Scott City, KS to Leawood, KS is 399.8 miles and takes about 7h via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, with a fuel budget near $71 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, traversing Kansas from west to east. The majority of the route is on surface roads, so expect a more relaxed pace than a pure interstate drive. With only two recommended stops and a single-day duration, this is a straightforward drive for those looking to cover ground efficiently.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
199.9 miles from Scott City, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
199.9 mi
3h 19m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
90.3 mi
1h 32m
South Main Street
44.8 mi
50m
South Lawrence Trafficway
36.5 mi
40m
Kansas Turnpike
14 mi
14m
I 435
8.2 mi
9m
Eagle Eye
2.2 mi
3m
State Line Road
1.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 199.9 mi, about 3h 19m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~835 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,078
Quietest
2 AM
~72 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Scott City, KS and Leawood, KS.
Exit 75BToward State Line RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto State Line Road
1.5 mi·3 min·State Line Road
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto West 95th Street
0.4 mi·57 sec·West 95th Street
18
Turn right onto Lee Boulevard
0.7 mi·1 min·Lee Boulevard
19
Turn left onto West 90th Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·West 90th Street
20
Arrive at destination
West 90th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour estimated drive time, leaving Scott City in the morning should allow you to reach Leawood before evening. Plan for your two stops strategically, perhaps one midway for a longer break and another for a quicker fuel or restroom stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $71, and it's always wise to top off before embarking on longer stretches of surface roads where stations might be less frequent. Since this is a single-day trip, you have some flexibility to adjust your schedule based on traffic or your pace.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 199.9 miles from Scott City, KS, or about 3h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 199.9 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 88 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 199.9 miles or 3h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leawood, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Scott City, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Scott City, KS
This is one driving day of about 399.8 miles and 7h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Scott City, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 199.9 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 336.6 and 396.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
336.6 mi into trip|~5h 46m in|I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway toward I-70 East, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
6
351.3 mi into trip|~6h 1m in
Take the exit toward KS 10: Lecompton, Lawrence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 197
Toward KS 10: Lecompton, Lawrence
7
388.2 mi into trip|~6h 42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 435 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 435 East
5
388.5 mi into trip|~6h 43m in|I 435
Merge onto I 435
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
396.7 mi into trip|~6h 52m in
Take the exit toward State Line Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 75B
Toward State Line Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.04 one way
$118.08 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg140 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$65.18
$130.36
premium
$4.72
$74.23
$148.46
diesel
$4.80
$75.49
$150.98
Estimated Tolls: $0.70
Kansas Turnpike
(14 mi)$0.70
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$59
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 139.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
119.9
1
$41.98
$19.19
Efficient EV
100
1
$34.98
$15.99
EV Truck/SUV
159.9
1
$55.97
$25.59
Gas CO2
140 kg
EV CO2
47 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Scott City, KS
Evening
in Scott City on Saturday
Local time
8:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 7 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Leawood, KS
Evening
in Leawood on Saturday
Local time
8:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph10% chanceLive 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
8 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
7h on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The path to equality has been anything but smooth. It's taken courage and dedication by everyday people coming together for a common goal to carry the country toward true equality. Parents, teachers,...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 330.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with highways making up about 1/6th of the total mileage. You'll encounter 199.9 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, which will likely feel like open cruising. After that, the drive shifts to surface streets like South Main Street, so be prepared for more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you approach your destination. The transition from highway to surface roads is a key change in the driving experience.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 199.9 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 336.6 miles in near I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 399.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 336.6 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 351.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 388.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,979 ft818 ft
Total Climb
515 ft
Total Descent
2,551 ft
Highest Point
2,979 ft
Elevation Range
2,161 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Scott City, KS and Leawood, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City and Lawrence.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h. Total distance: 399.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 199.9 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.70 in tolls one way, starting with Kansas Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 33 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Leawood, KS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 336.6 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 351.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 388.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.0 hours each way, a round trip means 14.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Leawood, KS before the return drive.
