Origin
Wakarusa, KS
Afternoon in Wakarusa on Sunday
Local time
12:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wakarusa, 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 22m
Distance
72.2 mi
116 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wakarusa, KS
Enric Cruz López
Trip Overview
Wakarusa to Kansas City is 72.2 miles and takes about 1h 22m via Kansas Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward journey from one point in Kansas to another. It's a highway-focused trip, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. Given its short duration and minimal stops, this route is ideal for a quick day trip or an easy segment of a larger road trip. You can expect a predictable and efficient drive with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Turnpike | 60.4 mi | 1h 1m |
| US 75 | 6.2 mi | 6m |
| South 7th Street Trafficway | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Southwest Topeka Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Southwest 97th Street | 0.5 mi | 2m |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| I 70 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Southwest Jordan Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 60.4 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wakarusa, KS and Kansas City, KS.
1
Start on Southwest Kingston Road
29 ft
·
3 sec
·
Southwest Kingston Road
2
Turn right onto Southwest 3rd Street
181 ft
·
11 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
3
Turn right onto Southwest Jordan Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Jordan Road
4
Continue on Southwest 97th Street
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Southwest 97th Street
5
Turn left onto Southwest Topeka Boulevard
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Southwest Topeka Boulevard
6
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
7
Merge onto US 75
6.2 mi
·
6 min
·
US 75
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 470 East, I 335
9
Merge onto I 470
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-70 East: Lawrence, Kansas City
11
Merge onto I 470
60 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
12
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
13
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.
14
Turn left onto US 69
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South 7th Street Trafficway
Toward US 69 North
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto Armstrong Avenue
282 ft
·
17 sec
·
Armstrong Avenue
16
Turn left
149 ft
·
10 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 36.1 miles from Wakarusa, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Kansas Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.4 miles.
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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 70.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Southwest Jordan Road
Turn right onto Southwest Jordan Road
Navigation decision point
5
8.4 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward I 470 East, I 335
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 470 East, I 335
6
9.3 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-70 East: Lawrence, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 East: Lawrence, Kansas City
6
70.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m 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
70.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m 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
$11.29 one way
$22.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.39 | $24.79 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.89 | $27.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.94 | $31.88 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.02
Kansas Turnpike
(60.4 mi)
$3.02
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$3
Total
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.58 | $3.47 |
| Efficient EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.32 | $2.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.11 | $4.62 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Afternoon in Kansas City on Sunday
Local time
12:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Reno, KS
36 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
21 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
1h 22m 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 route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the journey on high-speed roads like the Kansas Turnpike and US 75. You'll experience long stretches of consistent travel, including a significant 60.4-mile segment on the Kansas Turnpike. The profile suggests a primary focus on efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways. Expect a relatively uniform driving experience for most of the trip, characterized by the ease of major roadways connecting your origin and destination.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.4 mi on Kansas Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and US 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southwest Jordan Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.2 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (Southwest Jordan Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.3 miles: 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 22m. Total distance: 72.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.4 miles on Kansas Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.02 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: near the start (Southwest Jordan Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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