WaKeeney, KS to Overland Park, KS is 300.4 miles and takes about 5h 10m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and Kansas Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip spans the Great Plains region, moving from western Kansas to the Kansas City metropolitan area. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving as you make your way east. It's a straightforward, single-day trip that should be manageable for most drivers.
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
150.2 miles from WaKeeney, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 32m 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
51.8 mi
52m
Harry Darby Memorial Highway
4.4 mi
5m
Metcalf Avenue
3.9 mi
6m
South 13th Street
0.8 mi
1m
Barclay Avenue
0.4 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 Overland Park, 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
Exit 418AToward I 635 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 635
4.4 mi·5 min·Harry Darby Memorial Highway
17
Continue on US 69
1.6 mi·2 min·Metcalf Avenue
Use the straight lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto Metcalf Avenue
2.3 mi·4 min·Metcalf Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto West 80th Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·West 80th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto Marty Street
482 ft·22 sec·Marty Street
21
Turn right onto West 81st Street
182 ft·14 sec·West 81st Street
22
Turn left
134 ft·9 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given this is a single-day drive, leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Overland Park comfortably. With a total duration of around 5 hours, you might only need one stop for fuel or a quick break. Plan your stop around the halfway point or where you see convenient services. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer highway stretches, as services can be spread out on the Great Plains. Aim to have your fuel topped off before you leave WaKeeney to start with a full tank.
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 150.2 miles from WaKeeney, KS, or about 2h 32m 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 66 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.2 miles or 2h 32m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Overland Park, 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 300.4 miles and 5h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 300.2 — 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
7
291.4 mi into trip|~4h 56m in
Take the exit toward I 635 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 418A
Toward I 635 South
6
297.9 mi into trip|~5h 4m in|Metcalf Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto Metcalf Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
300.2 mi into trip|~5h 9m in|West 80th Street
Turn right onto West 80th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.36 one way
$88.72 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$48.97
$97.95
premium
$4.72
$55.78
$111.55
diesel
$4.80
$56.72
$113.44
Estimated Tolls: $2.59
Kansas Turnpike
(51.8 mi)$2.59
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: 105.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.1
1
$31.54
$14.42
Efficient EV
75.1
0
$26.29
$12.02
EV Truck/SUV
120.2
1
$42.06
$19.23
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% 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
Overland Park, KS
Late night
in Overland Park on Sunday
Local time
1:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 9 mph17% chanceLive forecast
70°F
Dwight, KS
150 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 10m 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,...
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 238.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 17% of your time on major highways, with the longest stretch being 147.6 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. After this highway segment, the route transitions to mostly surface roads for the remainder of the drive. Expect a more rural cruising feel for a significant portion of the trip, punctuated by highway travel.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 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?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Railroad Avenue.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 300.4 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 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 291.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,449 ft851 ft
Total Climb
604 ft
Total Descent
1,973 ft
Highest Point
2,449 ft
Elevation Range
1,598 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from WaKeeney, KS to Overland Park, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Kansas City along the way.
Overland Park is a city in northeastern Kansas within the Kansas City metropolitan area. It is a melting-pot of both urban and suburban living. With 197,000 residents (2020), it is one of the most affluent cities in the U.S.
Top landmarks
•Campbell Dome House — house in Overland Park, Kansas
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 10m. Total distance: 300.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 10m 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 $2.59 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 Overland Park, 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 291.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Overland Park, KS before the return drive.
