Drive Time
6h 53m
Distance
450.9 mi
726 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$68
one way
Photo: Ken Jacobsen
The drive from Colby, KS to Pittsburg, KS covers 450.9 miles and takes about 6h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Range Avenue, Dwight D, I 135 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $68.49 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
225.5 miles from Colby, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 26m into the drive .
Expect a 6h 53m drive with frequent turns across 450.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 53m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Colby, KS to Pittsburg, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Range Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dwight D | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 135 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| KS 196 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northwest State Road 196 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Southwest 20th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Central Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Denver Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Colby, KS and Pittsburg, KS.
Start on West 3rd Street
Turn left onto North Range Avenue
Turn left
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Take the exit slight right toward I 135 South, US 81 South: Wichita
Merge slight left
Continue straight
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward KS 196: Whitewater, El Dorado
Turn left onto KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street
Continue on KS 196/Northwest 90th Street
Continue on Northwest State Road 196
Take the ramp left
Merge slight left onto Southwest 20th Street
Continue on West Central Avenue
Turn right onto South Denver Street
Turn left onto West Kansas Avenue
Turn right onto South Main Street
Turn left onto Southeast 100th Street
Turn left onto Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
Exit the roundabout onto Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
Turn left
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Turn right onto North Broadway Street
Arrive at your 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 99 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 225.5 miles or 3h 26m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pittsburg, 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 450.9 miles and 6h 53m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 225.5 mi from Colby, KS · 3h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
225 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 99 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 225.5 miles from Colby, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Pittsburg, 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 Pittsburg, KS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$68.49 one way
$136.97 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $75.50 | $151.00 |
| premium | $4.80 | $85.12 | $170.24 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $100.17 | $200.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$68
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$93–$118
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 157.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 135.3 | 1 | $47.34 | $21.64 |
| Efficient EV | 112.7 | 1 | $39.45 | $18.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 180.4 | 2 | $63.13 | $28.86 |
Gas CO2
158 kg
EV CO2
53 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Colby on Saturday
Local time
4:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Pittsburg on Saturday
Local time
4:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
52°F
Newton, KS
225 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.
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