Shawnee, KS to Lexington, KS is 335.8 miles and takes about 6h 23m via I 35 and Cannonball Stageline, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward path across Kansas. With a mixed highway and surface road profile, it's a practical option if you're looking for a direct trip without extensive detours. The majority of the drive is on well-maintained highways, making it a comfortable choice for a single-day excursion. Consider this trip for its efficiency and ease of navigation.
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
167.9 miles from Shawnee, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
176.9 mi
3h 1m
Cannonball Stageline
60.2 mi
1h 8m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
49.9 mi
58m
The Yellow Brick Road
18.9 mi
21m
State Highway 34
17 mi
25m
East 1st Street
3.1 mi
6m
D Avenue
2.4 mi
5m
Old Highway 34
2.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 176.9 mi, about 3h 1m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~761 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,009
Quietest
2 AM
~68 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.2×
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 Shawnee, KS and Lexington, KS.
1
Start on Bond Street
0.2 mi·46 sec·Bond Street
2
Turn left onto West 49th Terrace
0.3 mi·1 min·West 49th Terrace
3
At end of road, turn right onto Nieman Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Nieman Road
4
Turn left onto Johnson Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·Johnson Drive
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward I 35 South: WichitaUse the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 35
2.8 mi·3 min·I 35
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on I 35; US 56; US 169
4.2 mi·4 min·I 35; US 56; US 169
Toward I 35 South, US 56 West, US 169 South: WichitaUse the straight lane.
8
Continue on I 35; US 50; US 56; US 169
37 mi·39 min·I 35; US 50; US 56; US 169
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on I 35; US 50; US 59
133 mi·2 hr 13 min·I 35; US 50; US 59
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 53AToward US 54, US 400
11
Merge onto US 54; US 400
50 mi·58 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 54; US 400; KS 14
2.4 mi·5 min·D Avenue
13
Continue on US 54; US 400
31 mi·35 min·Cannonball Stageline
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 54; US 400
3.1 mi·6 min·East 1st Street
15
Continue on US 54; US 400
29 mi·33 min·Cannonball Stageline
16
Continue on US 54; US 400
1.3 mi·2 min·East Kansas Avenue
17
Continue on US 54; US 400
8.3 mi·9 min·The Yellow Brick Road
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 54
11 mi·12 min·The Yellow Brick Road
19
Turn left onto KS 34
0.6 mi·50 sec·North Main Street
20
Turn straight onto KS 34
17 mi·25 min·State Highway 34
21
Turn left onto Old Highway 34
2.1 mi·5 min·Old Highway 34
22
Arrive at destination
Old Highway 34
Trip Plan
For this 6h 23m drive, leaving Shawnee, KS in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. Since the longest stretch on I 35 is 176.9 miles, plan for a break before or after this segment. The fuel cost is estimated at $53, so ensure your tank is full before departing. Given that this trip is recommended for a single day, you have flexibility; however, be aware of the transition from highway to surface roads, which may involve more frequent stops or slower speeds. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on the longer highway portions.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 167.9 miles from Shawnee, KS, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.9 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 74 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 167.9 miles or 2h 55m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lexington, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Shawnee, 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 Shawnee, KS
This is one driving day of about 335.8 miles and 6h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Shawnee, 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 I 35 for about 176.9 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 179.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|West 49th Terrace
Turn left onto West 49th Terrace
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|Nieman Road
At end of road, turn right onto Nieman Road
Navigation decision point
5
1.6 mi into trip|~4m in|Johnson Drive
Turn left onto Johnson Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
2.8 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 South: Wichita
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 35 South: Wichita
6
179.8 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Take the exit toward US 54, US 400
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 53A
Toward US 54, US 400
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.02 one way
$112.03 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg118 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$60.88
$121.76
premium
$5.26
$69.53
$139.05
diesel
$6.18
$81.69
$163.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 117.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
100.7
1
$35.26
$16.12
Efficient EV
84
0
$29.38
$13.43
EV Truck/SUV
134.3
1
$47.01
$21.49
Gas CO2
117 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (67% 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Shawnee, KS
Late night
in Shawnee on Sunday
Local time
5:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
37°F
Clear
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 1:31AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 10:30PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS
Destination
Lexington, KS
Late night
in Lexington on Sunday
Local time
5:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
30°F
Widespread Frost
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 1:31AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 10:30PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS
78°F
Andover, KS
168 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
7 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 23m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 335.8-mile drive features 58% highway use, meaning you'll spend a significant portion on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch on I 35 covers 176.9 miles. Expect the transition from highway to surface roads to occur around the midpoint of your travel. Along the way, you'll notice the typical scenery of rural Kansan landscapes, with open fields and occasional small towns dotting the horizon.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 176.9 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West 49th Terrace.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 335.8 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West 49th Terrace): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Nieman Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (Johnson Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 23m. Total distance: 335.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 23m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 176.9 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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 Lexington, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West 49th Terrace): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Nieman Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (Johnson Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lexington, KS before the return drive.
