WaKeeney, KS to Kansas City, KS is 296.4 miles and takes about 5h 5m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, meaning you'll experience mostly flat terrain and open vistas. The route primarily uses major highways, offering a straightforward path from western Kansas to the eastern edge of the state. Given its duration and distance, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion. Plan for a steady pace across the Kansas landscape.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
148.2 miles from WaKeeney, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
147.6 mi
2h 27m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
90.3 mi
1h 32m
Kansas Turnpike
54.7 mi
56m
South 7th Street Trafficway
1.5 mi
3m
South 13th Street
0.8 mi
1m
Barclay Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
I 70
0.3 mi
<1m
US 40 Business
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 147.6 mi, about 2h 27m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~940 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,186
Quietest
2 AM
~75 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between WaKeeney, KS and Kansas City, KS.
1
Start on North 8th Street
395 ft·17 sec·North 8th Street
2
Turn slight left
65 ft·3 sec
3
Turn slight left
24 ft·1 sec
4
Keep slight right at fork onto South Railroad Avenue
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
16
Take the exit onto US 69
0.2 mi·20 sec·US 69
Exit 422AToward US 69 North, US 169 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto US 69
1.5 mi·3 min·South 7th Street Trafficway
Toward US 69 NorthUse the left lane.
18
Turn left onto Armstrong Avenue
282 ft·17 sec·Armstrong Avenue
19
Turn left
149 ft·10 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Kansas City before evening. With only one recommended stop, you can cover significant ground before needing a break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer stretches on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, where services might be less frequent. The $46 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart when you're ready, but aim to leave early to avoid potential traffic near your destination.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 148.2 miles from WaKeeney, KS, or about 2h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 147.6 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 65 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.2 miles or 2h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kansas City, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving WaKeeney, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from WaKeeney, KS
This is one driving day of about 296.4 miles and 5h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from WaKeeney, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 147.6 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 294.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South Railroad Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto South Railroad Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
238.8 mi into trip|~4h 2m 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
294.3 mi into trip|~5h 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
294.6 mi into trip|~5h 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
5
294.8 mi into trip|~5h in|US 69 / South 7th Street Trafficway
Turn left onto US 69 / South 7th Street Trafficway toward US 69 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 69 North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.77 one way
$87.54 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$48.32
$96.65
premium
$4.72
$55.03
$110.06
diesel
$4.80
$55.97
$111.93
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.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.9
1
$31.12
$14.23
Efficient EV
74.1
0
$25.94
$11.86
EV Truck/SUV
118.6
1
$41.50
$18.97
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
WaKeeney, KS
Late night
in WaKeeney on Sunday
Local time
1:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
SSE 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Kansas City, KS
Late night
in Kansas City on Sunday
Local time
1:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 7 mph16% chanceLive forecast
70°F
Dwight, KS
148 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
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
5h 5m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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,...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 235.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Your drive will involve 19% highway travel, primarily on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, which accounts for the longest stretch at 147.6 miles. After this highway section, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. Expect a mix of cruising at higher speeds and then navigating through more developed areas as you approach Kansas City. The route largely follows the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway before shifting to the Kansas Turnpike.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 147.6 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Railroad Avenue.
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 296.4 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 0.1 miles (South Railroad Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 238.8 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 294.3 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Kansas City is a city in the state of Kansas, in the United States of America, and a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. Kansas City, Kansas, is often referred to as KCK, and Kansas City, Missouri, as KCMO. The two Kansas Cities form the core of the wider Kansas City metropolitan area.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 5m. Total distance: 296.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 147.6 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. 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.
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 Kansas City, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Railroad Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 238.8 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 294.3 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69): 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kansas City, KS before the return drive.
