Origin
Hays, KS
Afternoon in Hays on Saturday
Local time
12:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hays, KS to Abilene, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 3m
Distance
119 mi
191 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 55m
★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 21m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 8m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 21m
8 PM
1h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hays, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Abilene, KS
Tien Nguyen
Trip Overview
The drive from Hays, KS to Abilene, KS covers 119 miles and takes about 2h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, North Buckeye Avenue, North Vine Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 115.4 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.60 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.
Midpoint
59.5 miles from Hays, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 119 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 3m drive with frequent turns across 119 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 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 115.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Main Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hays, KS to Abilene, KS is easy. At 2h 3m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 8 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
8
117.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward KS 15: Abilene, Clay Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 275
Toward KS 15: Abilene, Clay Center
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 115.4 mi | 1h 55m |
| North Buckeye Avenue | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| North Vine Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West 27th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 115.4 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hays, KS and Abilene, 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
115 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 275
Toward KS 15: Abilene, Clay Center
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto KS 15
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North Buckeye Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
KS 15
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 59.5 miles from Hays, KS, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.4 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 26 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.5 miles or 1h 2m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Abilene, 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 119 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Hays, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 115.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.5 mi from Hays, KS · 1h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 59.5 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 115.4 miles.
Arriving in Abilene, KS
The final approach into Abilene, 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 Abilene, KS.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.60 one way
$37.21 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.43 | $40.85 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.90 | $45.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.27 | $52.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.7 | 0 | $12.49 | $5.71 |
| Efficient EV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.41 | $4.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.6 | 0 | $16.66 | $7.62 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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
Abilene, KS
Afternoon in Abilene on Saturday
Local time
12:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Ellsworth, KS
60 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
31 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 3m 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 Abilene, KS covers 119 miles and takes about 2h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, North Buckeye Avenue, North Vine Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.5 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 $18.60 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 Hays, KS to Abilene, KS is easy. At 2h 3m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 Abilene, 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.
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