The drive from Leawood, KS to Valley Falls, KS covers 70.8 miles and takes about 1h 39m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on McLouth Road, US 24, Kansas Turnpike for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 15.6 miles on McLouth Road.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.07 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
35.4 miles from Leawood, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 70.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Leawood, KS to Valley Falls, KS covers 70.8 miles and takes about 1h 39m, 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 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
McLouth Road is the longest continuous segment at about 15.6 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 0.8 miles in near Mission Road.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.8 miles you will encounter 19 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 0.8 miles (Mission Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (West 75th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|Mission Road
Turn right onto Mission Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.5 mi into trip|~6m in|West 75th Street
Turn left onto West 75th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
12.4 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Topeka
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 4B
Toward I 70 West: Topeka
8
23.4 mi into trip|~34m in|US 24; US 40
Keep slight right at fork onto US 24; US 40 toward US 24 East, US 40 East, US 73 North, KS 7 North: Lansing, Leavenworth, Tonganoxie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 24 East, US 40 East, US 73 North, KS...
7
25 mi into trip|~36m in|US 24; US 40
Take the exit onto US 24; US 40 toward US 24 West, US 40 West: Basehor, Tonganoxie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 24 West, US 40 West: Basehor, Tongano...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Leawood, KS and Valley Falls, KS, road signs point toward Leavenworth and Tonganoxie.
Leavenworth
23.4 mi in|~34m|via US 24; US 40
Tonganoxie
23.4 mi in|~34m|via US 24; US 40
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
McLouth Road
15.6 mi
22m
US 24
13.3 mi
18m
Kansas Turnpike
10.4 mi
11m
US 59
9.1 mi
11m
KS 16
8.1 mi
11m
Harry Darby Memorial Highway
4.7 mi
5m
Metcalf Avenue
3.2 mi
5m
West 75th Street
2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
McLouth Road
— 15.6 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leawood, KS and Valley Falls, KS.
1
Start on West 90th Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·West 90th Street
2
Turn right onto Meadow Lane
371 ft·21 sec·Meadow Lane
3
Turn left onto West 89th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West 89th Street
4
Turn right onto Mission Road
1.8 mi·4 min·Mission Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto West 75th Street
2.0 mi·4 min·West 75th Street
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto Metcalf Avenue
3.2 mi·5 min·Metcalf Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 635
4.7 mi·5 min·Harry Darby Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 4BToward I 70 West: TopekaUse the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
10 mi·11 min·Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 24; US 40
0.3 mi·37 sec·US 24; US 40
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 24; US 40
1.5 mi·2 min·US 24; US 40
Toward US 24 East, US 40 East, US 73 North, KS 7 North: Lansing, Leavenworth, TonganoxieUse the slight right lane.
12
Take the exit onto US 24; US 40
12 mi·15 min·US 24; US 40
Toward US 24 West, US 40 West: Basehor, TonganoxieUse the left lane.
13
Turn right onto KS 16
0.5 mi·58 sec·West 4th Street
14
Continue on KS 16
16 mi·22 min·McLouth Road
15
At end of road, turn right onto US 59; KS 16; KS 92
9.1 mi·11 min·US 59; KS 16; KS 92
16
Turn left onto KS 16
0.9 mi·1 min·KS 16
17
Keep slight right at fork onto KS 16
0.5 mi·49 sec·KS 16
18
Turn left onto KS 16
6.2 mi·8 min·KS 16
19
At end of road, turn left onto KS 4; KS 16
0.8 mi·1 min·KS 4; KS 16
20
Turn right onto KS 16
0.4 mi·54 sec·KS 16
21
Turn right onto Oak Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Oak Street
22
Arrive at destination
Oak 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 35.4 miles from Leawood, KS, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.6 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 16 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.4 miles or 50m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Valley Falls, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Leawood, KS
This is one driving day of about 70.8 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Leawood, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on McLouth Road for about 15.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.4 mi from Leawood, KS
· 50m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.07 one way
$22.14 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.15
$24.31
premium
$4.89
$13.62
$27.25
diesel
$5.61
$15.63
$31.26
Estimated Tolls: $0.52
Kansas Turnpike
(10.4 mi)$0.52
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
$11
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.2
0
$7.43
$3.40
Efficient EV
17.7
0
$6.19
$2.83
EV Truck/SUV
28.3
0
$9.91
$4.53
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Leawood, KS
Afternoon
in Leawood on Friday
Local time
1:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Valley Falls, KS
Afternoon
in Valley Falls on Friday
Local time
1:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Reno, KS
35 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
18 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
1h 39m 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 Valley Falls, KS covers 70.8 miles and takes about 1h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are McLouth Road, US 24, Kansas Turnpike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.4 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 $11.07 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.8 miles you will encounter 19 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 0.8 miles (Mission Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (West 75th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Leawood, KS and Valley Falls, KS, road signs point toward Leavenworth and Tonganoxie.
