Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Shawnee, KS to Quinter, KS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 27m
Distance
315.2 mi
507 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 14m
★
6 AM
5h 28m
8 AM
5h 55m
10 AM
5h 37m
12 PM
5h 35m
3 PM
5h 39m
5 PM
5h 53m
8 PM
5h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shawnee, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Quinter, KS
Pablo López
Trip Overview
Shawnee, KS to Quinter, KS is 315.2 miles and takes about 5h 27m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Kansas, traversing the Great Plains region from start to finish. Given its duration and the predominance of surface roads, expect a relatively straightforward drive. It's a solid option if you're looking for a direct, single-day transit across the state without extensive highway time.
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
157.6 miles from Shawnee, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 167.3 mi | 2h 47m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 91.6 mi | 1h 34m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 44.9 mi | 45m |
| I 435 | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| West 51st Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Holliday Drive | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Quivira Lane | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Quivira Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 167.3 mi, about 2h 47m
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
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Shawnee, KS and Quinter, KS.
1
Start on Bond Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Bond Street
2
Turn right onto West 49th Terrace
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
West 49th Terrace
3
Continue on Garnett Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Garnett Street
4
Turn right onto West 51st Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West 51st Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto Quivira Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Quivira Drive
6
Continue on Quivira Lane
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Quivira Lane
7
Turn right
54 ft
·
7 sec
8
Turn left onto Holliday Drive
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Holliday Drive
9
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 435 North
10
Merge onto I 435
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
I 435
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 12B
Toward I 70 West: Topeka, Kansas Turnpike
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
44 mi
·
44 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 70
92 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Toward I-70 West
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on I 70; US 40
167 mi
·
2 hr 47 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward Quinter
17
Turn right onto Castle Rock Street
146 ft
·
4 sec
·
Castle Rock Street
18
Turn slight right onto Highway 212
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 212
19
At end of road, turn left onto Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
20
Turn sharp right onto Old Highway 40
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Old Highway 40
21
Arrive at destination
Old Highway 40
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving Shawnee in the morning will give you ample time to reach Quinter before dark. Since it's a single-day trip, you can be flexible with your timing. Plan for at least one stop to break up the 5 hours of driving, perhaps around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially after leaving the main highway segments, as services might be more spread out on the surface roads. The $56 fuel estimate should cover your costs for this 315.2-mile trip.
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 157.6 miles from Shawnee, KS, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 167.3 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 69 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.6 miles or 2h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Quinter, 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 315.2 miles and 5h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 167.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
158 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 157.6 miles from Shawnee, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 167.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Sapp Brothers Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Paxico Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Topeka Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Plaza of the Flint Hills
0.1 mi from route
Topeka Fleet Garage
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 4.6 and 315.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Turn left toward I 435 North
Navigation decision point
Toward I 435 North
8
9.8 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Topeka, Kansas Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12B
Toward I 70 West: Topeka, Kansas Turnpike
5
10.1 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
54 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
I 70 / Kansas Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 / Kansas Turnpike toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
5
315.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 27m in
|
Old Highway 40
Turn sharp right onto Old Highway 40
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.55 one way
$93.10 round trip
$3.75/gal
25.4 MPG avg
110 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.14 | $51.39 | $102.78 |
| premium | $4.72 | $58.52 | $117.05 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $59.52 | $119.03 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.25
Kansas Turnpike
(44.9 mi)
$2.25
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
$47
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 94.6 | 1 | $33.10 | $15.13 |
| Efficient EV | 78.8 | 0 | $27.58 | $12.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 126.1 | 1 | $44.13 | $20.17 |
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 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.
Origin
Shawnee, KS
Night in Shawnee on Saturday
Local time
10:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 9 mph
18% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Quinter, KS
Night in Quinter on Saturday
Local time
10:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
S 10 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
70°F
Dwight, KS
158 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
1 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
5h 27m 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.
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,...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 65.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route involves 16% highway driving, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, covering 167.3 miles. Expect a shift from highway cruising to more rural, town-traversing road conditions as you progress. The higher percentage of surface roads suggests more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds through populated areas.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 167.3 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 315.2 miles you will encounter 15 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 4.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,669 ft
821 ft
Total Climb
2,004 ft
Total Descent
397 ft
Highest Point
2,669 ft
~315.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,848 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Shawnee, KS to Quinter, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.
Salina
54 mi in
|
~1h 2m
|
via I 70
About the Cities
Starting in Shawnee, KS
Full guide →Arriving in Quinter, KS
Full guide →Quinter is a town in Western region of Kansas.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 27m. Total distance: 315.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (16%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 167.3 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.25 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 30 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.
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 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Quinter, KS before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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