Origin
Benton, KS
Evening in Benton on Tuesday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Benton, KS to Salina, KS
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
1h 42m
Distance
93.9 mi
151 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 35m
★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 58m
10 AM
1h 48m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 57m
8 PM
1h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Benton, KS
Zsolt Pujsz
Salina, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Benton, KS to Salina, KS covers 93.9 miles and takes about 1h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 135, KS 254, East 61st Street North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78.8 miles on I 135. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.68 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
47 miles from Benton, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 42m highway drive covering 93.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 135 and KS 254. The longest continuous stretch is about 78.8 miles on I 135.
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.
I 135 is the longest continuous segment at about 78.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 135 and KS 254. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Main Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 42m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (KS 254): Navigation decision point; at 8.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
KS 254
Turn left onto KS 254
Navigation decision point
4
8.9 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward Woodlawn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Woodlawn
5
12.8 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the ramp toward I 135 North, US 81, KS 15: Salina
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 135 North, US 81, KS 15: Salina
5
13 mi into trip
|
~18m 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 left lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Benton, KS to Salina, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Woodlawn along the way.
Woodlawn
8.9 mi in
|
~11m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 135 | 78.8 mi | 1h 19m |
| KS 254 | 8.2 mi | 8m |
| East 61st Street North | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| West State Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Iron Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Kechi Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North College Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 135
— 78.8 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Benton, KS and Salina, KS.
1
Start on Benton Street
177 ft
·
13 sec
·
Benton Street
2
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
3
Turn left onto KS 254
8.2 mi
·
8 min
·
KS 254
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward Woodlawn
5
Continue on Kechi Road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Kechi Road
6
Continue on East 61st Street North
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
East 61st Street North
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 135 North, US 81, KS 15: Salina
8
Merge onto I 135; US 81; KS 15
16 mi
·
16 min
·
I 135; US 81; KS 15
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Continue on I 135; US 50; US 81
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 135; US 50; US 81
10
Continue on I 135; US 81
61 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 135; US 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward KS 140
12
Turn right onto West State Street
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
West State Street
13
Keep slight right at fork
428 ft
·
9 sec
14
Turn straight onto West State Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West State Street
15
Turn right onto North College Avenue
379 ft
·
15 sec
·
North College Avenue
16
Turn left onto West Iron Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Iron Avenue
17
Turn right onto South 8th Street
92 ft
·
3 sec
·
South 8th Street
18
Arrive at destination
South 8th Street
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 47 miles from Benton, KS, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.8 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 80 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47 miles or 52m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salina, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Benton, 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 Benton, KS
This is one driving day of about 93.9 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Benton, 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 I 135 for about 78.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 47 mi from Benton, KS · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 47 miles from Benton, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 135 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.8 miles.
Arriving in Salina, KS
The final approach into Salina, 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 Salina, 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
$14.68 one way
$29.36 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.12 | $32.24 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.07 | $36.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.73 | $41.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.2 | 0 | $9.86 | $4.51 |
| Efficient EV | 23.5 | 0 | $8.22 | $3.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.6 | 0 | $13.15 | $6.01 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Salina, KS
Evening in Salina on Tuesday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Newton, KS
47 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
35 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 42m 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 Benton, KS to Salina, KS covers 93.9 miles and takes about 1h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 135, KS 254, East 61st Street North. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47 miles from Benton, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.68 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 42m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (KS 254): Navigation decision point; at 8.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Benton, KS to Salina, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Woodlawn along the way.
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