Origin
Benton, KS
Evening in Benton on Tuesday
Local time
7:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Benton, KS to Wichita, KS
Data updated 2 hours ago
Drive Time
25m
Distance
19.4 mi
31 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Benton, KS
Zsolt Pujsz
Wichita, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Benton, KS to Wichita, KS covers 19.4 miles and takes about 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on KS 254, I 135, North Broadway Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12.8 miles on KS 254. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.03 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
9.7 miles from Benton, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 25m highway drive covering 19.4 miles, with most of the trip on KS 254 and I 135. The longest continuous stretch is about 12.8 miles on KS 254.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
KS 254 is the longest continuous segment at about 12.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on KS 254 and I 135. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Main Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 19.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 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
5
13.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward I 135 South, KS 96 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 135 South, KS 96 East
7
17.2 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward 13th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8
Toward 13th Street
8
17.3 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 13th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / slight right lanes.
Toward 13th Street
5
19.2 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
North Market Street
Turn left onto North Market Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| KS 254 | 12.8 mi | 14m |
| I 135 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| North Broadway Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| East 13th Street North | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Central Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Benton Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
KS 254
— 12.8 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Benton, KS and Wichita, 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
13 mi
·
14 min
·
KS 254
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 135 South, KS 96 East
5
Merge onto I 135; US 81; KS 15
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 135; US 81; KS 15
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 8
Toward 13th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
521 ft
·
12 sec
Toward 13th Street
Use the left / slight right lanes.
8
Turn straight onto East 13th Street North
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 13th Street North
9
Turn left onto North Broadway Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Broadway Street
10
Turn right onto East Central Avenue
368 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Central Avenue
11
Turn left onto North Market Street
358 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Market Street
12
Turn right
187 ft
·
13 sec
13
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 9.7 miles from Benton, KS, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.8 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 19.4 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.7 miles or 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 20m
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 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 19.4 miles and 25m.
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 KS 254 for about 12.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.7 mi from Benton, KS · 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
10 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 19.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 9.7 miles from Benton, 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
$3.03 one way
$6.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.33 | $6.66 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.73 | $7.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.28 | $8.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.04 | $0.93 |
| Efficient EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.70 | $0.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.72 | $1.24 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Evening in Wichita on Tuesday
Local time
7:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Newton, KS
10 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
33 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
25m 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 Wichita, KS covers 19.4 miles and takes about 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are KS 254, I 135, North Broadway Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.7 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 $3.03 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 19.4 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Benton, KS to Wichita, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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