Drive Time
2h 57m
Distance
157.7 mi
254 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
The drive from Kansas City, KS to Clay Center, KS covers 157.7 miles and takes about 2h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Armstrong Avenue, North 7th Street Trafficway, I 70 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.41 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
78.9 miles from Kansas City, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 57m drive with frequent turns across 157.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Armstrong Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North 7th Street Trafficway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 70 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Kansas Turnpike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Manhattan | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| KS 18 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Fort Riley Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, KS and Clay Center, KS.
Start on the route
Turn right onto Armstrong Avenue
Turn right onto North 7th Street Trafficway
Take the ramp slight right toward I 70 West, US 24 West, US 40 West, US 69 South: Topeka
Keep slight right to continue on Kansas Turnpike
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Take the exit slight right toward Manhattan, Council Grove
Turn right
Take the exit straight toward KS 18, KS 177, Tuttle Creek Boulevard, Fort Riley Boulevard
Continue on Fort Riley Boulevard
Continue on Tuttle Creek Boulevard
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Tuttle Creek Boulevard
Exit the rotary onto Tuttle Creek Boulevard
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Tuttle Creek Boulevard
Exit the roundabout onto Tuttle Creek Boulevard
Turn left onto Madison Road
Turn right onto Cavalry Road
Turn left onto Barton Road
Continue on 18th Road
Continue on Crawford Street
Turn left onto 6th 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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.9 miles or 1h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clay Center, KS than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Kansas City, 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 Kansas City, KS
This is one driving day of about 157.7 miles and 2h 57m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 78.9 mi from Kansas City, KS · 1h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
79 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 78.9 miles from Kansas City, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Clay Center, 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 Clay Center, KS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$23.41 one way
$46.83 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $26.41 | $52.81 |
| premium | $4.65 | $28.90 | $57.79 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $32.93 | $65.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.3 | 0 | $16.56 | $7.57 |
| Efficient EV | 39.4 | 0 | $13.80 | $6.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.1 | 0 | $22.08 | $10.09 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Kansas City on Saturday
Local time
8:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Clay Center on Saturday
Local time
8:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
44°F
Valley Falls, KS
79 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
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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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