Origin
Leavenworth, KS
Night in Leavenworth on Tuesday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Leavenworth, KS to Saint Marys, KS
Data updated 2 hours ago
Drive Time
3h 58m
Distance
216 mi
348 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 45m
★
6 AM
3h 58m
8 AM
4h 24m
10 AM
4h 7m
12 PM
4h 5m
3 PM
4h 9m
5 PM
4h 23m
8 PM
3h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Leavenworth, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Marys, KS
Jay Brand
Trip Overview
The drive from Leavenworth, KS to Saint Marys, KS covers 216 miles and takes about 3h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Kansas Turnpike, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, North Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 171.8 miles on Kansas Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.77 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
108 miles from Leavenworth, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 3h 58m highway drive covering 216 miles, with most of the trip on Kansas Turnpike and Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 171.8 miles on Kansas Turnpike.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Kansas Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 171.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 15.7 miles in.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 216 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 56.3 miles (I 470 / Kansas Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
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 470 / Kansas Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 470 / Kansas Turnpike toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, Wichita
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 470, I 335: South Topeka, Wichita
6
188 mi into trip
|
~3h 16m in
Take the exit toward US 54, US 400
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 53A
Toward US 54, US 400
5
188.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 17m in
|
US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge onto US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Leavenworth, KS to Saint Marys, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Wichita along the way.
Wichita
56.3 mi in
|
~1h 5m
|
via I 470
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Turnpike | 171.8 mi | 2h 51m |
| Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway | 23.7 mi | 30m |
| North Main Street | 11.9 mi | 16m |
| South 4th Street | 3.2 mi | 6m |
| South 247th Street West | 3 mi | 7m |
| West 13th Street North | 0.8 mi | 3m |
| Spruce Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 171.8 mi, about 2h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leavenworth, KS and Saint Marys, 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 left at fork onto I 470
132 mi
·
2 hr 11 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, Wichita
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 53A
Toward US 54, US 400
9
Merge onto US 54; US 400
24 mi
·
30 min
·
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto South 247th Street West
3.0 mi
·
7 min
·
South 247th Street West
11
Turn left onto West 13th Street North
0.8 mi
·
3 min
·
West 13th Street North
12
Arrive at destination
West 13th Street North
Trip Plan
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 108 miles from Leavenworth, KS, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 171.8 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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108 miles or 1h 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 3h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Marys, 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 216 miles and 3h 58m.
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 Kansas Turnpike for about 171.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 108 mi from Leavenworth, KS · 1h 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
108 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 108 miles from Leavenworth, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Kansas Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 171.8 miles.
Arriving in Saint Marys, KS
The final approach into Saint Marys, 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 Saint Marys, 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
$33.77 one way
$67.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
76 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $37.08 | $74.15 |
| premium | $4.89 | $41.57 | $83.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.69 | $95.38 |
Estimated Tolls: $8.59
Kansas Turnpike
(171.8 mi)
$8.59
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
$34
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.8 | 0 | $22.68 | $10.37 |
| Efficient EV | 54 | 0 | $18.90 | $8.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.4 | 1 | $30.24 | $13.82 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Destination
Saint Marys, KS
Night in Saint Marys on Tuesday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Valley Falls, KS
108 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
32 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
3h 58m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 Saint Marys, KS covers 216 miles and takes about 3h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kansas Turnpike, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, North Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 108 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 $33.77 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 216 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 56.3 miles (I 470 / Kansas Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Leavenworth, KS to Saint Marys, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Wichita along the way.
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