turnpike onto K-7, as this will signal the approach to your destination.
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 108.2 miles from Saint Marys, KS, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 171.1 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 48 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.2 miles or 2h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leavenworth, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Marys, 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 Saint Marys, KS
This is one driving day of about 216.3 miles and 3h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Saint Marys, 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 Kansas Turnpike for about 171.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 200.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.8 mi into trip|~10m in|US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
103 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|I 335 / Kansas Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 335 / Kansas Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
199.4 mi into trip|~3h 33m in
Take the exit toward KS 7, US 73, US 24 West, US 40 West: Bonner Springs, Leavenworth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 224
Toward KS 7, US 73, US 24 West, US 40 West: Bon...
8
200.1 mi into trip|~3h 35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward KS 7 North, US 73 North, US 24 West, US 40 West: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward KS 7 North, US 73 North, US 24 West, US...
6
200.2 mi into trip|~3h 35m in|K-7
Turn left onto K-7
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.08 one way
$72.16 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$39.22
$78.43
premium
$5.26
$44.78
$89.57
diesel
$6.18
$52.62
$105.24
Estimated Tolls: $8.56
Kansas Turnpike
(171.1 mi)$8.56
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
$36
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.9
0
$22.71
$10.38
Efficient EV
54.1
0
$18.93
$8.65
EV Truck/SUV
86.5
1
$30.28
$13.84
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Saint Marys, KS
Morning
in Saint Marys on Monday
Local time
8:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Sunny
S 13 to 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Leavenworth, KS
Morning
in Leavenworth on Monday
Local time
8:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
S 5 to 12 mph0% chanceLive 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
3 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
3h 59m 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.
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,...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 156.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 79% of the 216.3 miles on paved roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 171.1 miles on the Kansas Turnpike, which means mostly uninterrupted cruising. The remaining portion of the trip will transition to K-7, likely bringing more frequent exits and a change in the surrounding landscape as you approach Leavenworth.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 171.1 mi on Kansas Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in near US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
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 216.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 3.8 miles (US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 103 miles (I 335 / Kansas Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 199.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,508 ft841 ft
Total Climb
368 ft
Total Descent
1,035 ft
Highest Point
1,508 ft
Elevation Range
667 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saint Marys, KS and Leavenworth, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City and Oklahoma City.
Leavenworth is a city in Eastern Kansas.
Leavenworth, the "First City in Kansas", established in 1854, is located on the west banks of the Missouri River and became nationally known as the "jumping off point" for the opening of the West. Buffalo Bill Cody spent part of his youth here and later worked in the area as a Pony Express rider and Army scout. Cody's parents are buried in Leavenworth.
Top landmarks
•Leavenworth Riverfront Community Center — historic building in Leavenworth, Kansas, United States
•Carnegie Arts Center of Leavenworth — building in Leavenworth, Kansas, USA
•Western Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers — historic district in Leavenworth, Kansas, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 59m. Total distance: 216.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 171.1 miles on Kansas Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $8.56 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 7 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 Leavenworth, 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 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles (US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 103 miles (I 335 / Kansas Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 199.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Leavenworth, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
