Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
30m
Distance
20.4 mi
33 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salina, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Gypsum, KS
Jimmy Nilsson Masth
Salina to Gypsum is 20.4 miles and takes about 30m via KS 4 and I 135, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive for anyone needing to cover this specific stretch in Kansas. Given the minimal distance and time commitment, this route is ideal for a quick transit or an add-on to a larger trip. You'll find it's a practical connection between these two nearby Kansas communities, with minimal fuss and a clear path.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| KS 4 | 10.4 mi | 14m |
| I 135 | 3.6 mi | 3m |
| South Old Highway 81 | 2 mi | 2m |
| South Santa Fe Avenue | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| South 9th Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| West Magnolia Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Mentor Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Claflin Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Salina, KS and Gypsum, KS.
Start on South 8th Street
Turn right onto West Iron Avenue
Turn right onto South Santa Fe Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto West Claflin Avenue
Turn left onto South 9th Street
Turn right
Turn right onto West Magnolia Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 135; US 81
Take the exit
Turn left onto KS 104
Continue on KS 104
Turn right onto KS 104
Turn left onto KS 4
Turn right onto West 5th Street
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 7.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto West Iron Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto South Santa Fe Avenue
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto West Claflin Avenue
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward KS 104, Mentor Road, Smolan Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto KS 104 / West Smolan Road
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$3.19 one way
$6.38 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.50 | $7.00 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.93 | $7.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.50 | $9.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.14 | $0.98 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.86 | $1.31 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Salina on Tuesday
Local time
3:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Gypsum on Tuesday
Local time
3:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 78% of the journey utilizing major roads like KS 4 and I 135. You'll experience a significant stretch of 10.4 miles on KS 4, which forms the longest uninterrupted segment of your trip. The character is largely that of a fast-paced highway experience, designed for efficient travel rather than leisurely exploration. Expect a consistent road surface and typical highway conditions for this section of Kansas.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on KS 4 and I 135. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Iron Avenue.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 30m drive. You will face about 12 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 (South Santa Fe Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (West Claflin Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Salina (sah-LIGH-nah) is the county seat of Saline County in Central Kansas. In 2020, it was home to 47,000 people.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 20.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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