Origin
Salina, KS
Night in Salina on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salina, KS to Centropolis, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 51m
Distance
148.8 mi
239 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 40m
★
6 AM
2h 51m
8 AM
3h 13m
10 AM
2h 59m
12 PM
2h 57m
3 PM
3h 0m
5 PM
3h 12m
8 PM
2h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salina, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Centropolis, KS
Tien Nguyen
Trip Overview
Salina, KS to Centropolis, KS is 148.8 miles and takes about 2h 51m via Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway and US 75, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward, same-day journey. Expect a local feel with frequent turns, making it less about covering vast distances quickly and more about navigating through Kansas communities. Given the relatively short duration, this trip is ideal for those who prefer a relaxed pace with room for spontaneous stops.
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
74.4 miles from Salina, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 79 mi | 1h 19m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 23.2 mi | 23m |
| US 75 | 15.4 mi | 16m |
| West 157th Street | 9.9 mi | 13m |
| I 470 | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| North 300 Road | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| East 550 Road | 3 mi | 7m |
| Thomas Road | 2.5 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
— 79 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salina, KS and Centropolis, KS.
1
Start on South 8th Street
92 ft
·
9 sec
·
South 8th Street
2
Turn left onto West Iron Avenue
279 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Iron Avenue
3
Turn right onto North 9th Street
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
North 9th Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 70 East: Topeka
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 70; US 40
22 mi
·
22 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6
Continue on I 70; US 40
75 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
9
Take the exit onto I 470
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
I 470
Toward I 470 South, US 75 South
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 75
15 mi
·
16 min
·
US 75
Toward US 75 South: Burlingame Road
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
12
Turn left onto US 56
9.9 mi
·
13 min
·
West 157th Street
13
Continue on US 56
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
North 300 Road
14
Turn right onto CR 1029
3.0 mi
·
7 min
·
East 550 Road
15
Continue on Florida Terrace
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Florida Terrace
16
Turn left onto Thomas Road
2.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Thomas Road
17
Continue on North 7th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North 7th Street
18
Turn left onto Centropolis Avenue
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Centropolis Avenue
19
Turn right onto North 9th Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
North 9th Street
20
Arrive at destination
North 9th Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under three hours, you have the flexibility to depart anytime, but an early start will allow you to enjoy the full day. Plan for one primary stop, perhaps midway, to break up the driving and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move away from the highway segments, as local roads can sometimes have fewer services. Given the 'turn-heavy' nature of this route, double-checking your GPS or map before leaving each town is a good practice to ensure you're on the right path.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.4 miles from Salina, KS, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79 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 33 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.4 miles or 1h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Centropolis, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Salina, 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 Salina, KS
This is one driving day of about 148.8 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Salina, 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 Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway for about 79 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
74 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 74.4 miles from Salina, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79 miles.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 141.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Iron Avenue
Turn left onto West Iron Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
2.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East: Topeka
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 70 East: Topeka
5
105 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m in
|
I 470
Take the exit onto I 470 toward I 470 South, US 75 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 470 South, US 75 South
5
110.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 55m in
|
US 75
Keep slight right at fork onto US 75 toward US 75 South: Burlingame Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 75 South: Burlingame Road
4
141.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 33m in
|
CR 1029 / East 550 Road
Turn right onto CR 1029 / East 550 Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.26 one way
$46.53 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $25.54 | $51.08 |
| premium | $4.89 | $28.64 | $57.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.85 | $65.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.6 | 0 | $15.62 | $7.14 |
| Efficient EV | 37.2 | 0 | $13.02 | $5.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.5 | 0 | $20.83 | $9.52 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Destination
Centropolis, KS
Night in Centropolis on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live 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
5 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
2h 51m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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,...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 107.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 14% of the journey on highways. You'll spend most of your time on roads like the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and US 75, which means more local traffic and frequent directional changes. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 79 miles on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, providing a significant segment of consistent driving before you transition to more local roads. Be prepared for a varied driving experience that requires attention to navigation.
Only 14% 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: 79 mi on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Iron Avenue.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 51m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Iron Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 105 miles (I 470): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,444 ft
954 ft
Total Climb
617 ft
Total Descent
881 ft
Highest Point
1,444 ft
~63.8 mi in
Elevation Range
490 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 148.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (14%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Iron Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 105 miles (I 470): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Centropolis, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Centropolis, KS
Explore more options from Salina, KS or browse trips ending in Centropolis, KS.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KS road trips.