Origin
Derby, KS
Morning in Derby on Wednesday
Local time
7:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Derby, KS to Ulysses, KS
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
5h 8m
Distance
241.7 mi
389 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 55m
★
6 AM
5h 8m
8 AM
5h 35m
10 AM
5h 18m
12 PM
5h 15m
3 PM
5h 19m
5 PM
5h 34m
8 PM
5h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Derby, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Ulysses, KS
cottonbro studio
Trip Overview
The drive from Derby, KS to Ulysses, KS covers 241.7 miles and takes about 5h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Cannonball Stageline, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, US 56 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 60.2 miles on Cannonball Stageline. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.79 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
120.9 miles from Derby, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Derby, KS to Ulysses, KS covers 241.7 miles and takes about 5h 8m, 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 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Cannonball Stageline is the longest continuous segment at about 60.2 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
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 8m drive. You will face about 10 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 10.2 miles (US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.1 miles (US 400): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 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
10.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge onto US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
128.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 38m in
|
US 400
Keep slight right at fork onto US 400
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
241.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 7m in
|
East Grant Avenue
Turn left onto East Grant Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
241.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 8m in
|
North Court Street
Turn right onto North Court Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cannonball Stageline | 60.2 mi | 1h 8m |
| Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway | 42.7 mi | 49m |
| US 56 | 36 mi | 43m |
| US 400 | 33.7 mi | 40m |
| US 160 | 27 mi | 35m |
| CR EE | 16.6 mi | 29m |
| South Southeast Boulevard | 9 mi | 13m |
| The Yellow Brick Road | 8.3 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
Cannonball Stageline
— 60.2 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Derby, KS and Ulysses, 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
9.0 mi
·
13 min
·
South Southeast Boulevard
5
Continue on South Washington Street
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
South Washington Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
7
Merge onto US 54; US 400
43 mi
·
49 min
·
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 54; US 400; KS 14
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
D Avenue
9
Continue on US 54; US 400
31 mi
·
35 min
·
Cannonball Stageline
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 54; US 400
3.1 mi
·
6 min
·
East 1st Street
11
Continue on US 54; US 400
29 mi
·
33 min
·
Cannonball Stageline
12
Continue on US 54; US 400
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Kansas Avenue
13
Continue on US 54; US 400
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
The Yellow Brick Road
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 400
34 mi
·
40 min
·
US 400
15
Turn left onto US 56; US 283; US 400
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
US 56; US 283; US 400
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 56; US 283; US 400
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
·
US 56; US 283; US 400
17
Turn straight onto US 56; US 400
32 mi
·
38 min
·
US 56; US 400
18
Turn right onto CR EE; KS 144
17 mi
·
29 min
·
CR EE; KS 144
19
Continue on US 160
27 mi
·
35 min
·
US 160
20
Turn right onto South Missouri Street
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
South Missouri Street
21
Turn left onto East Grant Avenue
302 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Grant Avenue
22
Turn right onto North Court Street
226 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Court Street
23
Arrive at destination
North Court Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 120.9 miles from Derby, KS, or about 2h 29m 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 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.9 miles or 2h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ulysses, 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 241.7 miles and 5h 8m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Cannonball Stageline for about 60.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 120.9 mi from Derby, KS · 2h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
121 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 120.9 miles from Derby, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Cannonball Stageline if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.2 miles.
Arriving in Ulysses, KS
The final approach into Ulysses, 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 Ulysses, 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
$37.79 one way
$75.57 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
85 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $41.49 | $82.98 |
| premium | $4.89 | $46.51 | $93.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.36 | $106.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.5 | 0 | $25.38 | $11.60 |
| Efficient EV | 60.4 | 0 | $21.15 | $9.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 96.7 | 1 | $33.84 | $15.47 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Ulysses, KS
Morning in Ulysses on Wednesday
Local time
7:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
82°F
Lincoln, KS
121 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
15 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
5h 8m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Ulysses, KS covers 241.7 miles and takes about 5h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Cannonball Stageline, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, US 56. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 120.9 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 $37.79 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 8m drive. You will face about 10 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 10.2 miles (US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.1 miles (US 400): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Derby, KS to Ulysses, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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