Origin
Hays, KS
Evening in Hays on Tuesday
Local time
6:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hays, KS to Arkansas City, KS
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h 22m
Distance
243.9 mi
392 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 9m
★
6 AM
4h 22m
8 AM
4h 49m
10 AM
4h 31m
12 PM
4h 29m
3 PM
4h 33m
5 PM
4h 47m
8 PM
4h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hays, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Arkansas City, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Hays, KS to Arkansas City, KS covers 243.9 miles and takes about 4h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Main Street, West 27th Street, North Vine Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.13 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
121.9 miles from Hays, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 11m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 22m drive with frequent turns across 243.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Main Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 22m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Hays, KS to Arkansas City, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 27th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Vine Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dwight D | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 135 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Kansas Turnpike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 166 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hays, KS and Arkansas City, KS.
1
Start on the route
292 ft
·
27 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.1 mi
·
17 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 North Vine Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Vine Street
6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Vine Street
344 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Vine Street
7
Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Vine Street
8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Vine Street
128 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Vine Street
9
Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street
341 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Vine Street
10
Continue on North Vine Street
13 ft
·
North Vine Street
11
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
12
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
91 mi
·
1 hr 30 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 135 South, US 81 South: Wichita
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 135 South, US 81 South: Wichita
14
Merge slight left
63 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
15
Continue straight
2.2 mi
·
2 min
16
Continue straight
30 mi
·
34 min
17
Keep slight right to continue on I 35 South: Oklahoma City
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 35 South: Oklahoma City
18
Merge slight left onto Kansas Turnpike
38 mi
·
37 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
19
Take the exit slight right toward US 166, US 81: Arkansas City, South Haven
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 166, US 81: Arkansas City, South Haven
20
At the end of the road, turn left onto East 160th Street South
16 mi
·
24 min
·
East 160th Street South
21
Turn left onto South 8th Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
South 8th Street
22
Turn right onto West Washington Avenue
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
West Washington Avenue
23
Turn left onto South 4th Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
South 4th Street
24
Turn right onto West Central Avenue
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Central Avenue
25
Turn right
121 ft
·
9 sec
26
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 121.9 miles from Hays, KS, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
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 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.9 miles or 2h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arkansas City, 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 243.9 miles and 4h 22m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 121.9 mi from Hays, KS · 2h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
122 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 121.9 miles from Hays, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Arkansas City, KS
The final approach into Arkansas City, 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 Arkansas City, 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
$38.13 one way
$76.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
85 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $41.87 | $83.73 |
| premium | $4.89 | $46.94 | $93.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.85 | $107.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73.2 | 0 | $25.61 | $11.71 |
| Efficient EV | 61 | 0 | $21.34 | $9.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97.6 | 1 | $34.15 | $15.61 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Arkansas City, KS
Evening in Arkansas City on Tuesday
Local time
6:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Newton, KS
122 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
5 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
4h 22m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Arkansas City, KS covers 243.9 miles and takes about 4h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Main Street, West 27th Street, North Vine Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 121.9 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 $38.13 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 22m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Hays, KS to Arkansas City, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Hays, KS to Arkansas City, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Arkansas City, KS
More trips to Arkansas City, KS
Explore more options from Hays, KS or browse trips ending in Arkansas City, KS.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KS road trips.
Explore maps for Hays, KS or Arkansas City, KS on MapSof.net.