Trip from Leawood, KS to Atchison, KS

Drive Time

1h 24m

Distance

62 mi

100 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min

4 AM

1h 18m ★

6 AM

1h 25m

8 AM

1h 38m

10 AM

1h 30m

12 PM

1h 28m

3 PM

1h 30m

5 PM

1h 37m

8 PM

1h 21m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Leawood, KS

Спиридон Варфаламеев

Atchison, KS

Tien Nguyen

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick escape from Leawood to Atchison, this 62-mile journey is a straightforward trek across the Kansas Great Plains. You can easily complete the trip in about 1 hour and 24 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Budgeting approximately $9 for fuel covers the round trip comfortably, allowing you to focus on the drive rather than your wallet. Since both locations reside within the same region, you won't experience drastic shifts in landscape, but the transition from the suburbs to the riverfront area provides a nice change of pace. Because the total duration is quite short, there is no need to worry about overnight accommodations, giving you total flexibility for your schedule.

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

31 miles from Leawood, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 43m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Only 27% of your travel occurs on major highways, meaning you will spend the majority of your time navigating local roads rather than cruising on the interstate. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is just 16.8 miles along I-29, which quickly gives way to the Harry Darby Memorial Highway and Highway 45. The personality of this route is defined by its winding local segments, shifting away from the typical monotonous interstate grind. You will find that the road surface and traffic patterns change frequently, so be prepared for a more interactive driving experience than a standard highway commute.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 29 is the longest continuous segment at about 16.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 0.8 miles in near Mission Road.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 62 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Mission Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (West 75th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

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

0.8 mi into trip | ~2m in | Mission Road

Turn right onto Mission Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

2.5 mi into trip | ~6m in | West 75th Street

Turn left onto West 75th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

20.2 mi into trip | ~30m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Exit 12A Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport,...

33.6 mi into trip | ~46m in | I 29; US 71

Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71 toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none lane. Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph

37.4 mi into trip | ~50m in

Take the exit toward MO 273 North: Tracy, Weston

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

Use the right lane. Exit 20 Toward MO 273 North: Tracy, Weston

Towns Along This Route

Between Leawood, KS and Atchison, KS, road signs point toward Saint Joseph and Weston.

Saint Joseph

20.2 mi in | ~30m

Weston

37.4 mi in | ~50m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 29	16.8 mi	18m
45 Highway	13.7 mi	18m
Harry Darby Memorial Highway	12.4 mi	14m
273 Highway	4.7 mi	6m
Southwest 59 Highway	3.4 mi	4m
Metcalf Avenue	3.2 mi	5m
West 75th Street	2 mi	4m
Mission Road	1.8 mi	4m

Longest stretch: I 29 — 16.8 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Leawood, KS and Atchison, KS.

Start on West 90th Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · West 90th Street

Turn right onto Meadow Lane

371 ft · 21 sec · Meadow Lane

Turn left onto West 89th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · West 89th Street

Turn right onto Mission Road

1.8 mi · 4 min · Mission Road

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto West 75th Street

2.0 mi · 4 min · West 75th Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto Metcalf Avenue

3.2 mi · 5 min · Metcalf Avenue

Use the straight / left lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 635

8.2 mi · 9 min · Harry Darby Memorial Highway

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 635

2.8 mi · 3 min · Harry Darby Memorial Highway

Use the slight left lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 635

1.4 mi · 1 min · Harry Darby Memorial Highway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 48 sec

Exit 12A Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 29; US 71

10 mi · 11 min · I 29; US 71

Use the none lane.

Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71

2.7 mi · 2 min · I 29; I 435; US 71

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71

3.8 mi · 4 min · I 29; US 71

Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Exit 20 Toward MO 273 North: Tracy, Weston Use the right lane.

Turn left onto MO 273; MO 371

0.7 mi · 1 min · 273 Highway

Continue on MO 273

4.0 mi · 5 min · 273 Highway

Turn right onto MO 45; MO 273

14 mi · 18 min · 45 Highway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on MO 45; MO 273

1.7 mi · 2 min · Southwest 45 Highway

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto US 59; MO 273

3.4 mi · 4 min · Southwest 59 Highway

Use the left lane.

Continue on US 59; MO 273

0.5 mi · 1 min · Amelia Earhart Bridge

Turn right onto South 4th Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · South 4th Street

Turn left onto Kansas Avenue

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Kansas Avenue

Arrive at destination

Kansas Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip with no required stops, you have the advantage of setting your own pace and departure time. Planning your departure to avoid peak local traffic will make the navigation of the more technical, turn-heavy sections much more manageable. With a total distance of 62 miles, you can handle the entire drive in one go without needing to schedule formal breaks for rest or refueling. Keep a close eye on your navigation when transitioning between Highway 45 and the Harry Darby Memorial Highway, as the frequent turns can be easy to miss if you aren't paying attention. Utilizing the morning hours for your departure allows you to arrive in Atchison with plenty of time to enjoy your day before heading back.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 31 miles from Leawood, KS, or about 43m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.8 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 62 miles or 1h 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 31 miles or 43m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 11m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Leawood, 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 Leawood, KS

This is one driving day of about 62 miles and 1h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Leawood, KS.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on I 29 for about 16.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 31 mi from Leawood, KS · 43m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kansas City, MO

31 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 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kansas City, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31 miles from Leawood, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Atchison, KS

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.42 one way

$18.83 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$10.38	$20.76
premium	$4.80	$11.70	$23.41
diesel	$5.64	$13.77	$27.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$34–$59

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	18.6	$6.51	$2.98
Efficient EV	15.5	$5.43	$2.48
EV Truck/SUV	24.8	$8.68	$3.97

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Leawood, KS

Evening in Leawood on Sunday

Local time

6:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Atchison, KS

Evening in Atchison on Sunday

Local time

6:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

36°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

17 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 24m 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 Leawood, KS to Atchison, KS covers 62 miles and takes about 1h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 29, 45 Highway, Harry Darby Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 31 miles from Leawood, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.42 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Between Leawood, KS and Atchison, KS, road signs point toward Saint Joseph and Weston.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Leawood, KS or browse trips ending in Atchison, KS.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KS road trips.

Explore maps for Leawood, KS or Atchison, KS on MapSof.net.

Trip from Leawood, KS to Atchison, KS

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Atchison, KS

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Leawood, KS

Atchison, KS

Same local time

17 degrees cooler at arrival

1h 24m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Was this route helpful?

Explore More

Continue From Atchison, KS

More from Leawood, KS

More trips to Atchison, KS