Trip from Colby, KS to Hutchinson, KS

Drive Time

4h 14m

Distance

232 mi

373 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 1m ★

6 AM

4h 14m

8 AM

4h 41m

10 AM

4h 24m

12 PM

4h 21m

3 PM

4h 25m

5 PM

4h 39m

8 PM

4h 6m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Trip Overview

The drive from Colby, KS to Hutchinson, KS covers 232 miles and takes about 4h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, KS 14, 15th Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 164.6 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.24 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

116 miles from Colby, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 14m drive with frequent turns across 232 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 17 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 164.6 miles.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

3,158 ft 1,536 ft

Total Climb

40 ft

Total Descent

1,661 ft

Highest Point

3,158 ft

Elevation Range

1,622 ft

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 4h 14m drive. You will face about 13 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 2.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 226.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These 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

4

2.3 mi into trip | ~4m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

5

226.9 mi into trip | ~4h 4m in

Take the exit toward Wilson Rd, Nickerson Blvd

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Wilson Rd, Nickerson Blvd

5

231.9 mi into trip | ~4h 13m in | East 7th Avenue

Turn right onto East 7th Avenue

Navigation decision point

5

232 mi into trip | ~4h 14m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway	164.6 mi	2h 44m
KS 14	49.3 mi	59m
15th Road	7.4 mi	10m
Nickerson Boulevard	3.4 mi	5m
KS 156	2.3 mi	3m
North Range Avenue	2.2 mi	4m
West 5th Avenue	1 mi	2m
15th Street	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 164.6 mi, about 2h 44m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Colby, KS and Hutchinson, 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

165 mi · 2 hr 44 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

5

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Toward KS 14 South: Ellsworth

6

Turn right onto KS 14

7.4 mi · 10 min · 15th Road

7

Turn left onto KS 140

0.5 mi · 1 min · 15th Street

8

Turn right onto KS 156

2.3 mi · 3 min · KS 156

9

Turn left onto KS 14

49 mi · 59 min · KS 14

10

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 58 sec

Toward Wilson Rd, Nickerson Blvd

11

Turn right onto North Wilson Road

474 ft · 7 sec · North Wilson Road

12

Continue on Nickerson Boulevard

3.4 mi · 5 min · Nickerson Boulevard

13

Continue on West 5th Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · West 5th Avenue

14

Turn left onto North Main Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · North Main Street

15

Turn right onto East 7th Avenue

0.1 mi · 21 sec · East 7th Avenue

16

Turn left

62 ft · 4 sec

17

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 116 miles from Colby, KS, or about 1h 58m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 164.6 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 116 miles or 1h 58m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hutchinson, 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 232 miles and 4h 14m.

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.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 164.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 116 mi from Colby, KS · 1h 58m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lincoln, KS

116 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

Hays, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hays, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 116 miles from Colby, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 164.6 miles.

Arriving in Hutchinson, KS

The final approach into Hutchinson, 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 Hutchinson, 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

$35.24 one way

$70.48 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 81 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$38.85	$77.69
premium	$4.80	$43.80	$87.59
diesel	$5.64	$51.54	$103.08

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$35

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$60–$85

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 81.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	69.6	0	$24.36	$11.14
Efficient EV	58	0	$20.30	$9.28
EV Truck/SUV	92.8	1	$32.48	$14.85

Gas CO2

81 kg

EV CO2

27 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 17 hours ago

Origin

Colby, KS

Evening in Colby on Sunday

Local time

7:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 10 to 15 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 12:10AM MDT until April 12 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Goodland KS

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 12:10AM MDT until April 12 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Goodland KS

Destination

Hutchinson, KS

Evening in Hutchinson on Sunday

Local time

7:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

S 18 mph 18% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 12:10AM MDT until April 12 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Goodland KS

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 12:10AM MDT until April 12 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Goodland KS

Along the Route

44°F

Lincoln, KS

116 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

14 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

4h 14m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 Hutchinson, KS covers 232 miles and takes about 4h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, KS 14, 15th Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 116 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 $35.24 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This is a straightforward 4h 14m drive. You will face about 13 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 2.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 226.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

The route from Colby, KS to Hutchinson, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Hutchinson, KS to Colby, KS

Plan the drive back the other way.

232 mi 4h 13m

Explore more options from Colby, KS or browse trips ending in Hutchinson, KS.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KS road trips.

Explore maps for Colby, KS or Hutchinson, KS on MapSof.net.

Trip from Colby, KS to Hutchinson, KS

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

Elevation Profile

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Hutchinson, KS

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Colby, KS

Hutchinson, KS

Same local time

14 degrees warmer at arrival

4h 14m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Was this route helpful?

Explore More

Continue From Hutchinson, KS

More from Colby, KS

More trips to Hutchinson, KS