Origin
Valley Falls, KS
Night in Valley Falls on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Valley Falls, 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 25m
Distance
62.3 mi
100 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Valley Falls, KS
Zaur Takhgiriev
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Valley Falls to Kansas City, you are looking at a straightforward 62.3-mile journey across the Kansas Great Plains. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 25 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a simple one-day excursion. You will primarily navigate via KS 16, US 24, and the Kansas Turnpike to reach your destination. With a fuel budget of approximately $9, this route is quite economical for a quick regional transit. Since both locations are firmly situated within the Great Plains, you can anticipate consistent terrain throughout your drive. Because the trip is short and lacks mandatory stops, it is best approached as a direct point-to-point commute rather than a multi-day expedition.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| KS 16 | 23.9 mi | 33m |
| US 24 | 11.6 mi | 14m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 10.7 mi | 11m |
| US 59 | 9.1 mi | 11m |
| West Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| South 7th Street Trafficway | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Speedway Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| KS 4 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
KS 16
— 23.9 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Valley Falls, KS and Kansas City, KS.
1
Start on Oak Street
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Oak Street
2
Turn left onto KS 16
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Phoebe Street
3
Continue on KS 16
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
9th Street
4
Turn left onto KS 4; KS 16
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
KS 4; KS 16
5
Turn right onto KS 16
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
KS 16
6
At end of road, turn right onto KS 16
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
KS 16
7
Keep slight left at fork onto KS 16
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
KS 16
8
Turn right onto US 59; KS 16
9.1 mi
·
11 min
·
US 59; KS 16
9
Turn left onto KS 16; KS 92
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
KS 16; KS 92
10
Keep slight right at fork onto KS 16; KS 92
13 mi
·
19 min
·
KS 16; KS 92
11
Turn left onto US 24; US 40
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Street
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on US 24; US 40
12 mi
·
14 min
·
US 24; US 40
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto Speedway Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Speedway Boulevard
14
Continue on North 110th Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
North 110th Street
15
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
16
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
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
18
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.
19
Turn left onto US 69
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South 7th Street Trafficway
Toward US 69 North
Use the left lane.
20
Turn left onto Armstrong Avenue
282 ft
·
17 sec
·
Armstrong Avenue
21
Turn left
149 ft
·
10 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.1 miles from Valley Falls, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 60.5 — 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
|
KS 16 / Phoebe Street
Turn left onto KS 16 / Phoebe Street
Navigation decision point
6
34.3 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
US 24; US 40 / West Street
Turn left onto US 24; US 40 / West Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
49.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East: Saint...
6
60.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m 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
60.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m 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
$9.74 one way
$19.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.69 | $21.39 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.99 | $23.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.76 | $27.51 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.54
Kansas Turnpike
(10.7 mi)
$0.54
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.54 | $2.99 |
| Efficient EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.45 | $2.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.72 | $3.99 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Night in Kansas City on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Reno, KS
31 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
1 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 25m 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?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 91% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm quickly, especially during the 23.9-mile stretch on KS 16, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the trip. The transition between these major arteries keeps the pace brisk, moving you efficiently from the smaller community of Valley Falls toward the urban environment of Kansas City. Because the infrastructure leans so heavily on highways, you should prepare for a functional, consistent driving experience. It is a no-nonsense route designed for efficiency, prioritizing speed and connectivity over winding backroads or technical maneuvers.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.9 mi on KS 16.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on KS 16 and US 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near KS 16 / Phoebe Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.3 miles you will encounter 17 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 (KS 16 / Phoebe Street): Navigation decision point; at 34.3 miles (US 24; US 40 / West Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 49.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 62.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.9 miles on KS 16. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.54 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 0.2 miles (KS 16 / Phoebe Street): Navigation decision point; at 34.3 miles (US 24; US 40 / West Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 49.2 miles: 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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