Origin
Hardtner, KS
Afternoon in Hardtner on Friday
Local time
12:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hardtner, KS to Lake City, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
40.2 mi
65 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hardtner, KS
Christina & Peter
Lake City, KS
yongbing li
Trip Overview
Hardtner to Lake City is 40.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 11 minutes via Hackberry Road and US 160, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short journey stays within the Great Plains region of Kansas, offering a straightforward drive. It's a practical option for connecting these two communities, suitable for a quick trip without extensive planning. Given its brevity, it’s ideal for those looking for a simple, direct connection with minimal time commitment.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 40.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with 31% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on Hackberry Road, US 160, and Lake City Road. The longest uninterrupted segment spans 22.6 miles on Hackberry Road, giving you a good period of steady driving. Expect a blend of potentially faster highway travel and more local road conditions as you navigate between these Kansas communities.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 7 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Hackberry Road is the longest continuous segment at about 22.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 22.8 miles in near US 160.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hardtner, KS to Lake City, KS is easy. At 1h 11m with 31% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 22.8 miles (US 160): Navigation decision point; at 35.2 miles (Lake City Road): Navigation decision point; at 40.1 miles (Cleveland Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
3 of 3 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
22.8 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
US 160
Turn left onto US 160
Navigation decision point
3
35.2 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
Lake City Road
Turn right onto Lake City Road
Navigation decision point
4
40.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
|
Cleveland Street
Turn right onto Cleveland Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hackberry Road | 22.6 mi | 33m |
| US 160 | 12.3 mi | 18m |
| Lake City Road | 4.2 mi | 16m |
| Seminary Street | 0.8 mi | 3m |
| Central Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Cleveland Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Hackberry Road
— 22.6 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hardtner, KS and Lake City, KS.
1
Start on Central Avenue
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Central Avenue
2
Continue on US 281
23 mi
·
33 min
·
Hackberry Road
3
Turn left onto US 160
12 mi
·
18 min
·
US 160
4
Turn right onto Lake City Road
4.2 mi
·
16 min
·
Lake City Road
5
Continue on Seminary Street
0.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Seminary Street
6
Turn right onto Cleveland Street
224 ft
·
9 sec
·
Cleveland Street
7
Arrive at destination
Cleveland Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.1 mi from Hardtner, KS · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.1 miles from Hardtner, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lake City, KS
The final approach into Lake City, KS usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.28 one way
$12.57 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.90 | $13.80 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.74 | $15.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.88 | $17.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.22 | $1.93 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.52 | $1.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.63 | $2.57 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Lake City, KS
Afternoon in Lake City on Friday
Local time
12:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 11m 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 Hardtner, KS to Lake City, KS covers 40.2 miles and takes about 1h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Hackberry Road, US 160, Lake City Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.1 miles from Hardtner, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.28 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.
The drive from Hardtner, KS to Lake City, KS is easy. At 1h 11m with 31% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 22.8 miles (US 160): Navigation decision point; at 35.2 miles (Lake City Road): Navigation decision point; at 40.1 miles (Cleveland Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Hardtner, KS to Lake City, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Lake City, KS
Explore more options from Hardtner, KS or browse trips ending in Lake City, KS.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KS road trips.