Drive Time
3h 49m
Distance
202.7 mi
326 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
Photo: Tien Nguyen
The drive from Lincoln, KS to Leavenworth, KS covers 202.7 miles and takes about 3h 49m 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 18, Kansas Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 74.6 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.79 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
101.4 miles from Lincoln, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .
The drive from Lincoln, KS to Leavenworth, KS covers 202.7 miles and takes about 3h 49m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
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 0.6 miles in near KS 18.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 202.7 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 0.6 miles (KS 18): Navigation decision point; at 144.6 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 185.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn right onto KS 18
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway toward I-70 East, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward KS 7, US 73, US 24 West, US 40 West: Bonner Springs, Leavenworth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward KS 7 North, US 73 North, US 24 West, US 40 West: Lansing
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto K-7
Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Lincoln, KS to Leavenworth, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Kansas City along the way.
Kansas City
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 74.6 mi | 1h 16m |
| KS 18 | 64.9 mi | 1h 16m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 40.4 mi | 40m |
| K-7 | 15.5 mi | 23m |
| Milford Lake Road South | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| North 170th Road | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| East Lincoln Avenue | 0.6 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lincoln, KS and Leavenworth, KS.
Start on North 2nd Street
Turn left onto East Lincoln Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto KS 18
At end of road, turn left onto KS 18
Turn right onto KS 18
Turn right onto Milford Lake Road South
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
Continue on I 70
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto K-7
Turn left onto KS 92
Turn right
Arrive at destination
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.
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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.4 miles or 1h 56m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leavenworth, KS than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lincoln, 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 Lincoln, KS
This is one driving day of about 202.7 miles and 3h 49m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 101.4 mi from Lincoln, KS · 1h 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
101 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 101.4 miles from Lincoln, 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 74.6 miles.
The final approach into Leavenworth, 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 Leavenworth, KS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$30.79 one way
$61.58 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $33.94 | $67.88 |
| premium | $4.80 | $38.27 | $76.53 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $45.03 | $90.07 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.02
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
$31
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 60.8 | 0 | $21.28 | $9.73 |
| Efficient EV | 50.7 | 0 | $17.74 | $8.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 81.1 | 1 | $28.38 | $12.97 |
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Lincoln on Saturday
Local time
5:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Leavenworth on Saturday
Local time
5:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
44°F
Valley Falls, KS
101 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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