Trip from Moundridge, KS to Wichita, KS

Drive Time

47m

Distance

41.8 mi

67 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 43m ★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m

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

Downtown Moundridge, KS, KS

Moundridge, KS

Tien Nguyen

Downtown Wichita, KS, KS

Wichita, KS

Tien Nguyen

Trip Overview

Traveling from Moundridge to Wichita covers a quick 41.8-mile stretch across the Kansas Great Plains. With a travel time of approximately 47 minutes, this journey is perfectly suited as a simple one-day trip. You will primarily rely on I-135, Arrowhead Road, and North Broadway Street to reach your destination. Budgeting about $6 for fuel is sufficient for the transit, making it a very economical commute. Because both cities are located within the same region, you can expect a consistent landscape throughout the drive. It is a straightforward, no-fuss route that gets you where you need to go without the need for an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

20.9 miles from Moundridge, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 90% of this route is spent on major roads. The core of your trip involves a 37.7-mile uninterrupted stretch along I-135, which allows for steady cruising through the open plains. While the interstate provides a fast, efficient path, the transition onto North Broadway Street and Arrowhead Road adds a brief change of pace as you navigate into the Wichita area. You will find the road character to be functional and direct rather than technical. It is the kind of drive where you can settle into a rhythm quickly and maintain a consistent speed for the duration of the trip.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 135 is the longest continuous segment at about 37.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 135 and Arrowhead Road. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near I 135; US 81.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 41.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 1.9 miles (I 135; US 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

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

5
1.9 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 135; US 81

Merge onto I 135; US 81

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

Use the straight lane.
7
39.6 mi into trip | ~42m in

Take the exit toward 13th Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 8 Toward 13th Street
8
39.8 mi into trip | ~43m in

Keep slight right at fork toward 13th Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / slight right lanes. Toward 13th Street
4
40.7 mi into trip | ~44m in | North Broadway Street

Turn left onto North Broadway Street

Navigation decision point

5
41.7 mi into trip | ~46m in | North Market Street

Turn left onto North Market Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 135 37.7 mi 39m
Arrowhead Road 1.1 mi 1m
North Broadway Street 1 mi 1m
East 13th Street North 0.7 mi 1m
Cole Street 0.5 mi 1m
East Central Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
North Market Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 135 — 37.7 mi, about 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Moundridge, KS and Wichita, KS.

1

Start on Cole Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Cole Street
2

Continue on Arrowhead Road

1.1 mi · 1 min · Arrowhead Road
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec
4

Merge onto I 135; US 81

13 mi · 13 min · I 135; US 81
Use the straight lane.
5

Continue on I 135; US 50; US 81

2.2 mi · 2 min · I 135; US 50; US 81
Use the none lane.
6

Continue on I 135; US 81

22 mi · 24 min · I 135; US 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 8 Toward 13th Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork

521 ft · 12 sec
Toward 13th Street Use the left / slight right lanes.
9

Turn straight onto East 13th Street North

0.7 mi · 1 min · East 13th Street North
10

Turn left onto North Broadway Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Broadway Street
11

Turn right onto East Central Avenue

368 ft · 14 sec · East Central Avenue
12

Turn left onto North Market Street

358 ft · 11 sec · North Market Street
13

Turn right

187 ft · 13 sec
14

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Since the total duration is under an hour, you have significant flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning extensive stops, as the 41.8-mile distance is easily manageable in a single push. To make the most of your travel, keep an eye on traffic patterns as you approach the Wichita metro area, where the pace may shift from open highway to local road conditions. Because this is a short trip, try to time your departure to avoid peak morning or evening commute hours if you prefer a quieter drive. Always ensure you have your $6 fuel budget ready, though given the short distance, you likely won't need to refuel during the transit itself.

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 20.9 miles from Moundridge, KS, or about 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.7 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 41.8 miles or 47m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 20.9 miles or 22m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 38m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Moundridge, 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 Moundridge, KS

This is one driving day of about 41.8 miles and 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Moundridge, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 135 for about 37.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 20.9 mi from Moundridge, KS · 22m into the drive

Downtown Newton, KS, KS

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Newton, KS

21 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.

Popular next leg

Newton, KS to Wichita, KS

26.4 mi · 34m

Pacing Suggestions

Newton, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 41.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Newton, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20.9 miles from Moundridge, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Wichita, KS

The final approach into Wichita, 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 Wichita, 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

$6.35 one way

$12.70 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $7.00 $14.00
premium $4.80 $7.89 $15.78
diesel $5.64 $9.29 $18.57

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.5 0 $4.39 $2.01
Efficient EV 10.5 0 $3.66 $1.67
EV Truck/SUV 16.7 0 $5.85 $2.68

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 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 3 days ago

Origin

Moundridge, KS

Night in Moundridge on Sunday

Local time

9:19 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Wichita, KS

Night in Wichita on Sunday

Local time

9:19 PM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

52°F

Newton, KS

21 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

3 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

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 Moundridge, KS to Wichita, KS covers 41.8 miles and takes about 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 135, Arrowhead Road, North Broadway Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.9 miles from Moundridge, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.35 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 41.8 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (I 135; US 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Moundridge, KS to Wichita, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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