Origin
Carbondale, KS
Morning in Carbondale on Saturday
Local time
9:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carbondale, KS to Lenexa, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
66 mi
106 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carbondale, KS
Tien Nguyen
Lenexa, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Carbondale, KS to Lenexa, KS covers 66 miles and takes about 1h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Lawrence Trafficway, North 300 Road, West 157th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 26.6 miles on South Lawrence Trafficway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.32 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 66 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 20m drive with frequent turns across 66 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Lawrence Trafficway is the longest continuous segment at about 26.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 61.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66 miles you will encounter 19 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 61.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
61.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines, Renner Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines,...
8
61.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines
8
62.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35: Wichita, Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35: Wichita, Des Moines
7
63.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Des Moines
9
65.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University...
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 Carbondale, KS to Lenexa, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Des Moines along the way.
Des Moines
61.9 mi in
|
~1h 13m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Lawrence Trafficway | 26.6 mi | 28m |
| North 300 Road | 12.6 mi | 15m |
| West 157th Street | 9.9 mi | 13m |
| US 59 | 9.4 mi | 10m |
| US 75 | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| I 35 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Lenexa Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South Lawrence Trafficway
— 26.6 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carbondale, KS and Lenexa, KS.
1
Start on South 4th Street
130 ft
·
7 sec
·
South 4th Street
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Main Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
4
Merge onto US 75
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US 75
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
6
Turn left onto US 56
9.9 mi
·
13 min
·
West 157th Street
7
Continue on US 56
13 mi
·
15 min
·
North 300 Road
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward US 59 North: Lawrence
9
Merge onto US 59
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
US 59
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward KS 10 East: Olathe
11
Merge onto KS 10
27 mi
·
28 min
·
South Lawrence Trafficway
12
Take the exit
391 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines, Renner Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
1.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35: Wichita, Des Moines
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 North: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 169
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35; US 56; US 169
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 224
Toward 95th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
296 ft
·
7 sec
Toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie College
Use the right lane.
19
Turn straight onto West 95th Street
189 ft
·
3 sec
·
West 95th Street
20
Turn slight right onto Lenexa Drive
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
Lenexa Drive
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto Rosehill Road
500 ft
·
18 sec
·
Rosehill Road
22
Turn right
71 ft
·
10 sec
23
Turn left
256 ft
·
18 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33 mi from Carbondale, KS · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33 miles from Carbondale, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lenexa, KS
The final approach into Lenexa, KS usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.32 one way
$20.64 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.33 | $22.66 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.70 | $25.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.57 | $29.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.93 | $3.17 |
| Efficient EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.77 | $2.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.4 | 0 | $9.24 | $4.22 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Lenexa, KS
Morning in Lenexa on Saturday
Local time
9:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
20 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
1h 20m 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 Carbondale, KS to Lenexa, KS covers 66 miles and takes about 1h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Lawrence Trafficway, North 300 Road, West 157th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33 miles from Carbondale, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.32 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 66 miles you will encounter 19 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: at 61.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Carbondale, KS to Lenexa, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Des Moines along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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