Trip from Chanute, KS to Pittsburg, KS

Drive 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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 31m ★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 53m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 42m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 52m
8 PM
1h 34m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Chanute, KS, KS

Chanute, KS

Tien Nguyen

Downtown Pittsburg, KS, KS

Pittsburg, KS

Ken Jacobsen

Trip Overview

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 .

Drive Character

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.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 400 is the longest continuous segment at about 46.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Route Complexity 5/10

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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
1.4 mi into trip | ~3m in | KS 39 / West Cherry Street

Turn left onto KS 39 / West Cherry Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
1.9 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward US 169 South

Navigation decision point

Toward US 169 South
5
2.1 mi into trip | ~4m in | US 169

Merge onto US 169

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
26.4 mi into trip | ~33m in

Take the exit toward US 400 East

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward US 400 East
5
26.7 mi into trip | ~34m in | US 400

Merge onto US 400

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: US 400 — 46.2 mi, about 54m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chanute, KS and Pittsburg, KS.

1

Start on South Steuben Avenue

0.2 mi · 45 sec · South Steuben Avenue
2

At end of road, turn left onto West Main Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
3

Turn right onto North Plummer Avenue

0.5 mi · 55 sec · North Plummer Avenue
4

Turn left onto KS 39

0.5 mi · 59 sec · West Cherry Street
Use the straight lane.
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Toward US 169 South
6

Merge onto US 169

24 mi · 28 min · US 169
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 47 sec
Toward US 400 East Use the left lane.
8

Merge onto US 400

46 mi · 54 min · US 400
Use the none lane.
9

Turn left onto US 69; US 160

5.4 mi · 7 min · US 69; US 160
10

Turn right onto KS 126

1.0 mi · 1 min · West 4th Street
Use the none lane.
11

Turn right onto US 69 Business

66 ft · 2 sec · North Broadway Street
12

Arrive at destination

US 69 Business

Trip Plan

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.

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 39.7 miles from Chanute, KS, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.2 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chanute, 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 US 400 for about 46.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 39.7 mi from Chanute, KS · 49m into the drive

Downtown Collinsville, OK, OK

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Collinsville, OK

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Bella Vista, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 79.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Collinsville, OK

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.7 miles from Chanute, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Pittsburg, KS

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.04 one way

$24.09 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Chanute, KS

Evening in Chanute on Sunday

Local time

8:23 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pittsburg, KS

Evening in Pittsburg on Sunday

Local time

8:23 PM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

22 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 38m 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 Chanute, KS to Pittsburg, KS covers 79.3 miles and takes about 1h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 400, US 169, US 69. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.7 miles from Chanute, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.04 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 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.
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.
The route from Chanute, KS to Pittsburg, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Pittsburg, KS to Chanute, KS

Plan the drive back the other way.

79.4 mi 1h 38m

Explore more options from Chanute, KS or browse trips ending in Pittsburg, KS.

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