Saint Marys to Shawnee is 208.3 miles and takes about 3h 50m via I 35 and the Kansas Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Kansas. With 85% of the route on highways, you'll experience mostly high-speed cruising. Plan for a single day to cover this distance comfortably, as the drive is designed for efficiency rather than extended exploration.
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
104.1 miles from Saint Marys, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
101.7 mi
1h 45m
Kansas Turnpike
74.7 mi
1h 14m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
23.5 mi
29m
North 247th Street West
3 mi
7m
Nieman Road
1.7 mi
3m
Shawnee Mission Parkway
1.2 mi
2m
West 13th Street North
0.8 mi
3m
West 49th Terrace
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 101.7 mi, about 1h 45m
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 Saint Marys, KS and Shawnee, 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 right at fork onto I 35
95 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 35
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on I 35; US 56; US 169
3.6 mi·4 min·I 35; US 56; US 169
Toward I 35 North, US 56 East, US 169 North: Des MoinesUse the straight lane.
9
Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 69; US 169
2.7 mi·3 min·I 35; US 56; US 69; US 169
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 56; US 69; US 169
0.2 mi·15 sec·US 56; US 69; US 169
Exit 228BToward US 56 East, US 69 North, US 169 North: Shawnee Mission ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
106 ft·4 sec
Toward Shawnee Mission Parkway, ShawneeUse the left lane.
12
Turn left onto US 56; US 69; US 169
1.2 mi·2 min·Shawnee Mission Parkway
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto Nieman Road
1.7 mi·3 min·Nieman Road
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto West 49th Terrace
0.3 mi·1 min·West 49th Terrace
15
Turn right onto Bond Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·Bond Street
16
Arrive at destination
Bond Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3h 50m drive, consider leaving Saint Marys in the morning to avoid any potential rush hour traffic closer to Shawnee. With a single day recommended, you have flexibility, but be aware of the longest stretch of 101.7 miles on I 35, which means you can go a good while between services. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during that longer segment, as the estimated fuel cost is around $32. You'll only need one planned stop for this relatively short distance.
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 104.1 miles from Saint Marys, KS, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.7 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 46 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.1 miles or 1h 58m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shawnee, 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 208.3 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 I 35 for about 101.7 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 206.1 — 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 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
204.7 mi into trip|~3h 42m in|US 56; US 69; US 169
Take the exit onto US 56; US 69; US 169 toward US 56 East, US 69 North, US 169 North: Shawnee Mission Parkway
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 228B
Toward US 56 East, US 69 North, US 169 North: S...
9
204.9 mi into trip|~3h 43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Shawnee Mission Parkway, Shawnee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Shawnee Mission Parkway, Shawnee
6
206.1 mi into trip|~3h 45m in|Nieman Road
Turn right onto Nieman Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.76 one way
$61.52 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$33.96
$67.92
premium
$4.72
$38.67
$77.35
diesel
$4.80
$39.33
$78.66
Estimated Tolls: $3.74
Kansas Turnpike
(74.7 mi)$3.74
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
$31
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.5
0
$21.87
$10.00
Efficient EV
52.1
0
$18.23
$8.33
EV Truck/SUV
83.3
1
$29.16
$13.33
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Saint Marys, KS
Late night
in Saint Marys on Sunday
Local time
1:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Clear
S 6 to 9 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Shawnee, KS
Late night
in Shawnee on Sunday
Local time
1:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 6 mph14% 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
1 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 50m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway, with 85% of the 208.3 miles on major roads like I 35 and the Kansas Turnpike. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 101.7 miles on I 35 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate this section of the Great Plains.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 101.7 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Kansas Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in near US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 208.3 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 3.8 miles (US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 103 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 204.7 miles (US 56; US 69; US 169): 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 ft968 ft
Total Climb
300 ft
Total Descent
746 ft
Highest Point
1,508 ft
Elevation Range
540 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 Shawnee, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City and Oklahoma City.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 50m. Total distance: 208.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 101.7 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.74 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 11 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 Shawnee, 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 11 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 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 204.7 miles (US 56; US 69; US 169): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Shawnee, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
