Origin
Wichita, KS
Late night in Wichita on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wichita, KS to Benton, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
25m
Distance
19.3 mi
31 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wichita, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Benton, KS
Zsolt Pujsz
Trip Overview
Wichita to Benton is 19.3 miles and takes about 25 minutes via KS 254 and I-135, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, same-day trip stays within the Great Plains region, making it a straightforward drive. Expect a highway-focused experience for most of the journey. Given its brevity, this route is ideal for those looking for a quick transit between two points in Kansas without significant detours or time commitments.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| KS 254 | 12.7 mi | 13m |
| I 135 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| North Broadway Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| East 13th Street North | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Central Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Benton Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
KS 254
— 12.7 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wichita, KS and Benton, KS.
1
Start on this road
359 ft
·
28 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto East Central Avenue
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Central Avenue
3
Turn left onto North Broadway Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Broadway Street
4
Turn right onto East 13th Street North
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East 13th Street North
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
6
Merge onto I 135; US 81; KS 15
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 135; US 81; KS 15
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 11B
Toward KS 254: El Dorado
8
Merge onto KS 254
13 mi
·
13 min
·
KS 254
9
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
10
Turn right onto Benton Street
177 ft
·
7 sec
·
Benton Street
11
Arrive at destination
Benton Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 18.6 — 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
|
East Central Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto East Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
East 13th Street North
Turn right onto East 13th Street North
Navigation decision point
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 135; US 81; KS 15
Merge onto I 135; US 81; KS 15
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
5.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward KS 254: El Dorado
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 11B
Toward KS 254: El Dorado
4
18.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
North Main Street
Turn right onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.02 one way
$6.03 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.31 | $6.63 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.71 | $7.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.26 | $8.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.03 | $0.93 |
| Efficient EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.69 | $0.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.70 | $1.24 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Benton, KS
Late night in Benton on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
22 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
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 predominantly highway, with 83% of the route utilizing major roads like KS 254 and I-135. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 12.7 miles on KS 254, offering a consistent pace. The profile is a highway-focused drive, meaning you'll experience the efficiency of well-maintained roads designed for speed. While the majority is highway, the final portion may incorporate local street navigation as you approach Benton.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.7 mi on KS 254.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on KS 254 and I 135. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Central Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 19.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 (East Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (East 13th Street North): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 135; US 81; KS 15): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Wichita, KS
Full guide →Wichita is the largest city in Kansas — since Kansas City is divided between the states of Kansas and Missouri. It is not the biggest or flashiest city in the US, but it is a medium-sized city with a small-town feel. It offers much to tourists with its variety of attractions. === Tourist information === Visit Wichita website
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 25m. Total distance: 19.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.7 miles on KS 254. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.1 miles (East Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (East 13th Street North): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 135; US 81; KS 15): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Benton, 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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