Salina, KS to Pittsburg, KS is 248.8 miles and takes about 4h 49m via Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway and I-135, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Kansas. With a recommended single day for completion, this route is ideal for those looking for an efficient way to travel between these two cities. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way southeast.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
124.4 miles from Salina, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
70.6 mi
1h 22m
I 135
64.3 mi
1h 4m
Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway
61.1 mi
1h 10m
KS 196/Northwest 90th Street
18.9 mi
21m
KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street
9.6 mi
11m
South Main Street
9.2 mi
11m
US 69
5.4 mi
7m
West Central Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
— 70.6 mi, about 1h 22m
Traffic on I-135
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~571 veh/hr typical
· worst 761
Quietest
2 AM
~45 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Salina, KS and Pittsburg, 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
4.9 mi·4 min·I 135; US 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward KS 196: Whitewater, El Dorado
13
Turn left onto KS 196
9.6 mi·11 min·KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street
14
Continue on KS 196
19 mi·21 min·KS 196/Northwest 90th Street
15
Continue on KS 196
444 ft·14 sec·Northwest State Road 196
16
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
17
Merge onto KS 254
0.9 mi·1 min·Southwest 20th Street
18
Continue on KS 254
2.3 mi·4 min·West Central Avenue
19
Turn right onto South Denver Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Denver Street
20
Turn left onto West Kansas Avenue
0.4 mi·56 sec·West Kansas Avenue
21
Turn right onto US 54; US 77
9.2 mi·11 min·South Main Street
22
Turn left onto Southeast 100th Street
0.3 mi·23 sec·Southeast 100th Street
23
Turn left onto US 400
61 mi·1 hr 10 min·Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway
24
Enter roundabout onto US 400
157 ft·2 sec·Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
25
Continue on US 400
71 mi·1 hr 22 min·Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn left onto US 69; US 160
5.4 mi·7 min·US 69; US 160
27
Turn right onto KS 126
1.0 mi·1 min·West 4th Street
28
Turn right onto US 69 Business
66 ft·2 sec·North Broadway Street
29
Arrive at destination
US 69 Business
Trip Plan
This 4h 49m drive is easily manageable in a single day, so consider leaving mid-morning to allow for a relaxed start and arrive in Pittsburg in the late afternoon. The $37 fuel estimate is a good baseline for planning, but always check current prices. Since the longest stretch on a single road is 70.6 miles, you’ll have opportunities to stop and refuel or stretch your legs before reaching your destination. Keep an eye out for the transition from highway to surface roads, as this might change your average speed.
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 124.4 miles from Salina, KS, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.6 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 55 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.4 miles or 2h 23m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pittsburg, 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 248.8 miles and 4h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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 Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway for about 70.6 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 68.2 — 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
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South Santa Fe Avenue
Turn right onto South Santa Fe 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.
5
68.2 mi into trip|~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward KS 196: Whitewater, El Dorado
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KS 196: Whitewater, El Dorado
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.50 one way
$83.01 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$45.11
$90.21
premium
$5.26
$51.51
$103.03
diesel
$6.18
$60.53
$121.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.6
0
$26.12
$11.94
Efficient EV
62.2
0
$21.77
$9.95
EV Truck/SUV
99.5
1
$34.83
$15.92
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Salina, KS
Morning
in Salina on Monday
Local time
7:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
S 10 to 16 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pittsburg, KS
Morning
in Pittsburg on Monday
Local time
7:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
S 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
76°F
Andover, KS
124 mi in
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
2 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
4h 49m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 39% of this 248.8-mile drive is on highways, with the remaining 61% on surface roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 70.6 miles on the Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway before transitioning to other routes. Expect to see more frequent exits and merges as you navigate the highway sections, followed by more rural cruising on the surface roads.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.6 mi on Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 4h 49m drive. You will face about 19 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,577 ft864 ft
Total Climb
631 ft
Total Descent
913 ft
Highest Point
1,577 ft
~125.9 mi in
Elevation Range
713 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Salina, KS to Pittsburg, KS, road signs begin pointing toward El Dorado along the way.
The longest stretch is about 70.6 miles on Clayton J. Connell Memorial 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 (South Santa Fe Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (West Claflin Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Pittsburg, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
