Shawnee, KS to Ulysses, KS is 410.6 miles and takes about 8 hours via Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway and US 56, with a fuel budget near $73 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route keeps you within Kansas, traversing the Great Plains for its entirety. It's a straightforward drive, largely on major highways before transitioning to more rural roads. With a recommended two-day pace, you can break up the 8-hour driving time comfortably. This trip is ideal if you're looking for a direct path across the state with minimal complexity.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
205.3 miles from Shawnee, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 37m into the drive
.
Keep slight right at fork onto US 56; US 283; US 400
0.2 mi·10 sec·US 56; US 283; US 400
30
Turn straight onto US 56; US 400
32 mi·38 min·US 56; US 400
31
Turn right onto CR EE; KS 144
17 mi·29 min·CR EE; KS 144
32
Continue on US 160
27 mi·35 min·US 160
33
Turn right onto South Missouri Street
0.3 mi·48 sec·South Missouri Street
34
Turn left onto East Grant Avenue
302 ft·15 sec·East Grant Avenue
35
Turn right onto North Court Street
226 ft·9 sec·North Court Street
36
Arrive at destination
North Court Street
Trip Plan
Given the 8-hour drive time, planning for two days is a smart move to avoid fatigue. Aim to start your first day after breakfast to maximize daylight. You'll have two designated stops along the way, which are good points to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel levels as you move into the more rural western Kansas, where services can be further apart. Splitting the 410.6 miles over two days means roughly 4 hours of driving each day, making for a relaxed 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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 205.3 miles from Shawnee, KS, or about 3h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.6 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 90 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 205.3 miles or 3h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 205.3 miles or 3h 37m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ulysses, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Shawnee, KS so your first major turns are already loaded.
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Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
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Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
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Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
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Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Shawnee, KS
Aim for roughly 205 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Ulysses, KS
Aim for roughly 205 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 90 miles from Shawnee, KS.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway for about 91.6 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 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.6 and 196 — 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
196 mi into trip|~3h 26m in
Take the exit toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$68.27 one way
$136.53 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg144 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$74.36
$148.72
premium
$5.18
$83.79
$167.57
diesel
$5.35
$86.48
$172.97
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
$68
Tolls
$2
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$201–$311
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 143.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
123.2
1
$43.11
$19.71
Efficient EV
102.7
1
$35.93
$16.42
EV Truck/SUV
164.2
2
$57.48
$26.28
Gas CO2
144 kg
EV CO2
48 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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
Shawnee, KS
Evening
in Shawnee on Wednesday
Local time
5:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny
E 12 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 10:17AM CDT until June 3 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Destination
Ulysses, KS
Evening
in Ulysses on Wednesday
Local time
5:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
SSE 10 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 10:17AM CDT until June 3 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
8h on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 46% of your time on highways, with the remaining driving on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 91.6 miles on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. Expect to see the landscape transition from more developed areas to open country as you progress westward. This route involves a mix of high-speed cruising and more relaxed rural travel.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91.6 mi on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway.
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 26 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in.
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 410.6 miles you will encounter 26 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
3,053 ft890 ft
Total Climb
2,163 ft
Total Descent
171 ft
Highest Point
3,053 ft
~410.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,163 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Shawnee, KS and Ulysses, KS, road signs point toward Salina, Ellsworth and Great Bend.
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
8h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 91.6 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 205 miles on day one.
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 24 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 Ulysses, 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 24 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 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 16.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ulysses, KS before the return drive.
