Origin
Silver Lake, KS
Afternoon in Silver Lake on Sunday
Local time
1:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Silver Lake, KS to Kansas City, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
74.4 mi
120 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Silver Lake, KS
Sean Ewing
Trip Overview
This straightforward 74.4-mile drive from Silver Lake to Kansas City, Kansas, can be completed in about 1 hour and 24 minutes, making it an easy day trip. The route is predominantly highway, with 76% of it on major roads like the Kansas Turnpike and Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, this trip is budget-friendly. You'll be traveling within the Great Plains region throughout your journey, so expect consistent, open landscapes. There are no designated stops recommended, so you can decide if and when you want to pull over.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Turnpike | 54.7 mi | 56m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 8.1 mi | 9m |
| South Chestnut Street | 7.3 mi | 9m |
| South 7th Street Trafficway | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| US 75 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| I 70 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| US 69 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Armstrong Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 54.7 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Silver Lake, KS and Kansas City, KS.
1
Start on US 24
7.3 mi
·
9 min
·
South Chestnut Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
2
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Merge onto US 75
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 75
Use the straight lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East, KS 4 East: Kansas City, Gage Boulevard
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
6
Merge onto I 70; US 40; KS 4
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
8
Continue on I 70
55 mi
·
56 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69 North: Saint Louis
10
Take the exit onto US 69
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 69
Exit 422A
Toward US 69 North, US 169 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 69
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South 7th Street Trafficway
Toward US 69 North
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto Armstrong Avenue
282 ft
·
17 sec
·
Armstrong Avenue
13
Turn left
149 ft
·
10 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.2 miles from Silver Lake, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 9 and 72.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
9 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 East, US 40 East, KS 4 East: Kansas City, Gage Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East, KS 4 East: Kansas...
7
9.3 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight left at fork 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
16.8 mi into trip
|
~21m 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
72.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69 toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69 North: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69...
9
72.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
US 69
Take the exit onto US 69 toward US 69 North, US 169 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 422A
Toward US 69 North, US 169 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.63 one way
$23.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.77 | $25.54 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.32 | $28.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.43 | $32.85 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.74
Kansas Turnpike
(54.7 mi)
$2.74
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$3
Total
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 26 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.81 | $3.57 |
| Efficient EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.51 | $2.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.42 | $4.76 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Kansas City, KS
Afternoon in Kansas City on Sunday
Local time
1:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Reno, KS
37 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 24m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 74.4-mile journey. Over three-quarters of your drive, 76% to be exact, will be on main roads, including the Kansas Turnpike. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a solid 54.7 miles on the Kansas Turnpike, offering a chance for steady progress. While the majority is highway, you will transition onto South Chestnut Street closer to your destination. This route is designed for efficient travel rather than winding scenic detours.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.7 mi on Kansas Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.4 miles you will encounter 12 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 9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.8 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 74.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.7 miles on Kansas Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.74 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.
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 Kansas City, KS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.8 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kansas City, KS before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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