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Trip from Lenexa, KS to Ness City, KS

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 44m

Distance

302.3 mi

487 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$47

one way

EV Charging

Good

6 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 32m ★
6 AM
5h 45m
8 AM
6h 11m
10 AM
5h 54m
12 PM
5h 51m
3 PM
5h 55m
5 PM
6h 10m
8 PM
5h 37m

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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city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States

Lenexa, KS

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Lenexa, KS to Ness City, KS covers 302.3 miles and takes about 5h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 56, I 35, KS 96 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 101.2 miles on US 56. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.26 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

151.2 miles from Lenexa, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 46m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 56 101.2 mi 2h
I 35 96.1 mi 1h 39m
KS 96 62.5 mi 1h 13m
US 50 24.6 mi 29m
KS 150 16.5 mi 19m
Lenexa Drive 0.3 mi 1m
West 95th Street 0.2 mi <1m
Rosehill Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 56 — 101.2 mi, about 2h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lenexa, KS and Ness City, 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

57 mi · 57 min · I 35; US 50; US 59
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 37 sec
Toward US 50: Emporia, Newton
12

Enter roundabout

433 ft · 5 sec
13

Continue

0.2 mi · 11 sec
14

Enter roundabout onto US 50

33 ft · 0 sec · US 50
15

Continue on US 50

25 mi · 29 min · US 50
Use the straight lane.
16

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Toward KS 150 West: Marion
17

Turn straight onto KS 150

17 mi · 19 min · KS 150
18

Enter roundabout onto US 56

190 ft · 3 sec · US 56
19

Continue on US 56

101 mi · 1 hr 59 min · US 56
20

Turn right onto KS 96

62 mi · 1 hr 13 min · KS 96
21

Arrive at destination

KS 96

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 151.2 miles from Lenexa, KS, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.2 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 67 miles or 1h 11m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 151.2 miles or 2h 46m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ness City, 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 302.3 miles and 5h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 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 US 56 for about 101.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Peabody, KS, KS

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Peabody, KS

151 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

Council Grove, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 67 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Moundridge, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 151.2 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 US 56 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 101.2 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Overland Park, Kansas

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+19135993111

Visit website

Holy Land Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lenexa, Kansas

1.2 mi

Fronteras Mexican Restaurant and Cantina

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Lenexa, Kansas

2.4 mi

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Overland Park, Kansas

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+19135993111

Visit website

Holy Land Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Lenexa, Kansas

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+19133109911

Visit website

Fronteras Mexican Restaurant and Cantina

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Lenexa, Kansas

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+19139621369

Visit website

New Cafe 40

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Overland Park, Kansas

Hours: 7 am–2:30 pm

+19132328520

Visit website

Café Vie

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20

Overland Park, Kansas

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+19139010565

Visit website

Jose Pepper's

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Shawnee, Kansas

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+19136311011

Visit website

Pegah's Family Restaurant - Johnson Drive

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20

Shawnee, Kansas

Hours: 6:30 am–8 pm

+19139626700

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 172.8

McPherson, Kansas

+18332172197

EV Connect Charging Station

2.4 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 172.8

McPherson, Kansas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18668167584

Visit website

Game Show Battle Rooms - Kansas City (Overland Park)

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour

Overland Park, Kansas

Hours: 9 am–9:30 pm

+19133501819

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 96.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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.
5
96.9 mi into trip | ~1h 41m in

Take the exit toward US 50: Emporia, Newton

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

Toward US 50: Emporia, Newton

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$47.26 one way

$94.52 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 106 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $51.89 $103.78
premium $4.89 $58.17 $116.35
diesel $5.61 $66.74 $133.49

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$47

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 105.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

6 DC fast chargers · Coverage: good

Hy-Vee Grocery Store - Tesla Supercharger

Overland Park, KS

Tesla

12 DCFC

Oak Park Mall

Overland Park, KS

eVgo Network

4 DCFC

Tomahawk Ridge

Overland Park, KS

Blink Network

2 DCFC

Overland Park Convention

Overland Park, KS

Blink Network

2 DCFC

Matt Ross CC

Overland Park, KS

Blink Network

2 DCFC

Reed Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram

Shawnee, KS

Blink Network

2 DCFC

Blink Network: 4 Tesla: 1 eVgo Network: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 90.7 1 $31.74 $14.51
Efficient EV 75.6 0 $26.45 $12.09
EV Truck/SUV 120.9 1 $42.32 $19.35

Gas CO2

106 kg

EV CO2

35 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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

Lenexa, KS

Afternoon in Lenexa on Saturday

Local time

2:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ness City, KS

Afternoon in Ness City on Saturday

Local time

2:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

89°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

81°F

Peabody, KS

151 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

16 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

5h 44m on the road

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

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This is a 5h 44m highway drive covering 302.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 56 and I 35. The longest continuous stretch is about 101.2 miles on US 56.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 56 is the longest continuous segment at about 101.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 56 and I 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 44m 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.

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 Lenexa, KS to Ness City, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Newton along the way.

Newton

96.9 mi in | ~1h 41m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 44m. Total distance: 302.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (100%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Lenexa, KS to Ness City, KS covers 302.3 miles and takes about 5h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 56, I 35, KS 96. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 151.2 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 $47.26 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.

This is a straightforward 5h 44m 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 Ness City, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Newton 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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