Trip from Leawood, KS to Great Bend, KS

Drive Time

4h 38m

Distance

256.1 mi

412 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$39

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Leawood, KS to Great Bend, KS covers 256.1 miles and takes about 4h 38m 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 156, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 91.6 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.90 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

128 miles from Leawood, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 19m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Leawood, KS to Great Bend, KS covers 256.1 miles and takes about 4h 38m, 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 19 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 91.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 435; US 50.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 256.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 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 points

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

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.

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

48.1 mi into trip | ~56m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

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

203.9 mi into trip | ~3h 35m in

Take the exit toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend

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

Toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend

Towns Along This Route

Between Leawood, KS and Great Bend, KS, road signs point toward Salina and Ellsworth.

Salina

62 mi in | ~1h 11m | via I 70

Ellsworth

203.9 mi in | ~3h 35m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway	91.6 mi	1h 34m
KS 156	51.8 mi	1h 2m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway	49.4 mi	49m
KS 10	36.7 mi	40m
Kansas Turnpike	14.3 mi	14m
I 435	8.3 mi	9m
State Line Road	1.3 mi	2m
Lee Boulevard	0.7 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway — 91.6 mi, about 1h 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on West 90th Street

0.1 mi · 33 sec · West 90th Street

Turn right onto Lee Boulevard

0.7 mi · 1 min · Lee Boulevard

Turn left onto West 95th Street

0.4 mi · 53 sec · West 95th Street

Turn right onto State Line Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · State Line Road

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 33 sec

Merge onto I 435; US 50

8.3 mi · 9 min · I 435; US 50

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 27 sec

Exit 1B Toward KS 10 West: Lawrence Use the slight right lane.

Continue on KS 10

37 mi · 40 min · KS 10

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Merge onto I 70

13 mi · 13 min · Kansas Turnpike

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.

Continue on I 70

92 mi · 1 hr 34 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Toward I-70 West Use the straight lane.

Continue on I 70; US 40

49 mi · 49 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend

Turn left onto KS 156

48 mi · 56 min · KS 156

Take the ramp onto KS 156

3.8 mi · 6 min · KS 156

Turn right onto US 281

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Main Street

Turn right onto Lakin Avenue

94 ft · 4 sec · Lakin Avenue

Arrive at destination

Lakin Avenue

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 128 miles from Leawood, KS, or about 2h 19m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.6 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 128 miles or 2h 19m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Great Bend, 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 256.1 miles and 4h 38m.

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.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway for about 91.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 128 mi from Leawood, KS · 2h 19m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Valley Falls, KS

128 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fairbury, NE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 128 miles from Leawood, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 91.6 miles.

Arriving in Great Bend, KS

The final approach into Great Bend, 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 Great Bend, 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

$38.90 one way

$77.80 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 90 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$42.88	$85.76
premium	$4.80	$48.35	$96.69
diesel	$5.64	$56.90	$113.79

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

$39

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$65–$90

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 89.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	76.8	0	$26.89	$12.29
Efficient EV	64	0	$22.41	$10.24
EV Truck/SUV	102.4	1	$35.85	$16.39

Gas CO2

90 kg

EV CO2

30 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Leawood, KS

Afternoon in Leawood on Saturday

Local time

4:18 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Forecast unavailable right now

CDT Live forecast

Destination

Great Bend, KS

Afternoon in Great Bend on Saturday

Local time

4:18 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Forecast unavailable right now

CDT Live forecast

Along the Route

44°F

Valley Falls, KS

128 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

15 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

4h 38m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Leawood, KS to Great Bend, KS covers 256.1 miles and takes about 4h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, KS 156, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 128 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 $38.90 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.