Trip from Leavenworth, KS to Riverside, KS

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

6h 29m

Distance

331.7 mi

534 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$52

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min

4 AM

6h 17m ★

6 AM

6h 30m

8 AM

6h 54m

10 AM

6h 38m

12 PM

6h 36m

3 PM

6h 39m

5 PM

6h 53m

8 PM

6h 22m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Leavenworth, KS to Riverside, KS covers 331.7 miles and takes about 6h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, KS 96, KS 156 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 91.6 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $51.86 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

165.8 miles from Leavenworth, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 57m into the drive .

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Drive Character

The drive from Leavenworth, KS to Riverside, KS covers 331.7 miles and takes about 6h 29m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 91.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near KS 92 / Spruce Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 29m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 11 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (KS 92 / Spruce Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | KS 92 / Spruce Street

At end of road, turn left onto KS 92 / Spruce Street

Navigation decision point

7

15.7 mi into trip | ~23m in

Turn left toward I 70 West: Topeka

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 70 West: Topeka

5

16.1 mi into trip | ~24m in | I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike

Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

8

56.3 mi into trip | ~1h 5m 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

198.2 mi into trip | ~3h 29m in

Take the exit toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Leavenworth, KS and Riverside, KS, road signs point toward Salina, Ellsworth and Great Bend.

Salina

56.3 mi in | ~1h 5m | via I 70

Ellsworth

198.2 mi in | ~3h 29m

Great Bend

198.2 mi in | ~3h 29m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway	91.6 mi	1h 34m
KS 96	62.4 mi	1h 13m
KS 156	53.5 mi	1h 6m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway	49.4 mi	49m
Kansas Turnpike	41.1 mi	41m
North Main Street	11.9 mi	16m
North Pennsylvania Avenue	11.3 mi	16m
South 4th Street	3.2 mi	6m

Longest stretch: Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway — 91.6 mi, about 1h 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Leavenworth, KS and Riverside, KS.

1

Start on this road

277 ft · 25 sec · this road

2

At end of road, turn left onto KS 92

0.6 mi · 1 min · Spruce Street

3

Turn right onto US 73; K-7

3.2 mi · 6 min · South 4th Street

4

Continue on US 73; K-7

12 mi · 16 min · North Main Street

Use the straight lane.

5

Turn left

0.4 mi · 56 sec

Toward I 70 West: Topeka Use the left lane.

6

Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40

40 mi · 40 min · Kansas Turnpike

Use the straight lane.

7

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.

8

Continue on I 70

92 mi · 1 hr 34 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Toward I-70 West Use the straight lane.

9

Continue on I 70; US 40

49 mi · 49 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend

11

Turn left onto KS 156

48 mi · 56 min · KS 156

12

Take the ramp onto KS 156

5.6 mi · 10 min · KS 156

13

Turn right onto KS 96

62 mi · 1 hr 13 min · KS 96

14

Turn left onto US 283

11 mi · 16 min · North Pennsylvania Avenue

15

Turn left

6.0 mi · 23 min

16

Arrive at destination

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 165.8 miles from Leavenworth, KS, or about 2h 57m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.6 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 80 miles or 1h 29m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 165.8 miles or 2h 57m 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 59m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riverside, KS than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Leavenworth, 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 Leavenworth, KS

This is one driving day of about 331.7 miles and 6h 29m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Leavenworth, 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 Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway for about 91.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 165.8 mi from Leavenworth, KS · 2h 57m into the drive

city in and county seat of Harvey County, Kansas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Newton, KS

166 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

Valley Falls, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lincoln, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 165.8 miles from Leavenworth, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 91.6 miles.

Arriving in Riverside, KS

The final approach into Riverside, 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 Riverside, KS.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park

National Historical Park

The path to equality has been anything but smooth. It's taken courage and dedication by everyday people coming together for a common goal to carry the country toward true equality. Parents, teachers,...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 57.2

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$51.86 one way

$103.72 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 116 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$56.94	$113.87
premium	$4.89	$63.83	$127.67
diesel	$5.61	$73.24	$146.47

Estimated Tolls: $2.06

Kansas Turnpike (41.1 mi) $2.06

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

$52

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$79–$104

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 116.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	99.5	1	$34.83	$15.92
Efficient EV	82.9	0	$29.02	$13.27
EV Truck/SUV	132.7	1	$46.44	$21.23

Gas CO2

116 kg

EV CO2

39 kg (66% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 hours ago

Origin

Leavenworth, KS

Night in Leavenworth on Tuesday

Local time

9:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 13 to 17 mph 39% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 14 at 3:25PM CDT until April 14 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Wichita KS

Tornado Watch

Tornado Watch issued April 14 at 3:20PM CDT until April 14 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Wichita KS

Destination

Riverside, KS

Night in Riverside on Tuesday

Local time

9:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

83°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

52°F

Newton, KS

166 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

19 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 29m 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 Leavenworth, KS to Riverside, KS covers 331.7 miles and takes about 6h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, KS 96, KS 156. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 165.8 miles from Leavenworth, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $51.86 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 29m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 11 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (KS 92 / Spruce Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Between Leavenworth, KS and Riverside, KS, road signs point toward Salina, Ellsworth and Great Bend.

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