Origin
Wathena, KS
Late night in Wathena on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wathena, KS to Lenexa, KS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
69.7 mi
112 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 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wathena, KS
Tien Nguyen
Lenexa, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Wathena, KS to Lenexa, KS is 69.7 miles and takes about 1h 19m via I 435, I 29, and Highway 36, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that keeps you within the familiar Great Plains region for its entirety. Given its relatively short duration, it's an ideal option for a single-day trip. Plan for a smooth journey primarily on interstates, making it an efficient way to connect these two Kansas points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 435 | 29.6 mi | 31m |
| I 29 | 25.1 mi | 26m |
| Highway 36 | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| I 229 | 4.5 mi | 4m |
| I 35 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Lenexa Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Saint Joseph Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Rosehill Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 435
— 29.6 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wathena, KS and Lenexa, KS.
1
Start on South 5th Street
93 ft
·
11 sec
·
South 5th Street
2
Turn left onto Monument Road
384 ft
·
10 sec
·
Monument Road
3
Turn right onto Saint Joseph Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Saint Joseph Street
4
Turn right onto US 36
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Highway 36
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 229 South, US 59 South: Kansas City
6
Merge onto I 229; US 59
4.5 mi
·
4 min
·
I 229; US 59
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
8
Merge onto I 29; US 71
25 mi
·
26 min
·
I 29; US 71
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 17
Toward I 435 South: Topeka
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 435
30 mi
·
31 min
·
I 435
Use the right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 83
Toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita, Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita, Des Moines
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 North: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 169
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35; US 56; US 169
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 224
Toward 95th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
296 ft
·
7 sec
Toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie College
Use the right lane.
17
Turn straight onto West 95th Street
189 ft
·
3 sec
·
West 95th Street
18
Turn slight right onto Lenexa Drive
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
Lenexa Drive
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto Rosehill Road
500 ft
·
18 sec
·
Rosehill Road
20
Turn right
71 ft
·
10 sec
21
Turn left
256 ft
·
18 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.9 miles from Wathena, 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 35.9 and 69.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
35.9 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward I 435 South: Topeka
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward I 435 South: Topeka
8
66.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita, Des Moines
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 83
Toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita...
8
66.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita, Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita...
7
67.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Des Moines
9
69.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m 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
$10.90 one way
$21.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.96 | $23.93 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.41 | $26.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.39 | $30.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.32 | $3.35 |
| Efficient EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.10 | $2.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.9 | 0 | $9.76 | $4.46 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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
Lenexa, KS
Late night in Lenexa on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSE 7 to 15 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
44°F
Lansing, KS
35 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
3 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 19m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 a 94% highway share. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including the longest uninterrupted segment of 29.6 miles on I 435. The character of the drive is largely consistent, characterized by efficient travel on major roadways like I 29 and Highway 36. Expect a smooth and direct journey with minimal deviations from high-speed corridors.
94% 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: 29.6 mi on I 435.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 435 and I 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 35.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.7 miles you will encounter 18 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 35.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
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 Wathena, KS to Lenexa, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Des Moines along the way.
Des Moines
66.2 mi in
|
~1h 12m
About the Cities
Arriving in Lenexa, KS
Full guide →Lenexa is a city in Eastern Kansas.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 69.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.6 miles on I 435. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 35.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lenexa, 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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