Origin
De Soto, KS
Afternoon in De Soto on Thursday
Local time
12:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from De Soto, KS to Junction City, KS
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 1m
Distance
110.7 mi
178 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 53m
★
6 AM
2h 2m
8 AM
2h 19m
10 AM
2h 8m
12 PM
2h 6m
3 PM
2h 9m
5 PM
2h 18m
8 PM
1h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
De Soto, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Junction City, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from De Soto, KS to Junction City, KS covers 110.7 miles and takes about 2h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, KS 10, Kansas Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 67.4 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.31 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.3 miles from De Soto, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 110.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The drive from De Soto, KS to Junction City, KS covers 110.7 miles and takes about 2h 1m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 67.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Ottawa Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 110.7 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.2 miles (Ottawa Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (KS 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Ottawa Street
At end of road, turn left onto Ottawa Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward KS 10 West: Lawrence
Navigation decision point
Toward KS 10 West: Lawrence
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
KS 10
Merge onto KS 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
26.5 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
8
40.4 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
I 70 / Kansas Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 / Kansas Turnpike toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from De Soto, KS to Junction City, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.
Salina
40.4 mi in
|
~46m
|
via I 70
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 67.4 mi | 1h 9m |
| KS 10 | 24.4 mi | 27m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 14.3 mi | 14m |
| East 6th Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Lexington Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Ottawa Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West 82nd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| J Hill Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
— 67.4 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between De Soto, KS and Junction City, KS.
1
Start on West 82nd Street
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
West 82nd Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto Ottawa Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Ottawa Street
3
Turn right onto Lexington Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lexington Avenue
4
Enter roundabout onto Lexington Avenue
104 ft
·
2 sec
·
Lexington Avenue
5
Continue on Lexington Avenue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Lexington Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward KS 10 West: Lawrence
7
Merge onto KS 10
24 mi
·
27 min
·
KS 10
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
9
Merge onto I 70
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 70
67 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Toward I-70 West
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward J Hill Road, Flinthills Boulevard
13
Turn right onto J Hill Road
292 ft
·
11 sec
·
J Hill Road
14
Turn left onto US 40 Business; KS 57
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East 6th Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto North Jefferson Street
130 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Jefferson Street
16
Arrive at destination
North Jefferson Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 55.3 miles from De Soto, KS, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.4 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 24 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.3 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Junction City, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving De Soto, 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 De Soto, KS
This is one driving day of about 110.7 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from De Soto, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway for about 67.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55.3 mi from De Soto, KS · 1h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 55.3 miles from De Soto, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.4 miles.
Arriving in Junction City, KS
The final approach into Junction 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 Junction City, KS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.31 one way
$34.61 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.00 | $38.00 |
| premium | $4.89 | $21.30 | $42.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.44 | $48.88 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.72
Kansas Turnpike
(14.3 mi)
$0.72
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
$17
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.2 | 0 | $11.62 | $5.31 |
| Efficient EV | 27.7 | 0 | $9.69 | $4.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.3 | 0 | $15.50 | $7.08 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Junction City, KS
Afternoon in Junction City on Thursday
Local time
12:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Tecumseh, KS
55 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
21 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
2h 1m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from De Soto, KS to Junction City, KS covers 110.7 miles and takes about 2h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, KS 10, Kansas Turnpike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55.3 miles from De Soto, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.31 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 110.7 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.2 miles (Ottawa Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (KS 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from De Soto, KS to Junction City, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.
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