Origin
Derby, KS
Evening in Derby on Sunday
Local time
7:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Derby, KS to Chanute, KS
Drive Time
2h 28m
Distance
124.8 mi
201 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 18m
★
6 AM
2h 28m
8 AM
2h 49m
10 AM
2h 35m
12 PM
2h 33m
3 PM
2h 36m
5 PM
2h 47m
8 PM
2h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Derby, KS
Tien Nguyen
Chanute, KS
Tien Nguyen
Trip Overview
Spanning 124.8 miles across the Kansas Great Plains, this drive from Derby to Chanute is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 28 minutes. You will spend roughly 80% of your time on highways, making this a highly efficient trip that easily fits into a single day. With an estimated fuel cost of $19, it is an affordable route for a quick getaway or a necessary commute. Since both your start and end points are located within the Great Plains, you can expect a consistent landscape throughout the trek. Because the total duration is under three hours, there is no need to split this into an overnight stay, allowing you to complete the transit in one go.
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
62.4 miles from Derby, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours. Your journey utilizes a combination of US 54, the Kansas Turnpike, and South Fry Street to bridge the gap between Derby and Chanute. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves a 60.2-mile stretch on US 54, which serves as the longest uninterrupted segment of the trip. Because 80% of the drive is highway-based, the road personality is largely defined by consistent, steady travel. You will find that the transitions between these major roads are relatively seamless, keeping the drive feeling practical and functional from start to finish.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 54 is the longest continuous segment at about 60.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 54 and Kansas Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 124.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 15 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
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...
6
97.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
|
US 75 / South Fry Street
Turn right onto US 75 / South Fry Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
112.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m in
|
KS 39
Turn left onto KS 39
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 54 | 60.2 mi | 1h 8m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 25.7 mi | 25m |
| South Fry Street | 12.8 mi | 15m |
| KS 39 | 11 mi | 13m |
| South Southeast Boulevard | 5.1 mi | 7m |
| West Central Avenue | 4.9 mi | 9m |
| US 75 | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| West Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 54
— 60.2 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Derby, KS and Chanute, 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
26 mi
·
25 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
10
At end of road, turn right onto Boyer Road
260 ft
·
5 sec
·
Boyer Road
11
Take the exit
200 ft
·
5 sec
12
Merge onto KS 254
4.9 mi
·
9 min
·
West Central Avenue
13
Continue on US 54
60 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
US 54
14
Turn right onto US 75
13 mi
·
15 min
·
South Fry Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
15
Continue on US 75
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
US 75
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on US 75
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
US 75
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto KS 39
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
KS 39
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on KS 39
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
KS 39
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Continue on KS 39
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
KS 39
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto North Plummer Avenue
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
North Plummer Avenue
21
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
22
Turn right onto South Steuben Avenue
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
South Steuben Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
South Steuben Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it best suits your schedule without needing to worry about complex timing or mid-trip hotel stays. With zero mandatory stops listed, you can power through the 124.8 miles at your own pace, though it is always smart to keep an eye on your fuel gauge to ensure that $19 budget remains accurate. Given the highway-heavy nature of the route, stay alert during the 60.2-mile stretch on US 54 where traffic patterns may change. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider planning a quick break around the halfway mark to stretch your legs. Keeping your vehicle maintained is the best way to ensure this highway-focused transit remains both safe and predictable.
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 62.4 miles from Derby, KS, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.2 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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.4 miles or 1h 14m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chanute, 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 124.8 miles and 2h 28m.
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 54 for about 60.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.4 mi from Derby, KS · 1h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
62 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 62.4 miles from Derby, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 54 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.2 miles.
Arriving in Chanute, KS
The final approach into Chanute, 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 Chanute, 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
$18.96 one way
$37.91 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $20.90 | $41.79 |
| premium | $4.80 | $23.56 | $47.12 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $27.73 | $55.45 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.28
Kansas Turnpike
(25.7 mi)
$1.28
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
$19
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.4 | 0 | $13.10 | $5.99 |
| Efficient EV | 31.2 | 0 | $10.92 | $4.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49.9 | 0 | $17.47 | $7.99 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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
Chanute, KS
Evening in Chanute on Sunday
Local time
7:04 PM
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
31 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 28m 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 Chanute, KS covers 124.8 miles and takes about 2h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 54, Kansas Turnpike, South Fry Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.4 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 $18.96 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 demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 124.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 Chanute, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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