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Trip from Derby, KS to Tecumseh, KS

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 32m

Distance

146.6 mi

236 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 22m ★
6 AM
2h 33m
8 AM
2h 53m
10 AM
2h 40m
12 PM
2h 38m
3 PM
2h 41m
5 PM
2h 52m
8 PM
2h 27m

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

city in Derbyshire, in the East Midlands region of England

Derby, KS

Wikimedia Commons

unincorporated community in Shawnee County, Kansas

Tecumseh, KS

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Derby, KS to Tecumseh, KS covers 146.6 miles and takes about 2h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East Main Street, North Baltimore Avenue, South Southeast Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.92 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

73.3 miles from Derby, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East Main Street
North Baltimore Avenue
South Southeast Boulevard
Turnpike Drive
I 35 North
Kansas Turnpike
I-70 West
Oakland Expressway

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: East Main Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on the route

121 ft · 11 sec · the route
2

Turn right onto East Main Street

272 ft · 14 sec · East Main Street
3

Turn right onto North Baltimore Avenue

0.4 mi · 40 sec · North Baltimore Avenue
4

Continue on South Southeast Boulevard

5.1 mi · 7 min · South Southeast Boulevard
5

Turn right onto Turnpike Drive

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Turnpike Drive
6

Take the ramp left

525 ft · 13 sec
7

Keep slight right to continue on I 35 North: El Dorado, Kansas City, Kansas Turnpike

0.2 mi · 23 sec · I 35 North: El Dorado, Kansas City, Kansas Turnpike
8

Merge slight left onto Kansas Turnpike

82 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Kansas Turnpike
9

Keep slight left to continue on Kansas Turnpike

55 mi · 54 min · Kansas Turnpike
10

Take the exit slight right toward I-70 West, US 40 West, KS 4 West: Topeka, Valley Falls

0.7 mi · 49 sec · I-70 West, US 40 West, KS 4 West: Topeka, Valley Falls
11

Continue straight

0.6 mi · 40 sec
12

Keep slight left

459 ft · 11 sec
13

Merge slight left onto Oakland Expressway

0.5 mi · 36 sec · Oakland Expressway
14

Take the exit slight right

0.4 mi · 1 min
15

Turn left

0.9 mi · 1 min
16

Turn left onto Southeast Tecumseh Road

0.3 mi · 45 sec · Southeast Tecumseh Road
17

Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Terrace

0.2 mi · 36 sec · Southeast 3rd Terrace
18

Arrive at your 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.3 miles from Derby, KS, or about 1h 16m into the drive.

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 32 miles or 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 73.3 miles or 1h 16m 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 5m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tecumseh, 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 146.6 miles and 2h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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.

Where to Stop

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

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Council Grove, KS

73 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

Andover, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Council Grove, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 73.3 miles from Derby, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.92 one way

$45.84 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $25.16 $50.33
premium $4.89 $28.21 $56.42
diesel $5.61 $32.37 $64.73

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 51.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 44 0 $15.39 $7.04
Efficient EV 36.7 0 $12.83 $5.86
EV Truck/SUV 58.6 0 $20.52 $9.38

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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

Afternoon in Derby on Saturday

Local time

3:13 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tecumseh, KS

Afternoon in Tecumseh on Saturday

Local time

3:13 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°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

20 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 32m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

146.6 mi in 2h 32m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: East Main Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Derby, KS to Tecumseh, KS is easy. At 2h 32m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Derby, KS to Tecumseh, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 146.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Derby, KS to Tecumseh, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tecumseh, KS before heading back.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Tecumseh, KS to Derby, KS

Plan the drive back the other way.

147 mi 2h 8m

Explore more options from Derby, KS or browse trips ending in Tecumseh, KS.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KS road trips.