Origin
Hays, KS
Evening in Hays on Tuesday
Local time
6:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hays, KS to Fort Scott, KS
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
5h 53m
Distance
317.8 mi
512 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 40m
★
6 AM
5h 53m
8 AM
6h 19m
10 AM
6h 2m
12 PM
6h 0m
3 PM
6h 4m
5 PM
6h 18m
8 PM
5h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hays, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Scott, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 317.8 miles across the Great Plains, this journey from Hays to Fort Scott takes approximately 5 hours and 53 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate shot, you should plan for a full day on the road. You can expect to spend about $48 on fuel for the trip. Given the duration, it is entirely feasible to complete this as a single-day trip, though you will want to start early to avoid arriving late. Since both cities are located within the Kansas plains, you will experience a consistent regional landscape throughout the drive. This route is best suited for drivers who prefer navigating local roads over the monotony of high-speed highway travel.
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
158.9 miles from Hays, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 56m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a unique experience behind the wheel, as this route avoids major interstates entirely in favor of local roads like Main Street, West 27th Street, and North Vine Street. With a 0% highway share, the trip is defined by frequent turns rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of pavement. This setup requires more active attention to navigation than a standard highway route, so keep your GPS ready for the various transitions. You will spend nearly six hours navigating these local arteries, which keeps the driving pace measured and deliberate. It is a practical, ground-level way to traverse the state, offering a very different feel from the typical fast-paced transit corridors.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 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 5h 53m 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 Fort Scott, 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 |
| KS 196 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northwest State Road 196 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Southwest 20th Street | 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 Fort Scott, 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
4.9 mi
·
4 min
17
Take the exit slight right toward KS 196: Whitewater, El Dorado
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
KS 196: Whitewater, El Dorado
18
Turn left onto KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street
9.6 mi
·
11 min
·
KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street
19
Continue on KS 196/Northwest 90th Street
19 mi
·
21 min
·
KS 196/Northwest 90th Street
20
Continue on Northwest State Road 196
443 ft
·
14 sec
·
Northwest State Road 196
21
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
22
Merge slight left onto Southwest 20th Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest 20th Street
23
Continue on West Central Avenue
4.9 mi
·
9 min
·
West Central Avenue
24
Continue straight
65 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
25
Continue straight
14 mi
·
16 min
26
Continue straight
0.9 mi
·
2 min
27
Continue on East Madison Avenue
417 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Madison Avenue
28
Continue on East Street
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
East Street
29
Continue on West 1st Street
37 mi
·
41 min
·
West 1st Street
30
Turn right
318 ft
·
18 sec
31
Turn left onto North National Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North National Avenue
32
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
279 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 2nd Street
33
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 317.8-mile journey, aim for a morning departure that allows you to reach your destination before dusk. Since the route involves a significant amount of local road navigation, factor in extra time for the single stop recommended to stretch your legs and refresh. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $48 estimate is based on steady driving; frequent turns and stop-and-go local traffic may slightly impact your efficiency. Because the route relies on local streets rather than major highways, check for any local construction or event-related detours on your specific roads before you head out. Having this flexibility is a major advantage, as you can easily adjust your pace to suit your comfort level throughout the day.
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 158.9 miles from Hays, KS, or about 2h 56m 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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.9 miles or 2h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Scott, 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 317.8 miles and 5h 53m.
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 158.9 mi from Hays, KS · 2h 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
159 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 158.9 miles from Hays, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fort Scott, KS
The final approach into Fort Scott, 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 Fort Scott, 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
$49.68 one way
$99.37 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
111 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $54.55 | $109.10 |
| premium | $4.89 | $61.16 | $122.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $70.17 | $140.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 95.3 | 1 | $33.37 | $15.25 |
| Efficient EV | 79.5 | 0 | $27.81 | $12.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 127.1 | 1 | $44.49 | $20.34 |
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Fort Scott, KS
Evening in Fort Scott on Tuesday
Local time
6:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Newton, KS
159 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
7 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
5h 53m 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 Fort Scott, KS covers 317.8 miles and takes about 5h 53m 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 158.9 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 $49.68 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 5h 53m 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 Fort Scott, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Hays, KS to Fort Scott, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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