Origin
Fairmount, KS
Morning in Fairmount on Monday
Local time
10:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairmount, KS to Salina, KS
Drive Time
2h 57m
Distance
166.8 mi
268 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 47m
★
6 AM
2h 58m
8 AM
3h 20m
10 AM
3h 6m
12 PM
3h 4m
3 PM
3h 7m
5 PM
3h 19m
8 PM
2h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairmount, KS
Tien Nguyen
Salina, KS
Alan Wang
Trip Overview
The drive from Fairmount, KS to Salina, KS covers 166.8 miles and takes about 2h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, Kansas Turnpike, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 91.6 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.34 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
83.4 miles from Fairmount, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 57m drive with frequent turns across 166.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 91.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near CR 5 / Fairmount Road.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 57m 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: at 0.4 miles (CR 5 / Fairmount Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (US 73; K-7 / North 139th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR 5 / Fairmount Road
At end of road, turn left onto CR 5 / Fairmount Road
Navigation decision point
6
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 73; K-7 / North 139th Street
Turn right onto US 73; K-7 / North 139th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
8.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Turn left toward I 70 West: Topeka
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 70 West: Topeka
5
9.1 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
49.2 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
I 70 / Kansas Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 / Kansas Turnpike toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
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-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 91.6 mi | 1h 34m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 41.1 mi | 41m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 22.2 mi | 22m |
| North 139th Street | 6.4 mi | 7m |
| North 9th Street | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Fairmount Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| 154th Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| West Iron Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
— 91.6 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairmount, KS and Salina, KS.
1
Start on Wood Road
100 ft
·
6 sec
·
Wood Road
2
Turn right onto 154th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
154th Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto CR 5
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Fairmount Road
4
Turn right onto US 73; K-7
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
North 139th Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 70 West: Topeka
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
40 mi
·
40 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 70
92 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Toward I-70 West
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
22 mi
·
22 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward KS 143
11
Turn left onto KS 143
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
North 9th Street
12
Turn left onto West Iron Avenue
279 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Iron Avenue
13
Turn right onto South 8th Street
92 ft
·
3 sec
·
South 8th Street
14
Arrive at destination
South 8th 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 83.4 miles from Fairmount, KS, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.6 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 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.4 miles or 1h 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 2h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salina, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fairmount, 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 Fairmount, KS
This is one driving day of about 166.8 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fairmount, 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 Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway for about 91.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83.4 mi from Fairmount, KS · 1h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 83.4 miles from Fairmount, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 91.6 miles.
Arriving in Salina, KS
The final approach into Salina, 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 Salina, 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
$25.34 one way
$50.67 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $27.93 | $55.86 |
| premium | $4.80 | $31.49 | $62.98 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $37.06 | $74.11 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.06
Kansas Turnpike
(41.1 mi)
$2.06
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
$25
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50 | 0 | $17.51 | $8.01 |
| Efficient EV | 41.7 | 0 | $14.60 | $6.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66.7 | 0 | $23.35 | $10.68 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Salina, KS
Morning in Salina on Monday
Local time
10:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
44°F
Valley Falls, KS
83 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
30 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 57m 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 Fairmount, KS to Salina, KS covers 166.8 miles and takes about 2h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, Kansas Turnpike, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 83.4 miles from Fairmount, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.34 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 57m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (CR 5 / Fairmount Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (US 73; K-7 / North 139th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Fairmount, KS to Salina, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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