Origin
Madison, KS
Morning in Madison on Monday
Local time
9:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, KS to Salina, KS
Drive Time
2h 47m
Distance
135.8 mi
219 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 37m
★
6 AM
2h 48m
8 AM
3h 9m
10 AM
2h 55m
12 PM
2h 53m
3 PM
2h 56m
5 PM
3h 8m
8 PM
2h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, KS
Pablo López
Salina, KS
Alan Wang
Trip Overview
The drive from Madison, KS to Salina, KS covers 135.8 miles and takes about 2h 47m 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 135, US 50 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36.2 miles on US 56. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.63 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
67.9 miles from Madison, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 47m highway drive covering 135.8 miles, with most of the trip on US 56 and I 135. The longest continuous stretch is about 36.2 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 24 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 36.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 56 and I 135. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near KS 58 / West Lincoln Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 47m drive. You will face about 19 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 (KS 58 / West Lincoln Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (KS 58 / 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (KS 58 / West Madison): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
KS 58 / West Lincoln Street
Turn left onto KS 58 / West Lincoln Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
KS 58 / 4th Street
Turn right onto KS 58 / 4th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
KS 58 / West Madison
Turn left onto KS 58 / West Madison
Navigation decision point
4
20.2 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
West South Avenue
Turn left onto West South Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
21.7 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
Prairie Street
Turn right onto Prairie Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 56 | 36.2 mi | 42m |
| I 135 | 32.6 mi | 32m |
| US 50 | 24.7 mi | 29m |
| KS 99 | 19 mi | 30m |
| KS 150 | 16.5 mi | 19m |
| West South Avenue | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| West State Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| West 6th Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 56
— 36.2 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, KS and Salina, KS.
1
Start on 3rd Street
71 ft
·
8 sec
·
3rd Street
2
Turn left onto KS 58
419 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Lincoln Street
3
Turn right onto KS 58
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
4th Street
4
Turn left onto KS 58
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Madison
5
Turn right onto KS 99
19 mi
·
30 min
·
KS 99
6
Turn left onto West South Avenue
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West South Avenue
7
Turn right onto Prairie Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Prairie Street
8
Turn left onto US 50
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West 6th Avenue
9
Enter roundabout onto US 50
243 ft
·
3 sec
·
US 50
10
Continue on US 50
25 mi
·
29 min
·
US 50
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward KS 150 West: Marion
12
Turn straight onto KS 150
17 mi
·
19 min
·
KS 150
13
Enter roundabout onto US 56
190 ft
·
3 sec
·
US 56
14
Continue on US 56
36 mi
·
42 min
·
US 56
15
Take the ramp onto US 81 Business
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
US 81 Business
16
Merge onto I 135; US 81
33 mi
·
32 min
·
I 135; US 81
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward KS 140
18
Turn right onto West State Street
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
West State Street
19
Keep slight right at fork
428 ft
·
9 sec
20
Turn straight onto West State Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West State Street
21
Turn right onto North College Avenue
379 ft
·
15 sec
·
North College Avenue
22
Turn left onto West Iron Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Iron Avenue
23
Turn right onto South 8th Street
92 ft
·
3 sec
·
South 8th Street
24
Arrive at destination
South 8th Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.9 miles from Madison, KS, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.2 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 80 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.9 miles or 1h 31m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salina, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Madison, 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 Madison, KS
This is one driving day of about 135.8 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Madison, 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 36.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 67.9 mi from Madison, KS · 1h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
68 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 67.9 miles from Madison, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Salina, KS
The final approach into Salina, 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 Salina, 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
$20.63 one way
$41.25 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
48 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $22.74 | $45.48 |
| premium | $4.80 | $25.64 | $51.27 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $30.17 | $60.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.7 | 0 | $14.26 | $6.52 |
| Efficient EV | 34 | 0 | $11.88 | $5.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.3 | 0 | $19.01 | $8.69 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Destination
Salina, KS
Morning in Salina on Monday
Local time
9:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
52°F
Newton, KS
68 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
34 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 47m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Madison, KS to Salina, KS covers 135.8 miles and takes about 2h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 56, I 135, US 50. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 67.9 miles from Madison, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.63 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 2h 47m drive. You will face about 19 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (KS 58 / West Lincoln Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (KS 58 / 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (KS 58 / West Madison): Navigation decision point.
The route from Madison, KS to Salina, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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