Origin
Newton, KS
Evening in Newton on Sunday
Local time
7:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Newton, KS to Wichita, KS
Drive Time
34m
Distance
26.4 mi
43 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Newton, KS
www.kaboompics.com
Wichita, KS
Tien Nguyen
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel between Newton and Wichita, you are facing a straightforward 26.4-mile journey across the Kansas Great Plains. Expect to spend about 34 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect quick day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $4 for fuel should easily cover your transit costs for this short distance. Since you will be navigating strictly local roads rather than interstates, the pace is steady and predictable. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection between two neighboring communities that is well-suited for a simple afternoon excursion.
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
13.2 miles from Newton, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
Forget about monotonous interstate grinds; this route is a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged with the road. You will navigate via North Main Street, Washington Road, and South Kansas Avenue, which account for 0% of your time on major highways. Because this path relies entirely on local infrastructure, you should prepare for frequent turns rather than long, uninterrupted stretches. The drive offers a direct look at the regional landscape as you transition between these two Great Plains hubs. You will find that the road surface and traffic patterns remain consistent throughout the entire 26.4-mile span.
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.
KS 15 is the longest continuous segment at about 22.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on KS 15 and North Broadway Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near KS 15.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 26.4 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 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 24.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 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...
7
24.3 mi into trip
|
~29m 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
24.4 mi into trip
|
~30m 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
5
26.3 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
North Market Street
Turn left onto North Market Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Newton, KS to Wichita, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Emporia along the way.
Emporia
1.7 mi in
|
~4m
|
via KS 15
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| KS 15 | 22.6 mi | 25m |
| North Broadway Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Washington Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East 13th Street North | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.5 mi | 2m |
| South Kansas Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Central Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
KS 15
— 22.6 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newton, KS and Wichita, 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
22 mi
·
24 min
·
KS 15
Toward I 135 South, US 81 South, KS 15 South: Wichita
Use the slight right lane.
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 this is such a short, 34-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. There are no planned stops on this route, so you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to scout for rest areas or refueling stations. Keep in mind that because you are relying on local roads like South Kansas Avenue, traffic flow will be dictated by local conditions rather than highway speed limits. To ensure a smooth experience, double-check your navigation before leaving Newton, as the turn-heavy nature of the route requires careful attention to signage. Enjoy the simplicity of this quick hop south, knowing you will arrive at your destination in under an hour.
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 13.2 miles from Newton, KS, or about 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.6 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 26.4 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.2 miles or 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 28m
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 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 26.4 miles and 34m.
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 KS 15 for about 22.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.2 mi from Newton, KS · 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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 26.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13.2 miles from Newton, 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
$4.01 one way
$8.02 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $4.42 | $8.84 |
| premium | $4.80 | $4.98 | $9.97 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.87 | $11.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.77 | $1.27 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.31 | $1.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Wichita, KS
Evening in Wichita on Sunday
Local time
7:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
44°F
Lincoln, KS
13 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
4 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
34m 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 Wichita, KS covers 26.4 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are KS 15, North Broadway Street, Washington Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.2 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 $4.01 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 is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 26.4 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 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 24.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Newton, KS to Wichita, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Emporia along the way.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Wichita, KS
More trips to Wichita, KS
Explore more options from Newton, KS or browse trips ending in Wichita, KS.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KS road trips.
Explore maps for Newton, KS or Wichita, KS on MapSof.net.