Origin
Goddard, KS
Evening in Goddard on Sunday
Local time
7:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Goddard, KS to Hutchinson, KS
Drive Time
59m
Distance
45.1 mi
73 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Goddard, KS
Helena Jankovičová Kováčová
Hutchinson, KS
Tien Nguyen
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion through the heart of the Great Plains, the 45.1-mile journey from Goddard to Hutchinson is an ideal candidate for a simple day trip. Expect to spend about 59 minutes behind the wheel, making this an efficient transit between these two Kansas communities. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $7, the route is as economical as it is straightforward. You will navigate via KS 96, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, and South Worthington Road. Because of the manageable duration, there is no need to worry about overnight logistics; you can easily complete the entire trek in a single session.
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
22.6 miles from Goddard, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
This mixed drive offers a balanced experience as you transition across the plains. Roughly 42% of your journey consists of highway travel, providing a steady pace for nearly half of the trip. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch along an 18.4-mile segment of KS 96, which serves as the backbone of your navigation. The road's personality shifts from local access roads to the more prominent highway corridors, ensuring a varied feel behind the wheel. Prepare for a practical, no-nonsense drive that focuses on connectivity rather than winding curves or complex elevation changes.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
KS 96 is the longest continuous segment at about 18.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Main Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.8 miles (KS 96): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 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
|
North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Turn left onto US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
24.8 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
KS 96
Turn left onto KS 96
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
44 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Avenue A East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Avenue A East
5
45.1 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Goddard, KS to Hutchinson, KS, road signs begin pointing toward 343Rd West along the way.
343Rd West
8.9 mi in
|
~11m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| KS 96 | 18.4 mi | 21m |
| Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway | 8.6 mi | 9m |
| South Worthington Road | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| South 343rd Street West | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| South Rayl Road | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| East Silver Lake Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Woodie Seat Freeway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
KS 96
— 18.4 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Goddard, KS and Hutchinson, KS.
1
Start on this road
113 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 54; US 400
8.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward 343rd West
5
Turn right onto South 343rd Street West
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
South 343rd Street West
6
Continue on South Rayl Road
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
South Rayl Road
7
Turn right onto East Silver Lake Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Silver Lake Road
8
Turn left onto South Worthington Road
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
South Worthington Road
9
Turn left onto KS 96
18 mi
·
21 min
·
KS 96
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on Woodie Seat Freeway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Woodie Seat Freeway
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Avenue A East
12
Turn slight right onto West Avenue A
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
West Avenue A
13
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
14
Turn right onto East 7th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East 7th Avenue
15
Turn left
62 ft
·
4 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, sub-one-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily fit this trip into your schedule without needing to plan for meal breaks or extensive rest stops, as there are zero scheduled stops on this route. While the fuel cost is low at $7, always ensure your tank is topped off before leaving Goddard so you don't have to worry about finding a station mid-transit. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway and South Worthington Road to ensure you stay on track. Enjoy the ease of this quick Great Plains connection by keeping your itinerary light and open.
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 22.6 miles from Goddard, KS, or about 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.4 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 45.1 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 22.6 miles or 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hutchinson, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Goddard, 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 Goddard, KS
This is one driving day of about 45.1 miles and 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Goddard, 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 KS 96 for about 18.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.6 mi from Goddard, KS · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 45.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.6 miles from Goddard, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Hutchinson, KS
The final approach into Hutchinson, 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 Hutchinson, 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
$6.85 one way
$13.70 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $7.55 | $15.10 |
| premium | $4.80 | $8.51 | $17.03 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.02 | $20.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.74 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.95 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.31 | $2.89 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Hutchinson, KS
Evening in Hutchinson on Sunday
Local time
7:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
52°F
Newton, KS
23 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
19 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
59m 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 Goddard, KS to Hutchinson, KS covers 45.1 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are KS 96, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, South Worthington Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.6 miles from Goddard, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.85 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.8 miles (KS 96): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Goddard, KS to Hutchinson, KS, road signs begin pointing toward 343Rd West along the way.
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