Origin
Colby, KS
Morning in Colby on Monday
Local time
7:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colby, KS to Soldier, KS
Drive Time
5h 48m
Distance
323.9 mi
521 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 36m
★
6 AM
5h 49m
8 AM
6h 15m
10 AM
5h 58m
12 PM
5h 55m
3 PM
5h 59m
5 PM
6h 14m
8 PM
5h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colby, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Soldier, KS
Thang Cao
Trip Overview
The drive from Colby, KS to Soldier, KS covers 323.9 miles and takes about 5h 48m 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 16, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 220.8 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $49.20 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
161.9 miles from Colby, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 48m drive with frequent turns across 323.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 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 220.8 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 5h 48m drive. You will face about 14 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 251.1 miles (KS 18): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 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
4
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
4
251.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 13m in
|
KS 18
Take the exit onto KS 18 toward KS 18 East: Manhattan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward KS 18 East: Manhattan
7
262.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 27m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
268.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 36m in
|
US 24 / Tuttle Creek Boulevard
Enter roundabout onto US 24 / Tuttle Creek Boulevard
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 220.8 mi | 3h 40m |
| KS 16 | 33.9 mi | 42m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 27.7 mi | 27m |
| Highway 13 | 14.6 mi | 18m |
| KS 18 | 11.3 mi | 12m |
| South Seth Child Road | 5.6 mi | 8m |
| E Road | 4.8 mi | 8m |
| North Range Avenue | 2.2 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 220.8 mi, about 3h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colby, KS and Soldier, KS.
1
Start on West 3rd Street
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
West 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto North Range Avenue
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Range Avenue
3
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
4
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
221 mi
·
3 hr 40 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
28 mi
·
27 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
6
Take the exit slight right toward KS 18 East: Manhattan
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
KS 18 East: Manhattan
7
Turn left
11 mi
·
12 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward KS 113
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
KS 113
9
Keep slight left
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
10
Continue on South Seth Child Road
5.6 mi
·
8 min
·
South Seth Child Road
11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Tuttle Creek Boulevard
89 ft
·
1 sec
·
Tuttle Creek Boulevard
12
Exit the roundabout onto Tuttle Creek Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Tuttle Creek Boulevard
13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Tuttle Creek Boulevard
322 ft
·
4 sec
·
Tuttle Creek Boulevard
14
Exit the rotary onto Highway 13
15 mi
·
18 min
·
Highway 13
15
Continue straight
8.2 mi
·
9 min
16
Continue straight
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
17
Turn right
19 mi
·
25 min
18
Turn right onto State Highway 63
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 63
19
Turn left
6.0 mi
·
7 min
20
Turn left onto E Road
4.8 mi
·
8 min
·
E Road
21
Continue on 1st Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
1st Street
22
Turn left onto Jackson Street
495 ft
·
10 sec
·
Jackson Street
23
Arrive at your 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 161.9 miles from Colby, KS, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 220.8 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 80 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161.9 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Soldier, 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 323.9 miles and 5h 48m.
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 220.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 161.9 mi from Colby, KS · 2h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
162 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 161.9 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 220.8 miles.
Arriving in Soldier, KS
The final approach into Soldier, 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 Soldier, 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
$49.20 one way
$98.39 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
113 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $54.23 | $108.47 |
| premium | $4.80 | $61.15 | $122.29 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $71.96 | $143.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 97.2 | 1 | $34.01 | $15.55 |
| Efficient EV | 81 | 0 | $28.34 | $12.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 129.6 | 1 | $45.35 | $20.73 |
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Soldier, KS
Morning in Soldier on Monday
Local time
7:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
44°F
Lincoln, KS
162 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
9 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
5h 48m 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 Soldier, KS covers 323.9 miles and takes about 5h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, KS 16, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 161.9 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 $49.20 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 5h 48m drive. You will face about 14 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 251.1 miles (KS 18): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Colby, KS to Soldier, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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