If you are planning a trip across the Kansas Great Plains, the 128.4-mile stretch from Salina to WaKeeney is a straightforward journey. You can easily complete this drive in about 2 hours and 14 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Your path primarily follows the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, supplemented by short segments on North 9th Street and US 40 Bus. Budgeting approximately $20 for fuel should cover your needs for this one-way transit. Because the route remains entirely within the Great Plains region, you can expect a consistent landscape throughout your travels. It is a practical, efficient connection between these two Kansas hubs for travelers looking to move quickly between points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
64.2 miles from Salina, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
124 mi
2h 3m
North 9th Street
2.5 mi
5m
US 40 Bus
0.7 mi
1m
Barclay Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
US 40 Business
0.2 mi
<1m
South 8th Street
0.1 mi
<1m
South Railroad Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
North 8th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 124 mi, about 2h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salina, KS and WaKeeney, 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
124 mi·2 hr 3 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6
Take the exit onto US 40 Business
0.2 mi·25 sec·US 40 Business
Toward US 40 Business: WaKeeney, Hill City
7
Turn right onto US 40 Bus
0.7 mi·1 min·US 40 Bus
8
Turn left onto US 283; US 40 Bus
0.4 mi·39 sec·Barclay Avenue
9
Turn right onto South 8th Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·South 8th Street
10
Turn right onto South Railroad Avenue
311 ft·14 sec·South Railroad Avenue
11
Keep slight left at fork onto South Railroad Avenue
101 ft·4 sec·South Railroad Avenue
12
Turn straight
90 ft·4 sec
13
Continue on North 8th Street
395 ft·17 sec·North 8th Street
14
Arrive at destination
North 8th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip of 2 hours and 14 minutes, you have significant flexibility in your departure time. Aim to hit the road when you are fresh, as the lack of mandatory stops means you can complete the 128.4 miles in one go without needing a break. Given that the route is almost entirely highway-based, keep a close eye on your fuel levels before you leave Salina to ensure you don't need to deviate from your pace. Because there are no scheduled stops in the data, pack your own water and snacks to maintain your momentum. Most importantly, stay alert during the final transition onto US 40 Bus, as the change from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is where the road character shifts most significantly.
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 64.2 miles from Salina, KS, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 124 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 28 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.2 miles or 1h 8m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near WaKeeney, 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 128.4 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Salina, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 124 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 128.3 — 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
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
126.8 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|US 40 Business
Take the exit onto US 40 Business toward US 40 Business: WaKeeney, Hill City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 40 Business: WaKeeney, Hill City
4
128.1 mi into trip|~2h 12m in|South 8th Street
Turn right onto South 8th Street
Navigation decision point
5
128.3 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|South Railroad Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto South Railroad Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.07 one way
$40.15 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.04
$44.08
premium
$4.89
$24.71
$49.42
diesel
$5.61
$28.35
$56.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.5
0
$13.48
$6.16
Efficient EV
32.1
0
$11.24
$5.14
EV Truck/SUV
51.4
0
$17.98
$8.22
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Salina, KS
Night
in Salina on Saturday
Local time
11:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
WaKeeney, KS
Night
in WaKeeney on Saturday
Local time
11:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
82°F
Victoria, KS
64 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
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 14m 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?
Expect a trip dominated by high-speed transit, as 100% of this route consists of highway driving. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, which accounts for a 124-mile uninterrupted stretch of your journey. While this is a turn-heavy local drive in its final stages, the bulk of your time behind the wheel involves maintaining steady speeds across the open plains. The transition from the highway toward the local roads near WaKeeney requires a shift in focus from long-distance cruising to navigating town-specific infrastructure. Overall, the experience is defined by its consistency and the ease of staying on a single primary corridor for nearly the entire duration.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 124 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 2h 14m drive. You will face about 10 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 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 126.8 miles (US 40 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,449 ft1,226 ft
Total Climb
1,222 ft
Total Descent
0 ft
Highest Point
2,449 ft
~128.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,222 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 128.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 124 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower 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 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 126.8 miles (US 40 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at WaKeeney, KS before heading back.
