Spanning 203.4 miles across the Great Plains, this trip from Salina to Colby is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 29 minutes. Because the distance is manageable, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, transitioning into local roads like North 9th Street and South Range Avenue upon arrival. Budgeting approximately $31 for fuel should cover your travel costs comfortably. Since both cities are located within the Kansas Great Plains, you can expect a consistent landscape throughout the duration of your trip.
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
101.7 miles from Salina, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
198.2 mi
3h 18m
North 9th Street
2.5 mi
5m
South Range Avenue
2.1 mi
4m
West 3rd Street
0.1 mi
<1m
West Iron Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
South 8th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 198.2 mi, about 3h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salina, KS and Colby, 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
2.5 mi·5 min·North 9th Street
4
Turn left
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward I 70 West: HaysUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 70; US 40
198 mi·3 hr 18 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward KS 25, Atwood, Leoti
7
Turn right onto KS 25
2.1 mi·4 min·South Range Avenue
8
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·West 3rd Street
9
Arrive at destination
West 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is simple since the 3-hour and 29-minute duration offers plenty of flexibility for a morning or afternoon start. With only one recommended stop planned, you should pace yourself to ensure you stay refreshed during the long 198.2-mile highway segment. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during that extended stretch, as the $31 estimated cost assumes steady driving conditions. Because the latter portion of the trip involves navigating North 9th Street and South Range Avenue, try to arrive during daylight hours to make these final turns easier to manage. Taking advantage of the single stop halfway through will help you maintain focus until you reach your final destination in Colby.
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 101.7 miles from Salina, KS, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 198.2 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 45 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.7 miles or 1h 45m 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 50m
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 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 203.4 miles and 3h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 198.2 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 203.3 — 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
3
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North 9th Street
Turn right onto North 9th Street
Navigation decision point
7
2.6 mi into trip|~6m in
Turn left toward I 70 West: Hays
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 70 West: Hays
5
201 mi into trip|~3h 24m 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
4
203.3 mi into trip|~3h 29m in|West 3rd Street
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.80 one way
$63.60 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$34.91
$69.83
premium
$4.89
$39.14
$78.28
diesel
$5.61
$44.91
$89.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61
0
$21.36
$9.76
Efficient EV
50.9
0
$17.80
$8.14
EV Truck/SUV
81.4
1
$28.48
$13.02
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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 Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Salina, KS
Night
in Salina on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Clear
S 14 to 18 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 8:52PM CDT until April 13 at 1:08PM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 8:52PM CDT until April 14 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Destination
Colby, KS
Night
in Colby on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Clear
SW 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 8:52PM CDT until April 13 at 1:08PM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 8:52PM CDT until April 14 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
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
14 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
3h 29m 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?
Expect a mix of driving styles on this route, as it transitions from a high-speed highway experience to a more turn-heavy local drive as you reach your destination. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, which accounts for a 198.2-mile uninterrupted stretch of your journey. While the route does not feature a high percentage of highway travel in its final stages, the initial portion allows for efficient cruising. Prepare for the road to shift personality as you exit the main highway and navigate the final segments into Colby. Staying alert during those final local turns is essential after the long, steady stretch across the plains.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 198.2 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower 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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 29m drive. You will face about 7 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 0.1 miles (North 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 29m. Total distance: 203.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 198.2 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.
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 0.1 miles (North 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Colby, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
