Origin
Auburn, KS
Late night in Auburn on Wednesday
Local time
5:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Auburn, KS to Kansas City, KS
Data updated 1 second ago
Drive Time
1h 32m
Distance
75.7 mi
122 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 25m
★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 38m
5 PM
1h 45m
8 PM
1h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, KS
Tien Nguyen
Trip Overview
This 75.7-mile drive from Auburn, KS to Kansas City, KS is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking just about 1 hour and 32 minutes. You'll spend most of your time on the Kansas Turnpike, which makes up 83% of the route, offering a straightforward highway-focused experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, this is an economical journey. Both your origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, so you can expect a consistent landscape throughout your travels. This route is ideal for a quick transit, with no recommended overnight stops needed.
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
37.8 miles from Auburn, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 83% of the route utilizing major roadways like the Kansas Turnpike. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 60.4 miles on the Kansas Turnpike, indicating long periods of consistent speed. While primarily a highway experience, you will also navigate sections on Southwest 61st Street and Southwest Auburn Road, suggesting a brief transition from faster speeds to potentially more local road conditions as you approach your destination. This mix offers a predictable yet varied driving feel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 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 60.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and Southwest 61st Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.8 miles in.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 75.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.2 miles (I 470 / Kansas Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
11.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward I 470 East, I 335
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 470 East, I 335
6
12.8 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-70 East: Lawrence, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 East: Lawrence, Kansas City
5
13.2 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
I 470 / Kansas Turnpike
Merge onto I 470 / Kansas Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
73.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69 toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69 North: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69...
9
73.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
US 69
Take the exit onto US 69 toward US 69 North, US 169 South
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 422A
Toward US 69 North, US 169 South
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Turnpike | 60.4 mi | 1h 1m |
| Southwest 61st Street | 5 mi | 8m |
| Southwest Auburn Road | 3 mi | 7m |
| US 75 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| South 7th Street Trafficway | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Southwest Burlingame Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Southwest 57th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 60.4 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, KS and Kansas City, KS.
1
Start on East 8th Street
34 ft
·
5 sec
·
East 8th Street
2
Turn right onto Washington Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
3
Continue on Southwest Auburn Road
3.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Southwest Auburn Road
4
Turn right onto Southwest 61st Street
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Southwest 61st Street
5
Enter roundabout onto Southwest 61st Street
102 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 61st Street
6
Continue on Southwest 61st Street
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Southwest 61st Street
7
Continue on Southwest Burlingame Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Burlingame Road
8
Turn slight right
206 ft
·
9 sec
9
Turn straight onto Southwest 57th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest 57th Street
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
11
Merge onto US 75
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 75
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 470 East, I 335
13
Merge onto I 470
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-70 East: Lawrence, Kansas City
15
Merge onto I 470
60 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69 North: Saint Louis
17
Take the exit onto US 69
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 69
Exit 422A
Toward US 69 North, US 169 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto US 69
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South 7th Street Trafficway
Toward US 69 North
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto Armstrong Avenue
282 ft
·
17 sec
·
Armstrong Avenue
20
Turn left
149 ft
·
10 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of this 1-hour, 32-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility for departure time. There are no specific stops recommended, so you can depart when it's most convenient. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $12, and plan your refueling accordingly, especially before embarking on the longest 60.4-mile stretch on the Kansas Turnpike. This route is direct and efficient, making it a practical choice for getting from Auburn to Kansas City without extensive planning.
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 37.8 miles from Auburn, KS, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.4 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 75.7 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.8 miles or 50m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kansas City, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Auburn, 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 Auburn, KS
This is one driving day of about 75.7 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Auburn, 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 60.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37.8 mi from Auburn, KS · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 75.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.8 miles from Auburn, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Kansas Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.4 miles.
Arriving in Kansas City, KS
The final approach into Kansas City, 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 Kansas City, 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
$11.83 one way
$23.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.99 | $25.99 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.57 | $29.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.71 | $33.43 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.02
Kansas Turnpike
(60.4 mi)
$3.02
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
$12
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.95 | $3.63 |
| Efficient EV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.62 | $3.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.3 | 0 | $10.60 | $4.84 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Kansas City, KS
Late night in Kansas City on Wednesday
Local time
5:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Valley Falls, KS
38 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
5 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 32m 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 Auburn, KS to Kansas City, KS covers 75.7 miles and takes about 1h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kansas Turnpike, Southwest 61st Street, Southwest Auburn Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.8 miles from Auburn, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.83 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 demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 75.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.2 miles (I 470 / Kansas Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Auburn, KS to Kansas City, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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