Origin
Overland Park, KS
Evening in Overland Park on Sunday
Local time
8:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Overland Park, KS to Paola, KS
Drive Time
46m
Distance
34.8 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Overland Park, KS
Sam McCool
Paola, KS
Alexis Cruz
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Overland Park to Paola, you can expect a straightforward 34.8-mile journey that typically takes about 46 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to head out and return with ease. With an estimated fuel cost of just $5, it is an economical choice for a weekend outing. The drive keeps you within the Great Plains region the entire time, transitioning from the suburban edge of Overland Park into the more rural landscape of Paola. Because the trip is short and efficient, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics or complex planning.
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
17.4 miles from Overland Park, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 86% of your drive will be spent on major roads like US 169, I-35, and West 87th Street. The most significant portion of your travel happens on US 169, which features a 20.8-mile stretch that allows for steady, uninterrupted driving. While you start by navigating local connections, the route quickly transitions into a faster-paced highway environment. You will find that the personality of the road is functional and direct, prioritizing speed and efficiency over winding backroads. It is a no-nonsense drive that gets you from point A to point B without any mandatory stops along the way.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 169 is the longest continuous segment at about 20.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 169 and I 35. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Overland Park Drive.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 34.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 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 14 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.
8
12.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
US 169
Take the exit onto US 169 toward US 169 South, KS 7: Paola
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 215
Toward US 169 South, KS 7: Paola
6
33.1 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward Baptiste Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Baptiste Drive
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 169 | 20.8 mi | 24m |
| I 35 | 9 mi | 10m |
| West 87th Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Peoria Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Santa Fe Drive | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Baptiste Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Valley View Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Newton Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 169
— 20.8 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Overland Park, KS and Paola, 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
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
I 35; US 50; US 56; US 169
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit onto US 169
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
US 169
Exit 215
Toward US 169 South, KS 7: Paola
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto US 169; K-7
21 mi
·
23 min
·
US 169; K-7
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Baptiste Drive
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto Baptiste Drive
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Baptiste Drive
15
Turn left onto Hedge Lane
334 ft
·
12 sec
·
Hedge Lane
16
Turn right onto East Peoria Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Peoria Street
17
Turn left onto South Silver Street
222 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Silver Street
18
Arrive at destination
South Silver Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 46-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily fit this drive into a busy schedule, as there are no required stops needed to complete the 34.8-mile distance. Keep in mind that with the majority of your time spent on high-speed highways, it is best to stay alert and monitor your speed as you transition through different road types. Given the modest $5 fuel budget, you won't need to plan for extensive refueling stops, but it is always a good practice to check your gauges before leaving Overland Park. Use your time wisely by enjoying the simplicity of a drive that requires very little logistical preparation.
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 17.4 miles from Overland Park, KS, or about 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.8 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 34.8 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 17.4 miles or 24m 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 Paola, 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 34.8 miles and 46m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US 169 for about 20.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.4 mi from Overland Park, KS · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.4 miles from Overland Park, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Paola, KS
The final approach into Paola, 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 Paola, 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
$5.29 one way
$10.57 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $5.83 | $11.65 |
| premium | $4.80 | $6.57 | $13.14 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.73 | $15.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 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 | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Paola, KS
Evening in Paola on Sunday
Local time
8:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°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
6 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
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 Overland Park, KS to Paola, KS covers 34.8 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 169, I 35, West 87th 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 17.4 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 $5.29 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 34.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 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 Paola, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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