Drive Time
32m
Distance
25.1 mi
40 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
Photo: Tien Nguyen
The drive from Leavenworth, KS to Atchison, KS covers 25.1 miles and takes about 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Spruce Street, South 20th Street, Santa Fe Trail for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.81 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
12.6 miles from Leavenworth, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .
Expect a 32m drive with frequent turns across 25.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Leavenworth, KS to Atchison, KS is easy. At 32m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Leavenworth, KS to Atchison, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Spruce Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South 20th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Santa Fe Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Amelia Earhart Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 73 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South 10th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Kansas Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Leavenworth, KS and Atchison, KS.
Start on the route
At the end of the road, turn right onto Spruce Street
Turn right onto South 20th Street
Continue on Santa Fe Trail
Take the ramp left
Merge slight left onto Amelia Earhart Drive
Continue on US 73 Highway
Continue on South 10th Street
Turn right onto Kansas Avenue
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 25.1 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 12.6 miles or 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atchison, KS than in the middle of the route.
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 25.1 miles and 32m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 12.6 mi from Leavenworth, KS · 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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 25.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 12.6 miles from Leavenworth, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Atchison, 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 Atchison, KS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$3.81 one way
$7.62 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $4.20 | $8.41 |
| premium | $4.80 | $4.74 | $9.48 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.58 | $11.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.64 | $1.20 |
| Efficient EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.20 | $1.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10 | 0 | $3.51 | $1.61 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Evening in Leavenworth on Saturday
Local time
8:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Atchison on Saturday
Local time
8:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
44°F
Valley Falls, KS
13 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
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
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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