Yates Center, KS to Shawnee, KS is 114.9 miles and takes about 2h 11m via I 35 and local roads, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Kansas. The route is largely highway-focused, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently. Given its relatively short duration, this journey is well-suited for a single-day excursion with minimal planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.4 miles from Yates Center, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
72.9 mi
1h 16m
North Fry Street
20.4 mi
23m
South 4th Street
17.5 mi
22m
Nieman Road
1.7 mi
3m
Shawnee Mission Parkway
1.2 mi
2m
West Rutledge Street
0.3 mi
1m
West 49th Terrace
0.3 mi
1m
Bond Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 72.9 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yates Center, KS and Shawnee, KS.
1
Start on West Rutledge Street
0.3 mi·1 min·West Rutledge Street
2
Turn right onto US 75
20 mi·23 min·North Fry Street
3
Continue on US 75
17 mi·22 min·South 4th Street
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
5
Merge onto I 35; US 50
67 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 35; US 50
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on I 35; US 56; US 169
3.6 mi·4 min·I 35; US 56; US 169
Toward I 35 North, US 56 East, US 169 North: Des MoinesUse the straight lane.
7
Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 69; US 169
2.7 mi·3 min·I 35; US 56; US 69; US 169
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto US 56; US 69; US 169
0.2 mi·15 sec·US 56; US 69; US 169
Exit 228BToward US 56 East, US 69 North, US 169 North: Shawnee Mission ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
106 ft·4 sec
Toward Shawnee Mission Parkway, ShawneeUse the left lane.
10
Turn left onto US 56; US 69; US 169
1.2 mi·2 min·Shawnee Mission Parkway
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto Nieman Road
1.7 mi·3 min·Nieman Road
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto West 49th Terrace
0.3 mi·1 min·West 49th Terrace
13
Turn right onto Bond Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·Bond Street
14
Arrive at destination
Bond Street
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of just over two hours, you have a lot of flexibility for when to depart. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid peak commuter traffic, especially as you approach the Kansas City metropolitan area. Fuel costs are estimated at $18, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before departing Yates Center. While there are no mandated stops due to the drive's length, planning a brief break around the halfway point could be beneficial for stretching your legs.
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 57.4 miles from Yates Center, KS, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.9 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 25 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.4 miles or 1h 7m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shawnee, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Yates Center, 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 Yates Center, KS
This is one driving day of about 114.9 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Yates Center, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 72.9 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 38.4 and 112.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
38.4 mi into trip|~47m in|I 35; US 50
Merge onto I 35; US 50
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
108.6 mi into trip|~2h in|I 35; US 56; US 69; US 169
Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 69; US 169
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
111.3 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|US 56; US 69; US 169
Take the exit onto US 56; US 69; US 169 toward US 56 East, US 69 North, US 169 North: Shawnee Mission Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 228B
Toward US 56 East, US 69 North, US 169 North: S...
9
111.5 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Shawnee Mission Parkway, Shawnee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Shawnee Mission Parkway, Shawnee
6
112.7 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|Nieman Road
Turn right onto Nieman Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.96 one way
$35.93 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.72
$39.45
premium
$4.89
$22.11
$44.22
diesel
$5.61
$25.37
$50.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.5
0
$12.06
$5.52
Efficient EV
28.7
0
$10.05
$4.60
EV Truck/SUV
46
0
$16.09
$7.35
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Yates Center, KS
Late night
in Yates Center on Tuesday
Local time
5:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Shawnee, KS
Late night
in Shawnee on Tuesday
Local time
5:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Centropolis, KS
57 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
2h 11m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as highway-focused, with 65% of the journey utilizing major interstates. You'll experience a significant stretch of 72.9 miles on I 35, providing a consistent, high-speed experience. The initial and final segments will involve navigating local roads like North Fry Street and South 4th Street, offering a brief change of pace before reaching your destination. Expect a predominantly straightforward driving experience with minimal complexity.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.9 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and North Fry Street. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 38.4 miles in near I 35; US 50.
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 114.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 38.4 miles (I 35; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.6 miles (I 35; US 56; US 69; US 169): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.3 miles (US 56; US 69; US 169): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 11m. Total distance: 114.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.9 miles on I 35. 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 Shawnee, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 38.4 miles (I 35; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.6 miles (I 35; US 56; US 69; US 169): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.3 miles (US 56; US 69; US 169): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Shawnee, KS before heading back.
