Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
97.2 mi
156 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
Photo: Alan Wang
The drive from Hays, KS to Salina, KS covers 97.2 miles and takes about 1h 27m 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 $14.43 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.
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 43m into the drive .
Expect a 1h 27m drive with frequent turns across 97.2 miles of local and secondary 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 140 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 40 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West State Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Hays, KS and Salina, KS.
Start on the route
Turn left onto Main Street
Continue on Main Street
Turn right onto West 27th Street
Turn left onto North Vine Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Vine Street
Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Vine Street
Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street
Continue on North Vine Street
Take the exit slight right
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Take the exit slight right toward I 135 South, US 81 South: Wichita
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward KS 140
Turn left onto Old US 40
Continue on West State Street
Keep slight right
Turn straight onto West State Street
Turn right onto North College Avenue
Turn left onto West Iron Avenue
Turn right onto South 8th Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.6 miles or 43m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salina, KS than in the middle of the route.
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 97.2 miles and 1h 27m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.6 mi from Hays, KS · 43m 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 48.6 miles from Hays, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$14.43 one way
$28.86 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $16.28 | $32.55 |
| premium | $4.65 | $17.81 | $35.62 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $20.30 | $40.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.2 | 0 | $10.21 | $4.67 |
| Efficient EV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.50 | $3.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.9 | 0 | $13.61 | $6.22 |
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Hays on Saturday
Local time
10:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Salina on Saturday
Local time
10:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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