Origin
Leawood, KS
Morning in Leawood on Friday
Local time
11:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Leawood, KS to Junction City, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 26m
Distance
132.3 mi
213 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 17m
★
6 AM
2h 27m
8 AM
2h 47m
10 AM
2h 34m
12 PM
2h 32m
3 PM
2h 35m
5 PM
2h 46m
8 PM
2h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Leawood, KS
Спиридон Варфаламеев
Junction City, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Leawood, KS to Junction City, KS covers 132.3 miles and takes about 2h 26m 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 10, Kansas Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 67.4 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.68 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.
Midpoint
66.2 miles from Leawood, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 132.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Leawood, KS to Junction City, KS covers 132.3 miles and takes about 2h 26m, 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 17 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 67.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 435; US 50.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 132.3 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 2.7 miles (I 435; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 435; US 50
Merge onto I 435; US 50
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
11 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward KS 10 West: Lawrence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1B
Toward KS 10 West: Lawrence
5
48.1 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
8
62 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m 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
130.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m in
Take the exit toward J Hill Road, Flinthills Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward J Hill Road, Flinthills Boulevard
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 Leawood, KS to Junction City, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.
Salina
62 mi in
|
~1h 11m
|
via I 70
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 67.4 mi | 1h 9m |
| KS 10 | 36.7 mi | 40m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 14.3 mi | 14m |
| I 435 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| East 6th Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| State Line Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Lee Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West 95th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
— 67.4 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leawood, KS and Junction City, KS.
1
Start on West 90th Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
West 90th Street
2
Turn right onto Lee Boulevard
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lee Boulevard
3
Turn left onto West 95th Street
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
West 95th Street
4
Turn right onto State Line Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
State Line Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
6
Merge onto I 435; US 50
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I 435; US 50
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 1B
Toward KS 10 West: Lawrence
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on KS 10
37 mi
·
40 min
·
KS 10
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
10
Merge onto I 70
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
11
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.
12
Continue on I 70
67 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Toward I-70 West
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward J Hill Road, Flinthills Boulevard
14
Turn right onto J Hill Road
292 ft
·
11 sec
·
J Hill Road
15
Turn left onto US 40 Business; KS 57
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East 6th Street
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto North Jefferson Street
130 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Jefferson Street
17
Arrive at destination
North Jefferson Street
Trip Plan
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 66.2 miles from Leawood, KS, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.4 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 29 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.2 miles or 1h 15m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Junction City, 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 132.3 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Leawood, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway for about 67.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 66.2 mi from Leawood, KS · 1h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 66.2 miles from Leawood, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.4 miles.
Arriving in Junction City, KS
The final approach into Junction City, 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 Junction City, 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
$20.68 one way
$41.37 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.71 | $45.42 |
| premium | $4.89 | $25.46 | $50.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.21 | $58.42 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.72
Kansas Turnpike
(14.3 mi)
$0.72
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
$21
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.7 | 0 | $13.89 | $6.35 |
| Efficient EV | 33.1 | 0 | $11.58 | $5.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.9 | 0 | $18.52 | $8.47 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Junction City, KS
Morning in Junction City on Friday
Local time
11:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 20 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 17 at 2:58AM CDT until April 18 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Hastings NE
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 2:14AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
74°F
Reno, KS
66 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
9 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
2h 26m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Leawood, KS to Junction City, KS covers 132.3 miles and takes about 2h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, KS 10, Kansas Turnpike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.2 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 $20.68 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 132.3 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 435; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Leawood, KS to Junction City, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.
How this page is built
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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