If you are planning a trip from Salina to Conway Springs, expect a straightforward 117.4-mile journey across the Kansas Great Plains. The drive typically takes about 2 hours and 19 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You will primarily utilize I-135, State Highway 42, and West Southwest Boulevard to navigate between these two points. With fuel costs estimated at approximately $18, this is an affordable trip that requires no overnight stops. Whether you are visiting for business or leisure, the route offers a reliable connection through the heart of the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.7 miles from Salina, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 135
77.8 mi
1h 18m
State Highway 42
8.7 mi
15m
West Southwest Boulevard
7.7 mi
9m
North Conway Springs Road
5.5 mi
9m
South Santa Fe Avenue
1.8 mi
3m
West Cessna Boulevard
1.1 mi
1m
South 9th Street
1.1 mi
2m
Grice Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 135
— 77.8 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salina, KS and Conway Springs, KS.
1
Start on South 8th Street
92 ft·5 sec·South 8th Street
2
Turn right onto West Iron Avenue
0.1 mi·34 sec·West Iron Avenue
3
Turn right onto South Santa Fe Avenue
1.8 mi·3 min·South Santa Fe Avenue
4
At end of road, turn right onto West Claflin Avenue
0.2 mi·24 sec·West Claflin Avenue
5
Turn left onto South 9th Street
1.1 mi·2 min·South 9th Street
6
Turn right
140 ft·5 sec
7
Turn right onto West Magnolia Road
0.3 mi·49 sec·West Magnolia Road
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
9
Merge onto I 135; US 81
57 mi·57 min·I 135; US 81
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on I 135; US 50; US 81
2.2 mi·2 min·I 135; US 50; US 81
11
Continue on I 135; US 81
18 mi·19 min·I 135; US 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
11 mi·13 min
Exit 11AToward I 235 West, KS 96 WestUse the slight right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 5Toward KS 42
14
Turn right onto KS 42
0.5 mi·55 sec·West Southwest Boulevard
15
Continue on KS 42
1.1 mi·1 min·West Cessna Boulevard
16
Continue on KS 42
7.2 mi·9 min·West Southwest Boulevard
17
Continue on KS 42
8.7 mi·15 min·State Highway 42
18
Turn left onto KS 49
0.7 mi·1 min·Grice Street
19
Continue on KS 49
0.3 mi·28 sec·South 263rd Street West
20
Continue on KS 49
5.5 mi·9 min·North Conway Springs Road
21
Continue on KS-49
0.4 mi·39 sec·North 5th Street
22
Turn right onto Spring Avenue
322 ft·14 sec·Spring Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
Spring Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time. You can easily make the entire 117.4-mile trip in one go without needing planned stops, though it is always smart to check your fuel levels before leaving Salina to ensure you stay within your $18 budget. Keep in mind that because the vast majority of the route is highway-based, traffic patterns on I-135 will be the primary factor affecting your travel time. Aim to avoid peak commuting hours if you prefer a quieter road experience. Prioritize a steady pace during the long 77.8-mile stretch on the interstate to keep your arrival time predictable.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58.7 miles from Salina, KS, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.8 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 26 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.7 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Conway Springs, 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 117.4 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Salina, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 135 for about 77.8 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 0 and 92.8 — 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 right onto West Iron Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in|West Claflin Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto West Claflin Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
3.8 mi into trip|~8m in|I 135; US 81
Merge onto I 135; US 81
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
81.6 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 235 West, KS 96 West
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 11A
Toward I 235 West, KS 96 West
5
92.8 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward KS 42
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 5
Toward KS 42
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.35 one way
$36.71 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.15
$40.30
premium
$4.89
$22.59
$45.19
diesel
$5.61
$25.92
$51.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.2
0
$12.33
$5.64
Efficient EV
29.4
0
$10.27
$4.70
EV Truck/SUV
47
0
$16.44
$7.51
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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 20, 2026
Origin
Salina, KS
Late night
in Salina on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Conway Springs, KS
Late night
in Conway Springs on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 19m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily focused on highway travel, with 74% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will begin with a significant 77.8-mile stretch on I-135, which provides a fast, consistent pace for the bulk of your drive. As you transition onto State Highway 42 and local roads like West Southwest Boulevard, the character of the road shifts from high-speed interstate to a more localized driving experience. Expect a consistent, efficient transition that allows you to cover the distance without complex navigation. It is a functional, highway-focused drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding, technical maneuvers.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.8 mi on I 135.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 135 and State Highway 42. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Iron Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 19m 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 1.9 miles (West Claflin Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (I 135; US 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 77.8 miles on I 135. 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 1.9 miles (West Claflin Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (I 135; US 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Conway Springs, KS before heading back.
