Origin
Overland Park, KS
Afternoon in Overland Park on Sunday
Local time
4:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Overland Park, KS to Arkansas City, KS
Drive Time
4h 8m
Distance
219.2 mi
353 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 55m
★
6 AM
4h 8m
8 AM
4h 35m
10 AM
4h 18m
12 PM
4h 15m
3 PM
4h 19m
5 PM
4h 33m
8 PM
4h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Overland Park, KS
Sam McCool
Arkansas City, KS
Shea B
Trip Overview
Traveling from Overland Park to Arkansas City covers 219.2 miles across the Kansas Great Plains. You can expect a drive time of approximately 4 hours and 8 minutes, making this a manageable single-day journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $33, it is a budget-friendly trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Since the entire route stays within Kansas, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout your travel. This highway-focused path is ideal if you are looking to get from point A to point B efficiently without needing to plan for multiple days on the road.
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
109.6 miles from Overland Park, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a straightforward, highway-focused experience as you navigate this 219.2-mile stretch. About 72% of your journey is spent on major thoroughfares, anchored primarily by I-35. You will settle into a rhythm during the longest uninterrupted stretch, which spans 149 miles along the interstate before you transition onto Walnut Street and North Main Street. While the road is designed for speed and efficiency, the transition from high-speed interstate travel to local surface streets in Arkansas City provides a clear change in pace as you reach your destination.
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.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 149 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Walnut Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Overland Park Drive.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 8m drive. You will face about 17 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Overland Park Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Newton Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Santa Fe Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Overland Park Drive
Turn left onto Overland Park Drive
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Newton Street
Turn right onto Newton Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Santa Fe Drive
Turn left onto Santa Fe Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
3.4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 35; US 56; US 169
Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 169
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
219 mi into trip
|
~4h 7m in
|
East Central Avenue
Turn right onto East Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 149 mi | 2h 32m |
| Walnut Street | 30.4 mi | 37m |
| North Main Street | 13.3 mi | 18m |
| Main Street | 10.4 mi | 14m |
| US 54 | 7.9 mi | 10m |
| Walnut Valley Green Way | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| West 87th Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Santa Fe Drive | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 149 mi, about 2h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Overland Park, KS and Arkansas City, KS.
1
Start on this road
134 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto West 81st Street
232 ft
·
16 sec
·
West 81st Street
3
Turn left onto Overland Park Drive
267 ft
·
12 sec
·
Overland Park Drive
4
Turn right onto Valley View Drive
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Valley View Drive
5
Turn right onto Newton Street
515 ft
·
28 sec
·
Newton Street
6
Turn left onto Santa Fe Drive
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Santa Fe Drive
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Continue on West 87th Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West 87th Street
Use the none lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Use the left lane.
9
Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 169
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
I 35; US 56; US 169
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on I 35; US 50; US 56; US 169
37 mi
·
39 min
·
I 35; US 50; US 56; US 169
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on I 35; US 50; US 59
109 mi
·
1 hr 49 min
·
I 35; US 50; US 59
12
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 77: El Dorado
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 77
13 mi
·
18 min
·
North Main Street
14
Take the exit onto US 54; US 77
7.9 mi
·
10 min
·
US 54; US 77
15
Turn left onto US 77
30 mi
·
37 min
·
Walnut Street
16
Continue on US 77; KS 15
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Main Street
Use the none lane.
17
Turn left onto US 77
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Walnut Valley Green Way
18
Enter roundabout onto US 77; US 166
193 ft
·
3 sec
·
Walnut Valley Green Way
19
Continue on US 77; US 166
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Walnut Valley Green Way
20
Turn right onto East Chestnut Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Chestnut Avenue
21
Turn left onto North C Street
443 ft
·
14 sec
·
North C Street
22
Turn right onto East Central Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Central Avenue
23
Turn left
120 ft
·
8 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Planning for this 4-hour and 8-minute drive is simple, as you only need to account for one significant stop to break up the journey. Given the heavy reliance on I-35, try to avoid peak commuting hours to ensure a smoother flow of traffic. Having $33 set aside for fuel is a safe baseline, but keep in mind that local road segments at the end of your trip may influence your final arrival time. Because this is a relatively short haul, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best, though mid-morning starts often provide the most comfortable visibility for the drive.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 109.6 miles from Overland Park, KS, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 149 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 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.6 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 17m
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 Overland Park, 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 Overland Park, KS
This is one driving day of about 219.2 miles and 4h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Overland Park, 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 I 35 for about 149 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 109.6 mi from Overland Park, KS · 1h 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
110 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 109.6 miles from Overland Park, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 149 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.29 one way
$66.59 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
77 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $36.70 | $73.41 |
| premium | $4.80 | $41.38 | $82.76 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $48.70 | $97.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.8 | 0 | $23.02 | $10.52 |
| Efficient EV | 54.8 | 0 | $19.18 | $8.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 87.7 | 1 | $30.69 | $14.03 |
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Along the Route
52°F
Newton, KS
110 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
4h 8m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Overland Park, KS to Arkansas City, KS covers 219.2 miles and takes about 4h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, Walnut Street, North Main 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 109.6 miles from Overland Park, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.29 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 straightforward 4h 8m drive. You will face about 17 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Overland Park Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Newton Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Santa Fe Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Overland Park, KS to Arkansas City, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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