The drive from Norton, KS to Shawnee, KS covers 322.9 miles and takes about 6h 20m 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, Kansas Turnpike, West 40th Drive for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.4 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.48 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
161.4 miles from Norton, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 14m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 20m. Total distance: 322.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 20m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The drive from Norton, KS to Shawnee, KS covers 322.9 miles and takes about 6h 20m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 45 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 51.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Wilton Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 322.9 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: near the start (West Wilton Street): Navigation decision point; at 206.5 miles (KS 177; KS 18): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 215 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 25 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Wilton Street
Turn left onto West Wilton Street
Navigation decision point
9
206.5 mi into trip|~4h 11m in|KS 177; KS 18
Take the exit onto KS 177; KS 18 toward Junction I-70, Zeandale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Junction I-70, Zeandale
5
215 mi into trip|~4h 22m in
Take the exit toward I-70 East, Topeka
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 East, Topeka
6
266.9 mi into trip|~5h 16m in|I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
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
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
8
316.5 mi into trip|~6h 7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Turner Diagonal
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Turner Diagonal
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Norton, KS and Shawnee, KS, road signs point toward Junction I-70, Zeandale, Topeka and Kansas City.
Junction I-70
206.5 mi in|~4h 11m|via KS 177; KS 18
Zeandale
206.5 mi in|~4h 11m|via KS 177; KS 18
Topeka
215 mi in|~4h 22m
Kansas City
266.9 mi in|~5h 16m|via I 70
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
51.4 mi
53m
Kansas Turnpike
48.7 mi
49m
West 40th Drive
44.8 mi
54m
6th Street
28.6 mi
33m
Deer Road
24.2 mi
27m
18th Road
19.7 mi
22m
Highway 36
17 mi
19m
East Holme Street
14.1 mi
16m
Longest stretch:
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
— 51.4 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norton, KS and Shawnee, KS.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.48 one way
$100.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$55.43
$110.85
premium
$4.89
$62.14
$124.28
diesel
$5.61
$71.29
$142.58
Estimated Tolls: $2.43
Kansas Turnpike
(48.7 mi)$2.43
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
$50
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.9
1
$33.90
$15.50
Efficient EV
80.7
0
$28.25
$12.92
EV Truck/SUV
129.2
1
$45.21
$20.67
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Norton, KS
Late night
in Norton on Saturday
Local time
1:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Shawnee, KS
Late night
in Shawnee on Saturday
Local time
1:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
80°F
Manhattan, KS
161 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
24 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
6h 20m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Norton, KS to Shawnee, KS covers 322.9 miles and takes about 6h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, Kansas Turnpike, West 40th Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 161.4 miles from Norton, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $50.48 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 322.9 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: near the start (West Wilton Street): Navigation decision point; at 206.5 miles (KS 177; KS 18): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 215 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Norton, KS and Shawnee, KS, road signs point toward Junction I-70, Zeandale, Topeka and Kansas City.
