Origin
Derby, KS
Afternoon in Derby on Monday
Local time
2:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Derby, KS to Arkansas City, KS
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
44.9 mi
72 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Derby, KS
Tien Nguyen
Arkansas City, KS
Shea B
Trip Overview
The drive from Derby, KS to Arkansas City, KS covers 44.9 miles and takes about 1h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 77, Highway K15, Eisenhower Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.5 miles on US 77. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.82 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
22.5 miles from Derby, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Derby, KS to Arkansas City, KS covers 44.9 miles and takes about 1h 3m, 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 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 77 is the longest continuous segment at about 20.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 3m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (KS 15 / North Baltimore Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 43.2 miles (US 77; US 166 / Walnut Valley Green Way): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Main Street
Turn right onto East Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
KS 15 / North Baltimore Avenue
Turn left onto KS 15 / North Baltimore Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
43.2 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
US 77; US 166 / Walnut Valley Green Way
Enter roundabout onto US 77; US 166 / Walnut Valley Green Way
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
44.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
East Central Avenue
Turn right onto East Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
44.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 77 | 20.5 mi | 26m |
| Highway K15 | 9.1 mi | 13m |
| Eisenhower Memorial Highway | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| Walnut Valley Green Way | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| South Southeast Boulevard | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| North Baltimore Avenue | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| East Chestnut Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East Central Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 77
— 20.5 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Derby, KS and Arkansas City, KS.
1
Start on this road
121 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto East Main Street
271 ft
·
17 sec
·
East Main Street
3
Turn left onto KS 15
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North Baltimore Avenue
4
Continue on KS 15
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
South Southeast Boulevard
5
Continue on KS 15
7.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
6
Continue on KS 15
9.1 mi
·
13 min
·
Highway K15
7
Continue on US 77; KS 15
20 mi
·
26 min
·
US 77; KS 15
8
Turn left onto US 77
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Walnut Valley Green Way
9
Enter roundabout onto US 77; US 166
193 ft
·
3 sec
·
Walnut Valley Green Way
10
Continue on US 77; US 166
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Walnut Valley Green Way
11
Turn right onto East Chestnut Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Chestnut Avenue
12
Turn left onto North C Street
443 ft
·
14 sec
·
North C Street
13
Turn right onto East Central Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Central Avenue
14
Turn left
120 ft
·
8 sec
15
Arrive at destination
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 22.5 miles from Derby, KS, or about 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.5 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 44.9 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 22.5 miles or 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arkansas City, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Derby, 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 Derby, KS
This is one driving day of about 44.9 miles and 1h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Derby, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US 77 for about 20.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.5 mi from Derby, KS · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 44.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.5 miles from Derby, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Arkansas City, KS
The final approach into Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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
$6.82 one way
$13.64 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $7.52 | $15.04 |
| premium | $4.80 | $8.48 | $16.95 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $9.98 | $19.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.71 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.93 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.29 | $2.87 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Arkansas City, KS
Afternoon in Arkansas City on Monday
Local time
2:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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
1h 3m 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 Derby, KS to Arkansas City, KS covers 44.9 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 77, Highway K15, Eisenhower Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.5 miles from Derby, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.82 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 is a straightforward 1h 3m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (KS 15 / North Baltimore Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 43.2 miles (US 77; US 166 / Walnut Valley Green Way): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Derby, KS to Arkansas City, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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