Origin
Hays, KS
Evening in Hays on Sunday
Local time
7:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hays, KS to Salina, KS
Drive Time
1h 42m
Distance
97.3 mi
157 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 35m
★
6 AM
1h 43m
8 AM
1h 58m
10 AM
1h 48m
12 PM
1h 47m
3 PM
1h 49m
5 PM
1h 58m
8 PM
1h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hays, KS
Petr Ganaj
Salina, KS
Alan Wang
Trip Overview
Spanning 97.3 miles across the Kansas plains, this straightforward trek between Hays and Salina typically takes about 1 hour and 42 minutes to complete. You will primarily utilize the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budget roughly $15 for fuel to cover the journey through this heartland region. Because the total duration is quite short, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to head out whenever it suits you. It is a practical, efficient connection that links two key points in the Great Plains without any unnecessary detours.
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
48.6 miles from Hays, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a drive defined by a massive 90.9-mile stretch along the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, which accounts for the bulk of your travel time. While the highway dominates the majority of the journey, the route transitions into a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate toward your destination using I-135 and West State Street. With a highway share of two, you will experience a mix of steady cruising and more technical maneuvers near the arrival point. The transition from high-speed interstate travel to local roads keeps the experience engaging without being overwhelming. You will feel the landscape shift as you move through this open, expansive region of the state.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 90.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Main Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 97.3 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (West 27th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (US 183 / North Vine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West 27th Street
Turn right onto West 27th Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 183 / North Vine Street
Enter roundabout onto US 183 / North Vine Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 183 / North Vine Street
Enter roundabout onto US 183 / North Vine Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
92.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 135 South, US 81 South: Wichita
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 135 South, US 81 South: Wichita
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 90.9 mi | 1h 30m |
| I 135 | 1.8 mi | 1m |
| West State Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| North Vine Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Iron Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West 27th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Old US 40 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 90.9 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hays, KS and Salina, KS.
1
Start on this road
292 ft
·
26 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Main Street
3
Continue on Main Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
4
Turn right onto West 27th Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
West 27th Street
5
Turn left onto US 183
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Vine Street
6
Enter roundabout onto US 183
346 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Vine Street
7
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Vine Street
8
Enter roundabout onto US 183
127 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Vine Street
9
Continue on US 183
342 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Vine Street
10
Continue on US 183
14 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Vine Street
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
12
Merge onto I 70; US 40
91 mi
·
1 hr 30 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 135 South, US 81 South: Wichita
14
Merge onto I 135; US 81
1.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 135; US 81
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward KS 140
16
Turn left onto Old US 40
492 ft
·
9 sec
·
Old US 40
17
Continue on West State Street
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
West State Street
18
Keep slight right at fork
428 ft
·
9 sec
19
Turn straight onto West State Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West State Street
Use the none lane.
20
Turn right onto North College Avenue
379 ft
·
15 sec
·
North College Avenue
21
Turn left onto West Iron Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Iron Avenue
22
Turn right onto South 8th Street
92 ft
·
3 sec
·
South 8th Street
23
Arrive at destination
South 8th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively quick trip of under two hours, you do not need to worry about complex pacing or multiple rest stops. Plan your departure based on your personal preference, as there are no major bottlenecks that demand a specific time of day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Hays, as the $15 cost estimate assumes a standard vehicle efficiency for the 97.3-mile distance. Because you are mostly on major thoroughfares, stay alert for changing speed limits as you transition onto local roads like West State Street. Take advantage of the short duration to remain flexible with your arrival time, allowing you to easily adjust your schedule if traffic patterns shift.
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 48.6 miles from Hays, KS, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.9 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 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.6 miles or 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 22m
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 Hays, 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 Hays, KS
This is one driving day of about 97.3 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hays, 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 90.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.6 mi from Hays, KS · 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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 48.6 miles from Hays, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 90.9 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
$14.78 one way
$29.56 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $16.29 | $32.58 |
| premium | $4.80 | $18.37 | $36.74 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $21.62 | $43.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.2 | 0 | $10.22 | $4.67 |
| Efficient EV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.51 | $3.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.9 | 0 | $13.62 | $6.23 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Evening in Salina on Sunday
Local time
7:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
44°F
Lincoln, KS
49 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
1 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
1h 42m 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 Hays, KS to Salina, KS covers 97.3 miles and takes about 1h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, I 135, West State Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.6 miles from Hays, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.78 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 97.3 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (West 27th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (US 183 / North Vine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Hays, KS to Salina, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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