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Trip from Lenexa, KS to Clearwater, KS

Drive Time

3h 35m

Distance

199.8 mi

322 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 23m ★
6 AM
3h 36m
8 AM
4h 0m
10 AM
3h 44m
12 PM
3h 42m
3 PM
3h 46m
5 PM
3h 59m
8 PM
3h 28m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Lenexa, KS, KS

Lenexa, KS

Tien Nguyen

Trip Overview

The drive from Lenexa, KS to Clearwater, KS covers 199.8 miles and takes about 3h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 35, West 71st Street South, South 135th Street West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 184.5 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.35 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

99.9 miles from Lenexa, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 3h 35m highway drive covering 199.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and West 71st Street South. The longest continuous stretch is about 184.5 miles on I 35.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 184.5 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,529 ft 954 ft

Total Climb

727 ft

Total Descent

473 ft

Highest Point

1,529 ft

~116.6 mi in

Elevation Range

575 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and West 71st Street South. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 35m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Lenexa Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Lenexa Drive

Turn right onto Lenexa Drive

Navigation decision point

7
0.6 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward I 35 South, US 56 West, US 169 South: Wichita

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / left lanes. Toward I 35 South, US 56 West, US 169 South: Wi...
5
0.8 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 35; US 56; US 169

Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 169

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
185.3 mi into trip | ~3h 10m in

Take the exit toward US 81: Haysville, Derby

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

Exit 39 Toward US 81: Haysville, Derby

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Lenexa, KS to Clearwater, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Derby along the way.

Derby

185.3 mi in | ~3h 10m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 35 184.5 mi 3h 7m
West 71st Street South 7 mi 9m
South 135th Street West 3.3 mi 5m
East Grand Avenue 2 mi 4m
North 4th Street 0.7 mi 1m
East Ross Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
Lenexa Drive 0.3 mi 1m
East 71st Street South 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 35 — 184.5 mi, about 3h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lenexa, KS and Clearwater, KS.

1

Start on this road

256 ft · 20 sec · this road
2

Turn right

71 ft · 10 sec
3

Turn left onto Rosehill Road

500 ft · 21 sec · Rosehill Road
4

Turn right onto Lenexa Drive

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Lenexa Drive
5

Continue on Lenexa Drive

0.1 mi · 33 sec · Lenexa Drive
6

Turn right onto West 95th Street

0.2 mi · 19 sec · West 95th Street
7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward I 35 South, US 56 West, US 169 South: Wichita Use the straight / left lanes.
8

Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 169

1.7 mi · 1 min · I 35; US 56; US 169
Use the straight lane.
9

Continue on I 35; US 50; US 56; US 169

37 mi · 39 min · I 35; US 50; US 56; US 169
Use the straight lane.
10

Continue on I 35; US 50; US 59

146 mi · 2 hr 26 min · I 35; US 50; US 59
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Exit 39 Toward US 81: Haysville, Derby
12

Turn right

0.4 mi · 46 sec
13

Continue on this road

444 ft · 16 sec · this road
14

Turn left onto East 71st Street South

0.3 mi · 39 sec · East 71st Street South
15

Continue on East Grand Avenue

2.0 mi · 4 min · East Grand Avenue
16

Continue on West 71st Street South

7.0 mi · 9 min · West 71st Street South
17

Turn left onto South 135th Street West

3.3 mi · 5 min · South 135th Street West
18

Continue on North 4th Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · North 4th Street
19

Turn right onto East Ross Avenue

0.4 mi · 50 sec · East Ross Avenue
20

Turn left onto South Lee Avenue

0.1 mi · 35 sec · South Lee Avenue
21

Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue

48 ft · 2 sec · East Kansas Avenue
22

Arrive at destination

East Kansas 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 99.9 miles from Lenexa, KS, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 184.5 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 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 99.9 miles or 1h 44m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 48m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Lenexa, 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 Lenexa, KS

This is one driving day of about 199.8 miles and 3h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lenexa, 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 I 35 for about 184.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 99.9 mi from Lenexa, KS · 1h 44m into the drive

Downtown Newton, KS, KS

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Newton, KS

100 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.

Newton, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 99.9 miles from Lenexa, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 184.5 miles.

Arriving in Clearwater, KS

The final approach into Clearwater, 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 Clearwater, KS.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.35 one way

$60.70 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 70 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $33.45 $66.91
premium $4.80 $37.72 $75.44
diesel $5.64 $44.39 $88.78

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 69.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 59.9 0 $20.98 $9.59
Efficient EV 50 0 $17.48 $7.99
EV Truck/SUV 79.9 0 $27.97 $12.79

Gas CO2

70 kg

EV CO2

23 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.

Forecast data refreshed 12 hours ago

Origin

Lenexa, KS

Evening in Lenexa on Sunday

Local time

8:11 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms

S 14 to 17 mph 95% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 6:42AM CDT until April 13 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS Topeka KS

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 6:23AM CDT until April 12 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS

Destination

Clearwater, KS

Evening in Clearwater on Sunday

Local time

8:11 PM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 15 to 22 mph 41% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 6:42AM CDT until April 13 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS Topeka KS

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 6:23AM CDT until April 12 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS

Along the Route

52°F

Newton, KS

100 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

8 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

3h 35m 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 Lenexa, KS to Clearwater, KS covers 199.8 miles and takes about 3h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, West 71st Street South, South 135th Street West. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 99.9 miles from Lenexa, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.35 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 35m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Lenexa Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Lenexa, KS to Clearwater, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Derby along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 954 ft to 1,529 ft elevation with about 727 ft of total climbing.

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