Origin
Gypsum, KS
Night in Gypsum on Tuesday
Local time
10:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gypsum, KS to Salina, KS
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
30m
Distance
22 mi
35 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gypsum, KS
Jimmy Nilsson Masth
Salina, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Gypsum, KS to Salina, KS covers 22 miles and takes about 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Maple Street, I 135, South Old Highway 81 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 10.4 miles on Maple Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.44 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
11 miles from Gypsum, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Gypsum, KS to Salina, KS covers 22 miles and takes about 30m, 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 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Maple Street is the longest continuous segment at about 10.4 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 KS 4 / Maple Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 22 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 (KS 4 / Maple Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.4 miles (KS 104 / South Old Highway 81): Navigation decision point; at 12.4 miles (KS 104 / East Mentor Road): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
KS 4 / Maple Street
Turn left onto KS 4 / Maple Street
Navigation decision point
4
10.4 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
KS 104 / South Old Highway 81
Turn right onto KS 104 / South Old Highway 81
Navigation decision point
4
12.4 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
KS 104 / East Mentor Road
Turn left onto KS 104 / East Mentor Road
Navigation decision point
4
12.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
19.9 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward KS 140
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward KS 140
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maple Street | 10.4 mi | 14m |
| I 135 | 7.1 mi | 7m |
| South Old Highway 81 | 2 mi | 2m |
| West State Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| West Iron Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Mentor Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North College Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 5th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Maple Street
— 10.4 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gypsum, KS and Salina, KS.
1
Start on West 5th Street
126 ft
·
10 sec
·
West 5th Street
2
Turn left onto KS 4
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Maple Street
3
Turn right onto KS 104
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Old Highway 81
4
Turn left onto KS 104
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
East Mentor Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
6
Merge onto I 135; US 81
7.1 mi
·
7 min
·
I 135; US 81
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward KS 140
8
Turn right onto West State Street
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
West State Street
9
Keep slight right at fork
428 ft
·
9 sec
10
Turn straight onto West State Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West State Street
11
Turn right onto North College Avenue
379 ft
·
15 sec
·
North College Avenue
12
Turn left onto West Iron Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 11 miles from Gypsum, KS, or about 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.4 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 22 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 11 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 24m
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 Gypsum, 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 Gypsum, KS
This is one driving day of about 22 miles and 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Gypsum, 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 Maple Street for about 10.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 11 mi from Gypsum, KS · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 11 miles from Gypsum, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$3.44 one way
$6.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.78 | $7.55 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.23 | $8.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.86 | $9.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.31 | $1.06 |
| Efficient EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.92 | $0.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.08 | $1.41 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Night in Salina on Tuesday
Local time
10:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Lincoln, KS
11 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
35 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
30m 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 Gypsum, KS to Salina, KS covers 22 miles and takes about 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Maple Street, I 135, South Old Highway 81. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11 miles from Gypsum, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.44 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 22 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 (KS 4 / Maple Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.4 miles (KS 104 / South Old Highway 81): Navigation decision point; at 12.4 miles (KS 104 / East Mentor Road): Navigation decision point.
The route from Gypsum, KS to Salina, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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