Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Colby, KS to Shawnee, KS

Drive Time

6h 23m

Distance

370 mi

595 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$56

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
6h 11m ★
6 AM
6h 23m
8 AM
6h 48m
10 AM
6h 32m
12 PM
6h 29m
3 PM
6h 33m
5 PM
6h 47m
8 PM
6h 16m

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
Downtown Colby, KS, KS

Colby, KS

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Shawnee, KS, KS

Shawnee, KS

Tien Nguyen

Trip Overview

The drive from Colby, KS to Shawnee, KS covers 370 miles and takes about 6h 23m 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 $56.20 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 miles from Colby, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 7m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 6h 23m drive with frequent turns across 370 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 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 221.8 miles.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

3,158 ft 868 ft

Total Climb

549 ft

Total Descent

2,645 ft

Highest Point

3,158 ft

Elevation Range

2,290 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near KS 25 / North Range Avenue.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 370 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (KS 25 / North Range Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 314 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 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

6
314 mi into trip | ~5h 19m in | I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

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

Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
5
363.4 mi into trip | ~6h 9m in

Take the exit toward College Parkway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 415 Toward College Parkway
8
363.6 mi into trip | ~6h 9m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Turner Diagonal

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward Turner Diagonal

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Colby, KS to Shawnee, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Kansas City along the way.

Kansas City

314 mi in | ~5h 19m | via I 70

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 221.8 mi 3h 41m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway 90.3 mi 1h 32m
Kansas Turnpike 48.7 mi 49m
South 59th Street 2.8 mi 5m
North Range Avenue 2.2 mi 4m
Turner Diagonal 1.2 mi 1m
KS 32 1 mi 1m
Inland Drive 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 221.8 mi, about 3h 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

221 mi · 3 hr 40 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5

Continue on I 70; US 40

75 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.1 mi · 1 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7

Continue on I 70; US 40

15 mi · 17 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70

0.8 mi · 52 sec · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
9

Continue on I 70

49 mi · 49 min · Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 415 Toward College Parkway
11

Keep slight right at fork

390 ft · 9 sec
Toward Turner Diagonal Use the slight right lane.
12

Turn straight onto Turner Diagonal

1.2 mi · 1 min · Turner Diagonal
Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on KS 32

1.0 mi · 1 min · KS 32
14

Turn right onto South 55th Street

0.4 mi · 52 sec · South 55th Street
15

Turn slight right

168 ft · 7 sec
Use the slight right lane.
16

Turn straight onto Inland Drive

0.5 mi · 1 min · Inland Drive
17

Turn left onto South 59th Street

2.8 mi · 5 min · South 59th Street
18

Turn right onto 47th Street

0.3 mi · 54 sec · 47th Street
19

Turn left onto Bond Street

0.2 mi · 42 sec · Bond Street
20

Arrive at destination

Bond Street

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 185 miles from Colby, KS, or about 3h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 221.8 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 81 miles or 1h 23m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 185 miles or 3h 7m 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 14m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shawnee, 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 370 miles and 6h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 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 221.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 185 mi from Colby, KS · 3h 7m into the drive

Downtown Newton, KS, KS

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Newton, KS

185 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 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Salina, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 185 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 221.8 miles.

Arriving in Shawnee, KS

The final approach into Shawnee, 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 Shawnee, 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

$56.20 one way

$112.40 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 130 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $61.95 $123.91
premium $4.80 $69.85 $139.70
diesel $5.64 $82.20 $164.40

Estimated Tolls: $2.43

Kansas Turnpike (48.7 mi) $2.43

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

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$84–$109

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 129.5 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 1 $38.85 $17.76
Efficient EV 92.5 1 $32.38 $14.80
EV Truck/SUV 148 1 $51.80 $23.68

Gas CO2

129 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.

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

6:59 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

Shawnee, KS

Evening in Shawnee on Sunday

Local time

6:59 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 13 to 16 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

52°F

Newton, KS

185 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

16 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

6h 23m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Colby, KS to Shawnee, KS covers 370 miles and takes about 6h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, Kansas Turnpike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 185 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 $56.20 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 370 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (KS 25 / North Range Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 314 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Colby, KS to Shawnee, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Kansas City along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Shawnee, KS to Colby, KS

Plan the drive back the other way.

369.8 mi 6h 22m

Continue From Shawnee, KS

Hays, KS 263.8 mi · 3h 51m Ellsworth, KS 208.2 mi · 3h 43m Colwich, KS 199.2 mi · 3h 35m Coffeyville, KS 164.2 mi · 3h 11m

More from Colby, KS

Pittsburg, KS 450.9 mi · 6h 53m Leawood, KS 377.2 mi · 6h 32m Leavenworth, KS 371.7 mi · 5h 19m Kansas City, KS 371.5 mi · 6h 21m Lenexa, KS 368.6 mi · 6h 21m Derby, KS 298.7 mi · 4h 12m

More trips to Shawnee, KS

Meade, KS 366.5 mi Parsons, KS 150.8 mi Cherryvale, KS 150 mi Eureka, KS 146.5 mi Baxter Springs, KS 145.6 mi Council Grove, KS 117 mi

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KS road trips.

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