Origin
Wichita, KS
Late night in Wichita on Sunday
Local time
1:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wichita, KS to Medicine Lodge, KS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 17m
Distance
86.1 mi
139 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 8m
★
6 AM
2h 17m
8 AM
2h 36m
10 AM
2h 24m
12 PM
2h 22m
3 PM
2h 25m
5 PM
2h 35m
8 PM
2h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wichita, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Medicine Lodge, KS
Vitali Adutskevich
Trip Overview
The drive from Wichita, KS to Medicine Lodge, KS covers 86.1 miles and takes about 2h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 160, KS 2, State Highway 42 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33.9 miles on US 160. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.35 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43 miles from Wichita, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 160 | 33.9 mi | 50m |
| KS 2 | 17.7 mi | 31m |
| State Highway 42 | 17.3 mi | 30m |
| West Southwest Boulevard | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| I 235 | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| West Cessna Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| East 14th Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 160
— 33.9 mi, about 50m
Traffic on I-235
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~2,998 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~134 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
22.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 97 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 Wichita, KS and Medicine Lodge, KS.
1
Start on this road
44 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
187 ft
·
15 sec
3
Turn right onto North Market Street
361 ft
·
17 sec
·
North Market Street
4
Turn left onto East 3rd Street North
370 ft
·
20 sec
·
East 3rd Street North
5
Turn right onto North Broadway Street
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Broadway Street
6
Continue on South Broadway Avenue
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
South Broadway Avenue
7
Turn right onto East Kellogg Drive
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
East Kellogg Drive
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 54 West
9
Merge onto US 54; US 400
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 235 South
Use the right lane.
11
Merge onto I 235
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 235
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 5
Toward KS 42
13
Turn right onto KS 42
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
West Southwest Boulevard
14
Continue on KS 42
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Cessna Boulevard
15
Continue on KS 42
7.2 mi
·
9 min
·
West Southwest Boulevard
16
Continue on KS 42
17 mi
·
30 min
·
State Highway 42
17
Turn left onto KS 2
18 mi
·
31 min
·
KS 2
18
At end of road, turn right onto US 160; KS 2
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East 14th Street
19
Turn left onto US 160; KS 2
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
US 160; KS 2
20
Turn right onto US 160
31 mi
·
45 min
·
US 160
21
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
·
South Main Street
22
Turn left onto West Kansas Avenue
431 ft
·
20 sec
·
West Kansas Avenue
23
Turn right onto North Cherry Street
211 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Cherry Street
24
Turn right
154 ft
·
11 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43 miles from Wichita, KS, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.9 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 19 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43 miles or 1h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Medicine Lodge, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wichita, 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 Wichita, KS
This is one driving day of about 86.1 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Wichita, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 160 for about 33.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43 miles from Wichita, 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 0 and 4.7 — 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
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Market Street
Turn right onto North Market Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East 3rd Street North
Turn left onto East 3rd Street North
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge onto US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
4.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 235 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 235 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.35 one way
$26.70 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $14.64 | $29.27 |
| premium | $4.93 | $16.70 | $33.41 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $18.98 | $37.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.04 | $4.13 |
| Efficient EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.53 | $3.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.4 | 0 | $12.05 | $5.51 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Medicine Lodge, KS
Late night in Medicine Lodge on Sunday
Local time
1:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
98°F
Danville, KS
43 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
2 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
2h 17m 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?
86.1 mi in 2h 17m, mostly highway — 33.9 mi of that is on US 160.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.9 mi on US 160.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 160 and KS 2. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
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 86.1 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (North Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East 3rd Street North): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,513 ft
1,300 ft
Total Climb
343 ft
Total Descent
146 ft
Highest Point
1,513 ft
~79.9 mi in
Elevation Range
213 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Wichita, KS
Full guide →Founded 1868
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
Top landmarks
- • Wichita Scottish Rite Center — masonic building, theater and events venue in Wichita, Kansas, United States
- • B. H. Campbell House — historic home in Wichita, Kansas
- • Carey House — historic building in Wichita, 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 2h 17m. Total distance: 86.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.9 miles on US 160. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (North Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East 3rd Street North): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Medicine Lodge, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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