Origin
Kansas City, KS
Morning in Kansas City on Monday
Local time
9:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kansas City, KS to Scott City, KS
Drive Time
6h 48m
Distance
394.2 mi
634 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$60
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 37m
★
6 AM
6h 49m
8 AM
7h 12m
10 AM
6h 57m
12 PM
6h 54m
3 PM
6h 58m
5 PM
7h 11m
8 PM
6h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from Kansas City, KS to Scott City, KS covers 394.2 miles and takes about 6h 48m 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, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, US 69 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 198.7 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $59.87 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
197.1 miles from Kansas City, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 23m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 48m drive with frequent turns across 394.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 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 198.7 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Armstrong Avenue.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 48m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Armstrong Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (US 69): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Armstrong Avenue
Turn right onto Armstrong Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway
Turn right onto US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 69
Take the ramp onto US 69 toward I 70 West, US 24 West, US 40 West, US 69 South: Topeka
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70 West, US 24 West, US 40 West, US 69...
8
55.6 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
I 70 / Kansas Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 / Kansas Turnpike toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
5
346.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 53m in
|
US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward US 40 West, Oakley, Sharon Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 40 West, Oakley, Sharon Springs
Towns Along This Route
Between Kansas City, KS and Scott City, KS, road signs point toward Salina, Oakley and Sharon Springs.
Salina
55.6 mi in
|
~59m
|
via I 70
Oakley
346.9 mi in
|
~5h 53m
|
via US 40
Sharon Springs
346.9 mi in
|
~5h 53m
|
via US 40
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 198.7 mi | 3h 18m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 91.6 mi | 1h 34m |
| US 69 | 54.3 mi | 56m |
| County Road 440 | 44.8 mi | 50m |
| US 40 | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| North 7th Street Trafficway | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Armstrong Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 198.7 mi, about 3h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, KS and Scott City, KS.
1
Start on this road
149 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Armstrong Avenue
282 ft
·
14 sec
·
Armstrong Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 69
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
North 7th Street Trafficway
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp onto US 69
54 mi
·
56 min
·
US 69
Toward I 70 West, US 24 West, US 40 West, US 69 South: Topeka
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 70
92 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Toward I-70 West
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on I 70; US 40
199 mi
·
3 hr 18 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8
Take the exit onto US 40
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 40
Toward US 40 West, Oakley, Sharon Springs
9
Turn left onto US 40
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
US 40
10
Turn left onto US 83
45 mi
·
50 min
·
County Road 440
11
Turn right onto KS 96
50 ft
·
1 sec
·
West 5th Street
12
Arrive at destination
KS 96
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 197.1 miles from Kansas City, KS, or about 3h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 198.7 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 87 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 197.1 miles or 3h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scott City, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 394.2 miles and 6h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Kansas City, 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.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 198.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 197.1 mi from Kansas City, KS · 3h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
197 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 87 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 197.1 miles from Kansas City, 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 198.7 miles.
Arriving in Scott City, KS
The final approach into Scott 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 Scott City, 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
$59.87 one way
$119.75 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
138 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $66.01 | $132.01 |
| premium | $4.80 | $74.42 | $148.83 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $87.58 | $175.16 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.05
Kansas Turnpike
(0.9 mi)
$0.05
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 137.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 118.3 | 1 | $41.39 | $18.92 |
| Efficient EV | 98.6 | 1 | $34.49 | $15.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 157.7 | 1 | $55.19 | $25.23 |
Gas CO2
138 kg
EV CO2
46 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
Scott City, KS
Morning in Scott City on Monday
Local time
9:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
52°F
Newton, KS
197 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
33 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
6h 48m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Kansas City, KS to Scott City, KS covers 394.2 miles and takes about 6h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, US 69. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 197.1 miles from Kansas City, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $59.87 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 48m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Armstrong Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (US 69): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Kansas City, KS and Scott City, KS, road signs point toward Salina, Oakley and Sharon Springs.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Scott City, KS
Explore more options from Kansas City, KS or browse trips ending in Scott City, KS.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KS road trips.
Explore maps for Kansas City, KS or Scott City, KS on MapSof.net.