Origin
Arkansas City, KS
Afternoon in Arkansas City on Sunday
Local time
4:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arkansas City, KS to Wichita, KS
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
62 mi
100 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arkansas City, KS
Shea B
Wichita, KS
Tien Nguyen
Trip Overview
Traveling from Arkansas City to Wichita is a straightforward 62-mile journey across the Kansas Great Plains. You can expect the drive to take approximately 1 hour and 18 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budget roughly $9 for fuel to cover this distance comfortably. By utilizing the Kansas Turnpike alongside West Madison and South Broadway Avenues, you navigate efficiently between these two regional hubs. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick excursion, this route offers a reliable, low-stress connection through the heart of the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
31 miles from Arkansas City, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 41m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with about 61% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm during the longest stretch of 37.6 miles on the Kansas Turnpike, which serves as the backbone of your journey. As you transition off the turnpike and onto South Broadway Avenue and West Madison Avenue, the character of the road shifts from open interstate cruising to local navigation. You should anticipate a consistent experience behind the wheel, characterized by the flat, expansive landscape typical of the Great Plains region.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Kansas Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 37.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and West Madison Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 5th Avenue.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 18m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 5th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Summit Street): Navigation decision point; at 54.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East 5th Avenue
Turn right onto East 5th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Summit Street
Turn left onto South Summit Street
Navigation decision point
6
54.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 135, I 235, US 81: South Wichita, Salina
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 42
Toward I 135, I 235, US 81: South Wichita, Sali...
6
55.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward US 81 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 1A
Toward US 81 South
5
61.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
North Market Street
Turn right onto North Market Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Arkansas City, KS to Wichita, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.
Salina
54.6 mi in
|
~1h 5m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Turnpike | 37.6 mi | 37m |
| West Madison Avenue | 15.9 mi | 24m |
| South Broadway Avenue | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| West Washington Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East 47th Street South | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Broadway Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South 8th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| I 135 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 37.6 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arkansas City, KS and Wichita, KS.
1
Start on this road
318 ft
·
25 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto East 5th Avenue
189 ft
·
15 sec
·
East 5th Avenue
3
Turn left onto South Summit Street
433 ft
·
22 sec
·
South Summit Street
4
Turn right onto West Washington Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Washington Avenue
5
At end of road, turn left onto South 8th Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
South 8th Street
6
Turn right onto US 166
16 mi
·
24 min
·
West Madison Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
8
Merge onto I 35
38 mi
·
37 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 42
Toward I 135, I 235, US 81: South Wichita, Salina
10
Continue on I 135
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
I 135
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 1A
Toward US 81 South
12
Turn left onto US 81
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
East 47th Street South
13
Turn right onto South Broadway Avenue
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
South Broadway Avenue
14
Continue on North Broadway Street
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
North Broadway Street
15
Turn left onto East 3rd Street North
370 ft
·
20 sec
·
East 3rd Street North
16
Turn right onto North Market Street
315 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Market Street
17
Turn left
187 ft
·
13 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 1-hour and 18-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to leave whenever it suits your plans. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled along the 62-mile path, you can easily complete the trip in one go without needing to plan for extended breaks. Keep in mind that the majority of your time is spent on the Kansas Turnpike, so ensure you have your toll payment method ready before you merge. Taking advantage of the direct highway access allows you to maximize your time in Wichita rather than spending your day on the road.
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 31 miles from Arkansas City, KS, or about 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.6 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 62 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 31 miles or 41m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wichita, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arkansas City, 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 Arkansas City, KS
This is one driving day of about 62 miles and 1h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Arkansas City, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Kansas Turnpike for about 37.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31 mi from Arkansas City, KS · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31 miles from Arkansas City, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Wichita, KS
The final approach into Wichita, KS usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Wichita, KS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.42 one way
$18.83 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $10.38 | $20.76 |
| premium | $4.80 | $11.70 | $23.41 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $13.77 | $27.55 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.88
Kansas Turnpike
(37.6 mi)
$1.88
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
$9
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.51 | $2.98 |
| Efficient EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.43 | $2.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.68 | $3.97 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Wichita, KS
Afternoon in Wichita on Sunday
Local time
4:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
64°F
Andover, KS
31 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
4 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
1h 18m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Arkansas City, KS to Wichita, KS covers 62 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kansas Turnpike, West Madison Avenue, South Broadway Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31 miles from Arkansas City, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.42 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 18m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 5th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Summit Street): Navigation decision point; at 54.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Arkansas City, KS to Wichita, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.
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