Trip from Overland Park, KS to Abilene, KS

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, Kansas Turnpike, Harry Darby Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 76.9 miles from Overland Park, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.06 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Q: How many breaks should I plan?

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Data updated 3 hours ago

Drive Time

2h 45m

Distance

153.9 mi

248 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

2h 34m ★

6 AM

2h 45m

8 AM

3h 7m

10 AM

2h 53m

12 PM

2h 50m

3 PM

2h 54m

5 PM

3h 5m

8 PM

2h 39m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Overland Park, KS to Abilene, KS covers 153.9 miles and takes about 2h 45m 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, Harry Darby Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 91.3 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.06 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

76.9 miles from Overland Park, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .

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Drive Character

The drive from Overland Park, KS to Abilene, KS covers 153.9 miles and takes about 2h 45m, 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 13 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 91.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Metcalf Avenue.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 153.9 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 0.3 miles (Metcalf Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6

0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | Metcalf Avenue

Turn left onto Metcalf Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

6

4.1 mi into trip | ~8m in | I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

7

8.8 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward I 70 West: Topeka

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Exit 4B Toward I 70 West: Topeka

8

59.9 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | I 70 / Kansas Turnpike

Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 / Kansas Turnpike toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina

8

152.1 mi into trip | ~2h 40m in

Take the exit toward KS 15: Abilene, Clay Center

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 275 Toward KS 15: Abilene, Clay Center

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Overland Park, KS to Abilene, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.

Salina

59.9 mi in | ~1h 6m | via I 70

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway	91.3 mi	1h 33m
Kansas Turnpike	51.8 mi	52m
Harry Darby Memorial Highway	4.7 mi	5m
Metcalf Avenue	3.8 mi	6m
North Buckeye Avenue	1.6 mi	3m
West 80th Street	0.1 mi	<1m
Marty Street	<0.1 mi	<1m
West 81st Street	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway — 91.3 mi, about 1h 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Overland Park, KS and Abilene, KS.

1

Start on this road

134 ft · 13 sec · this road

2

Turn right onto West 81st Street

182 ft · 12 sec · West 81st Street

3

Turn left onto Marty Street

482 ft · 23 sec · Marty Street

4

Turn right onto West 80th Street

0.1 mi · 35 sec · West 80th Street

5

Turn left onto Metcalf Avenue

3.8 mi · 6 min · Metcalf Avenue

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 635

4.7 mi · 5 min · Harry Darby Memorial Highway

Use the straight lane.

7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Exit 4B Toward I 70 West: Topeka Use the slight left lane.

8

Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40

51 mi · 51 min · Kansas Turnpike

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 70

0.9 mi · 1 min · Kansas Turnpike

Toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

10

Continue on I 70

91 mi · 1 hr 33 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Toward I-70 West Use the straight lane.

11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Exit 275 Toward KS 15: Abilene, Clay Center Use the straight / slight right lanes.

12

Turn left onto KS 15

1.6 mi · 3 min · North Buckeye Avenue

13

Arrive at destination

KS 15

Trip Plan

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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 76.9 miles from Overland Park, KS, or about 1h 23m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.3 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 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 76.9 miles or 1h 23m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 14m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Abilene, 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 153.9 miles and 2h 45m.

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 Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway for about 91.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 76.9 mi from Overland Park, KS · 1h 23m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Valley Falls, KS

77 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

Valley Falls, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Valley Falls, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 76.9 miles from Overland Park, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 91.3 miles.

Arriving in Abilene, KS

The final approach into Abilene, 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 Abilene, KS.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park

National Historical Park

The path to equality has been anything but smooth. It's taken courage and dedication by everyday people coming together for a common goal to carry the country toward true equality. Parents, teachers,...

1 mi from route ~3 min detour Free near mile 63.7

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$24.06 one way

$48.12 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 54 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$26.42	$52.83
premium	$4.89	$29.62	$59.23
diesel	$5.61	$33.98	$67.96

Estimated Tolls: $2.59

Kansas Turnpike (51.8 mi) $2.59

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

$24

Tolls

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 53.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	46.2	$16.16	$7.39
Efficient EV	38.5	$13.47	$6.16
EV Truck/SUV	61.6	$21.55	$9.85

Gas CO2

54 kg

EV CO2

18 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.

Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Overland Park, KS

Night in Overland Park on Tuesday

Local time

10:31 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Abilene, KS

Night in Abilene on Tuesday

Local time

10:31 PM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

44°F

Valley Falls, KS

77 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

1 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

2h 45m 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 Abilene, KS covers 153.9 miles and takes about 2h 45m 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, Harry Darby Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 76.9 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 $24.06 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 153.9 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 0.3 miles (Metcalf Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

On the drive from Overland Park, KS to Abilene, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.