This 399.9-mile journey from Ulysses, KS, to Lenexa, KS, will take approximately 7 hours and 51 minutes of driving time. Primarily using US 50 and I-35, this route is a highway-focused drive that can comfortably be completed in a single day. With a projected fuel cost of around $63, it's an economical option for a cross-state trip. You'll experience the expansive landscapes of the Great Plains throughout your drive, as both your origin and destination are within Kansas. This straightforward route is ideal if you're looking to get from point A to point B 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
200 miles from Ulysses, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 50
219.2 mi
4h 15m
I 35
96.1 mi
1h 38m
US 56
39.5 mi
47m
East Oklahoma Avenue
27 mi
35m
KS 144
16.6 mi
29m
South Missouri Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Lenexa Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Rosehill Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 219.2 mi, about 4h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ulysses, KS and Lenexa, KS.
1
Start on North Court Street
226 ft·15 sec·North Court Street
2
Turn left onto East Grant Avenue
302 ft·15 sec·East Grant Avenue
3
Turn right onto South Missouri Street
0.3 mi·50 sec·South Missouri Street
4
Turn left onto US 160
27 mi·35 min·East Oklahoma Avenue
5
Continue on KS 144
17 mi·29 min·KS 144
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 56
33 mi·39 min·US 56
7
Keep straight at fork
316 ft·4 sec
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 56; US 283; US 400
3.9 mi·4 min·US 56; US 283; US 400
9
Turn right onto US 56; US 283
3.1 mi·3 min·US 56; US 283
10
Turn right onto US 50; US 56; US 283
68 mi·1 hr 18 min·US 50; US 56; US 283
11
Enter roundabout onto US 50
162 ft·2 sec·US 50
12
Continue on US 50
79 mi·1 hr 31 min·US 50
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50
2.7 mi·2 min·US 50
Toward I 135 North, US 50 East, US 81 North: Salina, EmporiaUse the slight left lane.
14
Take the exit onto US 50
26 mi·31 min·US 50
Exit 33Toward US 50: Peabody, Emporia
15
Enter roundabout onto US 50
213 ft·9 sec·US 50
Toward US 50 East: Emporia
16
Continue on US 50
43 mi·50 min·US 50
Toward US 50 East: Emporia
17
Enter roundabout
364 ft·4 sec
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
18
Continue
0.2 mi·10 sec
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
19
Enter roundabout
30 ft·0 sec
Toward I 35 North: Kansas City
20
Continue
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 35 North: Kansas City
21
Merge onto I 35
95 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 35
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on I 35; US 56; US 169
1.6 mi·1 min·I 35; US 56; US 169
Toward I 35 North, US 56 East, US 169 North: Des MoinesUse the straight lane.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 224Toward 95th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork
296 ft·7 sec
Toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie CollegeUse the right lane.
25
Turn straight onto West 95th Street
189 ft·3 sec·West 95th Street
26
Turn slight right onto Lenexa Drive
0.2 mi·56 sec·Lenexa Drive
Use the right lane.
27
Turn left onto Rosehill Road
500 ft·18 sec·Rosehill Road
28
Turn right
71 ft·10 sec
29
Turn left
256 ft·18 sec
30
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour, 51-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Ulysses, KS, to maximize daylight and arrive in Lenexa, KS, with ample time. With two planned stops and a longest stretch of 219.2 miles on US 50, pace yourself to avoid fatigue. The fuel cost is estimated at $63, so ensure your tank is full before leaving Ulysses. Given the highway-focused profile, keep an eye on your speed and be aware of your surroundings, especially as you merge onto I-35.
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 200 miles from Ulysses, KS, or about 4h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 219.2 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 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 200 miles or 4h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lenexa, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ulysses, 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 Ulysses, KS
This is one driving day of about 399.9 miles and 7h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Ulysses, 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 US 50 for about 219.2 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 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 231 and 399.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
231 mi into trip|~4h 44m in|US 50
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50 toward I 135 North, US 50 East, US 81 North: Salina, Emporia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 135 North, US 50 East, US 81 North: Sa...
6
233.6 mi into trip|~4h 47m in|US 50
Take the exit onto US 50 toward US 50: Peabody, Emporia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 33
Toward US 50: Peabody, Emporia
6
302.7 mi into trip|~6h 9m in
Enter roundabout toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka
7
399.3 mi into trip|~7h 49m in
Take the exit toward 95th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 224
Toward 95th Street
9
399.4 mi into trip|~7h 49m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$62.52 one way
$125.04 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg140 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$68.64
$137.29
premium
$4.89
$76.96
$153.91
diesel
$5.61
$88.29
$176.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$63
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
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, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
120
1
$41.99
$19.20
Efficient EV
100
1
$34.99
$16.00
EV Truck/SUV
160
1
$55.99
$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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Ulysses, KS
Evening
in Ulysses on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lenexa, KS
Evening
in Lenexa on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 17 mph45% chanceLive forecast
78°F
Newton, KS
200 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
24 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
7h 51m 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?
Expect a predominantly highway experience, with 93% of the drive on major roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 219.2 miles on US 50, offering a good period of consistent travel. While the route is largely highway-focused, you'll transition between US 56 and I-35, providing some variation in the driving environment. This drive is characterized by its straightforward nature, allowing for steady progress across the Kansas landscape without significant deviations or complex road changes.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 219.2 mi on US 50.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 231 miles in near US 50.
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 25 significant decision points across 399.9 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 231 miles (US 50): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 233.6 miles (US 50): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 302.7 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ulysses, KS and Lenexa, KS, road signs point toward Emporia, Kansas City, Wichita and Topeka.
Emporia
231 mi in|~4h 44m|via US 50
Kansas City
302.7 mi in|~6h 9m
Wichita
302.7 mi in|~6h 9m
Topeka
302.7 mi in|~6h 9m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 51m. Total distance: 399.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 51m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 219.2 miles on US 50. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Lenexa, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 231 miles (US 50): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 233.6 miles (US 50): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 302.7 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.9 hours each way, a round trip means 15.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lenexa, KS before the return drive.
