Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
30.9 mi
50 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Leavenworth, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Shawnee, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Leavenworth, KS to Shawnee, KS is 30.9 miles and takes about 47m via North Main Street and Kansas Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Great Plains region of Kansas, offering a straightforward drive. It's a local-feeling journey, mostly on city streets with a brief highway segment. You'll find this route to be a quick and easy transition between two points in Kansas, perfect for a same-day excursion without much planning.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 30.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
This is a turn-heavy local drive, with only 29% of the route on highways. You'll navigate through city streets for much of the 30.9 miles, experiencing a more intimate connection with the landscape. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 12.3 miles along North Main Street, giving you a consistent feel for that particular roadway. Expect a dynamic driving experience, shifting between local roads and a brief, faster section on the Kansas Turnpike, before returning to more local thoroughfares.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near KS 92 / Spruce Street.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 30.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (KS 92 / Spruce Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.1 miles (US 24; US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.6 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn left onto KS 92 / Spruce Street
Navigation decision point
Take the exit onto US 24; US 40 toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward College Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight right at fork toward Turner Diagonal
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Leavenworth, KS to Shawnee, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Turner Diagonal along the way.
Turner Diagonal
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Main Street | 12.3 mi | 16m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| South 4th Street | 3.2 mi | 6m |
| South 59th Street | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Turner Diagonal | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| KS 32 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Spruce Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| US 24 | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Leavenworth, KS and Shawnee, KS.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn left onto KS 92
Turn right onto US 73; K-7
Continue on US 73; K-7
Take the exit onto US 24; US 40
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto Turner Diagonal
Continue on KS 32
Turn right onto South 55th Street
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto Inland Drive
Turn left onto South 59th Street
Turn right onto 47th Street
Turn left onto Bond Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.4 mi from Leavenworth, KS · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 15.4 miles from Leavenworth, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Shawnee, KS if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$4.83 one way
$9.66 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.30 | $10.61 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.95 | $11.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.82 | $13.64 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.38
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$0
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.24 | $1.48 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.70 | $1.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.33 | $1.98 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Leavenworth on Saturday
Local time
6:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Shawnee on Saturday
Local time
6:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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