Origin
Lenexa, KS
Morning in Lenexa on Friday
Local time
8:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lenexa, KS to La Crosse, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h
Distance
273.7 mi
441 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 47m
★
6 AM
5h 0m
8 AM
5h 27m
10 AM
5h 10m
12 PM
5h 7m
3 PM
5h 11m
5 PM
5h 26m
8 PM
4h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lenexa, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lenexa, KS to La Crosse, KS covers 273.7 miles and takes about 5h 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, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, KS 4 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 $42.79 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
136.9 miles from Lenexa, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 26m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h. Total distance: 273.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
The drive from Lenexa, KS to La Crosse, KS covers 273.7 miles and takes about 5h, 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 25 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,055 ft
834 ft
Total Climb
1,455 ft
Total Descent
431 ft
Highest Point
2,055 ft
~273.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,221 ft
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 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 273.7 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 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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...
8
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I 435 West, KS 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 222B
Toward I 435 West, KS 10 West
6
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward KS 10 West: Lawrence
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward KS 10 West: Lawrence
8
53.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lenexa, KS and La Crosse, KS, road signs point toward Salina, Ellsworth and Great Bend.
Salina
53.6 mi in
|
~1h
|
via I 70
Ellsworth
195.6 mi in
|
~3h 25m
Great Bend
195.6 mi in
|
~3h 25m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 91.6 mi | 1h 34m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 49.4 mi | 49m |
| KS 4 | 44.6 mi | 53m |
| KS 10 | 36.7 mi | 40m |
| KS 156 | 32.6 mi | 38m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 14.3 mi | 14m |
| I 35 | 0.9 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.5 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 Lenexa, KS and La Crosse, 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
0.9 mi
·
59 sec
·
I 35; US 56; US 169
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 222B
Toward I 435 West, KS 10 West
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward KS 10 West: Lawrence
Use the slight left lane.
12
Continue on KS 10
37 mi
·
40 min
·
KS 10
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
14
Merge onto I 70
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
15
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.
16
Continue on I 70
92 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Toward I-70 West
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on I 70; US 40
49 mi
·
49 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend
19
Turn left onto KS 156
33 mi
·
38 min
·
KS 156
20
Turn sharp left
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
21
Turn right onto KS 4
45 mi
·
53 min
·
KS 4
22
Turn left onto US 183
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
23
Turn left onto 9th Street
326 ft
·
16 sec
·
9th Street
24
Turn right onto Peace Street
73 ft
·
3 sec
·
Peace Street
25
Arrive at destination
Peace Street
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 136.9 miles from Lenexa, KS, or about 2h 26m 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 60 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.9 miles or 2h 26m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Crosse, 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 273.7 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 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 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 136.9 mi from Lenexa, KS · 2h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 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 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 136.9 miles from Lenexa, 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 91.6 miles.
Arriving in La Crosse, KS
The final approach into La Crosse, 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 La Crosse, 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
$42.79 one way
$85.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $46.98 | $93.96 |
| premium | $4.89 | $52.67 | $105.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $60.43 | $120.86 |
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
$43
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.1 | 1 | $28.74 | $13.14 |
| Efficient EV | 68.4 | 0 | $23.95 | $10.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.5 | 1 | $38.32 | $17.52 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 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.
Destination
La Crosse, KS
Morning in La Crosse on Friday
Local time
8:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
13 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 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Lenexa, KS to La Crosse, KS covers 273.7 miles and takes about 5h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, KS 4. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 136.9 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 $42.79 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 demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 273.7 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 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Lenexa, KS and La Crosse, KS, road signs point toward Salina, Ellsworth and Great Bend.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 834 ft to 2,055 ft elevation with about 1,455 ft of total climbing.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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