Trip from Derby, KS to Baldwin City, KS

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 55m

Distance

166.5 mi

268 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

2h 45m ★

6 AM

2h 56m

8 AM

3h 18m

10 AM

3h 4m

12 PM

3h 2m

3 PM

3h 5m

5 PM

3h 17m

8 PM

2h 49m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Derby, KS to Baldwin City, KS covers 166.5 miles and takes about 2h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Kansas Turnpike, I 35, US 59 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 81.9 miles on Kansas Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.03 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

83.3 miles from Derby, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 55m. Total distance: 166.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 55m highway drive covering 166.5 miles, with most of the trip on Kansas Turnpike and I 35. The longest continuous stretch is about 81.9 miles on Kansas Turnpike.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Kansas Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 81.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and I 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 55m drive. You will face about 12 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 5.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.

5

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Main Street

Turn right onto East Main Street

Navigation decision point

5

5.8 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

9

5.9 mi into trip | ~9m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 35 North: El Dorado, Kansas City, Kansas Turnpike

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 35 North: El Dorado, Kansas City, Kans...

5

150 mi into trip | ~2h 34m in | US 59

Take the exit onto US 59 toward US 59 North: Lawrence

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 188 Toward US 59 North: Lawrence

5

161.4 mi into trip | ~2h 48m in

Take the exit toward US 56: Olathe, Council Grove

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 56: Olathe, Council Grove

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Kansas Turnpike	81.9 mi	1h 21m
I 35	62 mi	1h 2m
US 59	11.4 mi	13m
South Southeast Boulevard	5.1 mi	7m
North 300 Road	3.4 mi	4m
Ames Street	1 mi	1m
6th Street	0.5 mi	1m
North Baltimore Avenue	0.4 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Kansas Turnpike — 81.9 mi, about 1h 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Derby, KS and Baldwin City, KS.

1

Start on this road

121 ft · 10 sec · this road

2

Turn right onto East Main Street

271 ft · 13 sec · East Main Street

3

Turn right onto KS 15

0.4 mi · 39 sec · North Baltimore Avenue

4

Continue on KS 15

5.1 mi · 7 min · South Southeast Boulevard

5

Turn right onto Turnpike Drive

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Turnpike Drive

6

Take the ramp

524 ft · 12 sec

7

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Toward I 35 North: El Dorado, Kansas City, Kansas Turnpike Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

8

Merge onto I 35

82 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Kansas Turnpike

9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35

62 mi · 1 hr 2 min · I 35

10

Take the exit onto US 59

11 mi · 13 min · US 59

Exit 188 Toward US 59 North: Lawrence

11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Toward US 56: Olathe, Council Grove

12

Turn right onto US 56

3.4 mi · 4 min · North 300 Road

13

Continue on US 56

1.0 mi · 1 min · Ames Street

14

Turn right onto CR 1055

0.5 mi · 1 min · 6th Street

15

Turn right onto High Street

70 ft · 1 sec · High Street

16

Arrive at destination

High 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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 83.3 miles from Derby, KS, or about 1h 27m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.9 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 37 miles or 40m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 83.3 miles or 1h 27m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Baldwin 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 166.5 miles and 2h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Derby, 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 Kansas Turnpike for about 81.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 83.3 mi from Derby, KS · 1h 27m into the drive

city and county seat in Morris County, Kansas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Council Grove, KS

83 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

Augusta, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Council Grove, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 83.3 miles from Derby, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Kansas Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 81.9 miles.

Arriving in Baldwin City, KS

The final approach into Baldwin 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 Baldwin City, KS.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park

National Historical Park

The path to equality has been anything but smooth. It's taken courage and dedication by everyday people coming together for a common goal to carry the country toward true equality. Parents, teachers,...

29 mi from route ~72 min detour Free near mile 160.8

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.03 one way

$52.06 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 58 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$28.58	$57.16
premium	$4.89	$32.04	$64.08
diesel	$5.61	$36.76	$73.52

Estimated Tolls: $4.10

Kansas Turnpike (81.9 mi) $4.10

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

$26

Tolls

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 58.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	49.9	$17.48	$7.99
Efficient EV	41.6	$14.57	$6.66
EV Truck/SUV	66.6	$23.31	$10.66

Gas CO2

58 kg

EV CO2

19 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Derby, KS

Morning in Derby on Friday

Local time

10:16 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Baldwin City, KS

Morning in Baldwin City on Friday

Local time

10:16 AM

CDT

Current temp

78°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

4 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 55m 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 Baldwin City, KS covers 166.5 miles and takes about 2h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Kansas Turnpike, I 35, US 59. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 83.3 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 $26.03 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 2h 55m drive. You will face about 12 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 5.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

The route from Derby, KS to Baldwin City, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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