Origin
Chanute, KS
Evening in Chanute on Sunday
Local time
8:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Sign in
No account yet?
Create accountDrive Time
1h 38m
Distance
79.3 mi
128 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chanute, KS
Tien Nguyen
Pittsburg, KS
Ken Jacobsen
Connecting Chanute to Pittsburg, this 79.3-mile journey across the Great Plains is a straightforward trip that takes approximately 1 hour and 38 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $12 on fuel, making it a very budget-friendly option for your travel plans. Navigating through the heart of Kansas, the drive relies on a combination of US 400, US 169, and US 69 to get you to your destination efficiently. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that serves as a reliable link between these two regional hubs.
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
39.7 miles from Chanute, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 96% of this drive is spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend a significant portion of your time on US 400, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 46.2 miles. The road maintains a consistent pace, allowing you to settle into a rhythm as you traverse the Kansas landscape. While the route prioritizes speed and efficiency, the transition between US 169 and US 69 keeps the drive dynamic enough to stay alert. Behind the wheel, you will find the journey to be steady and predictable, ideal for those who prefer straightforward highway travel over winding backroads.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 400 and US 169. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near KS 39 / West Cherry Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.4 miles (KS 39 / West Cherry Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (US 169): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto KS 39 / West Cherry Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward US 169 South
Navigation decision point
Merge onto US 169
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 400 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto US 400
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 400 | 46.2 mi | 54m |
| US 169 | 24.2 mi | 28m |
| US 69 | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| West 4th Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Cherry Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Plummer Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Steuben Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Chanute, KS and Pittsburg, KS.
Start on South Steuben Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto West Main Street
Turn right onto North Plummer Avenue
Turn left onto KS 39
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 169
Take the exit
Merge onto US 400
Turn left onto US 69; US 160
Turn right onto KS 126
Turn right onto US 69 Business
Arrive at destination
Given the short duration of this trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though leaving in the morning will give you the most daylight once you arrive in Pittsburg. Since there are zero planned stops along the 79.3-mile path, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave Chanute to keep that $12 cost estimate accurate. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition between the three main highways, as the route requires a few specific road changes to stay on track. Because this is a relatively quick drive, you don't need to worry about heavy pacing or fatigue management. If you want to make the most of your travel, use the time saved by the high highway percentage to explore your destination immediately upon arrival.
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.
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 79.3 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.7 miles or 49m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pittsburg, KS than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Chanute, 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 Chanute, KS
This is one driving day of about 79.3 miles and 1h 38m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.7 mi from Chanute, KS · 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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.
A short stop after about 79.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 39.7 miles from Chanute, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Pittsburg, 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 Pittsburg, KS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$12.04 one way
$24.09 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $13.28 | $26.56 |
| premium | $4.80 | $14.97 | $29.94 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $17.62 | $35.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.33 | $3.81 |
| Efficient EV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.94 | $3.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.7 | 0 | $11.10 | $5.08 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Chanute on Sunday
Local time
8:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Pittsburg on Sunday
Local time
8:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Along the Route
52°F
Collinsville, OK
40 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Chanute, KS or browse trips ending in Pittsburg, KS.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KS road trips.
Explore maps for Chanute, KS or Pittsburg, KS on MapSof.net.