Origin
Newton, KS
Afternoon in Newton on Sunday
Local time
4:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Newton, KS to Arkansas City, KS
Drive Time
1h 46m
Distance
87.6 mi
141 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 39m
★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 53m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Newton, KS
www.kaboompics.com
Arkansas City, KS
Shea B
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward trip through the Kansas Great Plains, the 87.6-mile journey from Newton to Arkansas City is a practical choice. You can easily complete this drive in about 1 hour and 46 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Your route primarily utilizes the Kansas Turnpike, KS 15, and East 160th Street South to connect these two points. Expect to spend roughly $13 on fuel for the trek, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. This drive is perfectly suited for those who prefer a direct, highway-focused route without the need for multiple stops. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains, you will enjoy a consistent, familiar landscape throughout the entire duration of your travel.
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
43.8 miles from Newton, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 78% of this journey is spent on major roads. The drive offers a steady pace, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 37.6 miles along the Kansas Turnpike. You will encounter a mix of fast-moving interstate segments followed by transitions onto state highways like KS 15. The road maintains a consistent personality, favoring efficiency and speed over technical twists or turns. Behind the wheel, you will find the journey to be predictable and low-stress, allowing you to settle into a comfortable rhythm as you move across the plains.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Kansas Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 37.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and KS 15. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near KS 15.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.7 miles (KS 15): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.2 miles (KS 15): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
KS 15
Take the ramp onto KS 15 toward US 50 East, KS 15 South: Wichita, Emporia
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50 East, KS 15 South: Wichita, Empori...
8
2.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
KS 15
Keep slight right at fork onto KS 15 toward I 135 South, US 81 South, KS 15 South: Wichita
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 135 South, US 81 South, KS 15 South: W...
5
32.3 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35 South: Oklahoma City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 35 South: Oklahoma City
8
70.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward US 166, US 81: Arkansas City, South Haven
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 4
Toward US 166, US 81: Arkansas City, South Have...
5
70.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
US 166 / East 160th Street South
At end of road, turn left onto US 166 / East 160th Street South
Navigation decision point
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Newton, KS to Arkansas City, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Haven along the way.
Haven
70.3 mi in
|
~1h 18m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Turnpike | 37.6 mi | 37m |
| KS 15 | 30.7 mi | 35m |
| East 160th Street South | 16.1 mi | 24m |
| Washington Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.5 mi | 2m |
| West Central Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Kansas Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Washington Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 37.6 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newton, KS and Arkansas City, KS.
1
Start on KS 15
65 ft
·
30 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Continue on KS 15
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
3
Turn straight onto KS 15
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Road
4
Continue on KS 15
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
South Kansas Avenue
5
Take the ramp onto KS 15
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
KS 15
Toward US 50 East, KS 15 South: Wichita, Emporia
6
Keep slight right at fork onto KS 15
30 mi
·
34 min
·
KS 15
Toward I 135 South, US 81 South, KS 15 South: Wichita
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 35 South: Oklahoma City
8
Merge onto I 35
38 mi
·
37 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 4
Toward US 166, US 81: Arkansas City, South Haven
Use the slight right lane.
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 166
16 mi
·
24 min
·
East 160th Street South
11
Turn left onto South 8th Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
South 8th Street
12
Turn right onto West Washington Avenue
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
West Washington Avenue
13
Turn left onto South 4th Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
South 4th Street
14
Turn right onto West Central Avenue
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Central Avenue
15
Turn right
120 ft
·
8 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With no mandatory stops required for a drive of this length, you can easily power through the 87.6 miles in one sitting. However, it is always wise to ensure your tank is topped off before heading out to keep your costs near the $13 estimate. Keep a close eye on your GPS when navigating the transitions between the Kansas Turnpike and the local segments of KS 15. Taking advantage of the daylight hours will provide you with the best visibility as you navigate the transition from highway speeds to the secondary roads leading into Arkansas City.
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 43.8 miles from Newton, KS, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.6 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 80 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.8 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arkansas City, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Newton, 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 Newton, KS
This is one driving day of about 87.6 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Newton, 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 Kansas Turnpike for about 37.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.8 mi from Newton, KS · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 43.8 miles from Newton, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Arkansas City, KS
The final approach into Arkansas City, 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 Arkansas City, 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
$13.31 one way
$26.61 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $14.67 | $29.34 |
| premium | $4.80 | $16.54 | $33.07 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $19.46 | $38.92 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.88
Kansas Turnpike
(37.6 mi)
$1.88
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
$13
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.3 | 0 | $9.20 | $4.20 |
| Efficient EV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.66 | $3.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35 | 0 | $12.26 | $5.61 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Arkansas City, KS
Afternoon in Arkansas City on Sunday
Local time
4:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 46m 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 Newton, KS to Arkansas City, KS covers 87.6 miles and takes about 1h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kansas Turnpike, KS 15, East 160th Street South. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.8 miles from Newton, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.31 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 87.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.7 miles (KS 15): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.2 miles (KS 15): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Newton, KS to Arkansas City, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Haven along the way.
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