Origin
Colby, KS
Evening in Colby on Sunday
Local time
7:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colby, KS to Hays, KS
Drive Time
1h 54m
Distance
109.4 mi
176 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 47m
★
6 AM
1h 55m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
1h 59m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 11m
8 PM
1h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colby, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Hays, KS
Petr Ganaj
Trip Overview
Connecting Colby and Hays, this 109.4-mile journey across the Great Plains of Kansas is a straightforward trek that easily fits into a single day. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 54 minutes behind the wheel, making it an efficient transit between these two hubs. With a fuel budget of approximately $17, the trip is quite economical for solo travelers or small groups. Since the entire route remains within the Great Plains, you will experience consistent regional terrain throughout the drive. It is best approached as a simple point-to-point transit rather than an overnight excursion, allowing you maximum flexibility for your arrival time in Hays.
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
54.7 miles from Colby, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Drive Character
This route functions as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a mindless interstate cruise. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, which accounts for a 105-mile stretch of your journey. Because the highway share is effectively zero in terms of high-speed bypasses, you should be prepared for more localized traffic patterns. Transitioning into town involves navigating North Range Avenue and North Vine Street as you reach your destination. The driving experience is characterized by these changing road types, requiring you to stay alert as you move from the open road into the local street grids of Hays.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 105 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near KS 25 / North Range Avenue.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 54m 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: at 0.1 miles (KS 25 / North Range Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 107.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 107.8 miles (US 183 / North Vine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
KS 25 / North Range Avenue
Turn left onto KS 25 / North Range Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
107.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward US 183: Hays, Stockton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 183: Hays, Stockton
6
107.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
|
US 183 / North Vine Street
Enter roundabout onto US 183 / North Vine Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
108.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m in
|
US 183 / North Vine Street
Enter roundabout onto US 183 / North Vine Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
109.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 105 mi | 1h 45m |
| North Range Avenue | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| North Vine Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East 27th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 3rd Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 105 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colby, KS and Hays, KS.
1
Start on West 3rd Street
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
West 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto KS 25
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Range Avenue
3
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
4
Merge onto I 70
105 mi
·
1 hr 45 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward US 183: Hays, Stockton
6
Merge onto US 183
391 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Vine Street
7
Enter roundabout onto US 183
132 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Vine Street
8
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Vine Street
9
Enter roundabout onto US 183
341 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Vine Street
10
Continue on US 183
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Vine Street
11
Turn right onto East 27th Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
East 27th Street
12
Turn left onto Main Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
13
At end of road, turn left onto Main Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Main Street
14
Turn right
292 ft
·
21 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since the total drive time is under two hours, you have plenty of freedom to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. You won't need to plan for any mandatory stops given the manageable duration, though keeping a steady pace helps maintain your $17 fuel estimate. Because this is a turn-heavy route, ensure your GPS is ready for the transition onto North Vine Street as you approach Hays. Taking advantage of the short travel time allows you to arrive refreshed without the need for mid-trip rest breaks. Use this flexibility to time your arrival with local business hours or your specific hotel check-in requirements.
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 54.7 miles from Colby, KS, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105 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 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.7 miles or 57m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hays, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Colby, 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 Colby, KS
This is one driving day of about 109.4 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Colby, 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 105 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 54.7 mi from Colby, KS · 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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 54.7 miles from Colby, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105 miles.
Arriving in Hays, KS
The final approach into Hays, 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 Hays, KS.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.62 one way
$33.23 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $18.32 | $36.64 |
| premium | $4.80 | $20.65 | $41.30 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $24.30 | $48.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.8 | 0 | $11.49 | $5.25 |
| Efficient EV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.57 | $4.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.8 | 0 | $15.32 | $7.00 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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
Hays, KS
Evening in Hays on Sunday
Local time
7:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
6 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 54m 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 Colby, KS to Hays, KS covers 109.4 miles and takes about 1h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, North Range Avenue, North Vine Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 54.7 miles from Colby, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.62 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 54m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (KS 25 / North Range Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 107.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 107.8 miles (US 183 / North Vine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Colby, KS to Hays, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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