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Create accountDrive Time
6h 21m
Distance
371.5 mi
598 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$56
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.
Colby, KS
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Colby, KS to Kansas City, KS covers 371.5 miles and takes about 6h 21m 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, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, Kansas Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 221.8 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $56.43 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
185.8 miles from Colby, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 8m into the drive .
Expect a 6h 21m drive with frequent turns across 371.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
0 ft
Total Descent
734 ft
Highest Point
3,158 ft
Elevation Range
734 ft
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 314 miles in near I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 371.5 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 314 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 369.5 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 369.8 miles (US 69): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway toward I-70 East, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69 toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69 North: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 69 toward US 69 North, US 169 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto US 69 / South 7th Street Trafficway toward US 69 North
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 221.8 mi | 3h 41m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 90.3 mi | 1h 32m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 54.7 mi | 56m |
| North Range Avenue | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| South 7th Street Trafficway | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| I 70 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| US 69 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 3rd Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Colby, KS and Kansas City, KS.
Start on West 3rd Street
Turn left onto KS 25
Turn left
Merge onto I 70
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
Continue on I 70
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
Take the exit onto US 69
Turn left onto US 69
Turn left onto Armstrong Avenue
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 82 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 185.8 miles or 3h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kansas City, KS than in the middle of the route.
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 371.5 miles and 6h 21m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 185.8 mi from Colby, KS · 3h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
186 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 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 185.8 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 221.8 miles.
The final approach into Kansas City, 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 Kansas City, 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.
Regular Gas
$56.43 one way
$112.85 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $62.20 | $124.41 |
| premium | $4.80 | $70.13 | $140.26 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $82.53 | $165.07 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.74
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 130 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 111.5 | 1 | $39.01 | $17.83 |
| Efficient EV | 92.9 | 1 | $32.51 | $14.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 148.6 | 1 | $52.01 | $23.78 |
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Colby on Sunday
Local time
8:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Evening in Kansas City on Sunday
Local time
8:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Along the Route
52°F
Newton, KS
186 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
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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