Trip from Overland Park, KS to Auburn, KS

Data updated 24 minutes ago

Drive Time

1h 38m

Distance

79.3 mi

128 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min

4 AM

1h 31m ★

6 AM

1h 38m

8 AM

1h 53m

10 AM

1h 43m

12 PM

1h 42m

3 PM

1h 44m

5 PM

1h 52m

8 PM

1h 34m

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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Overland Park, KS

Sam McCool

Auburn, KS

Tien Nguyen

Trip Overview

The drive from Overland Park, KS to Auburn, KS covers 79.3 miles and takes about 1h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Kansas Turnpike, Southwest 61st Street, Harry Darby Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57.5 miles on Kansas Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.40 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

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

39.7 miles from Overland Park, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 1h 38m highway drive covering 79.3 miles, with most of the trip on Kansas Turnpike and Southwest 61st Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 57.5 miles on Kansas Turnpike.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Kansas Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 57.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and Southwest 61st Street. 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 81st Street.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 79.3 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 81st Street): Navigation decision point; 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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West 81st Street

Turn right onto West 81st Street

Navigation decision point

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

Turn left onto Metcalf Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

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.

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

59.9 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | I 470 / Kansas Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 470 / Kansas Turnpike toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, Wichita

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 470, I 335: South Topeka, Wichita

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Overland Park, KS and Auburn, KS, road signs point toward Wichita and Salina.

Wichita

59.9 mi in | ~1h 6m | via I 470

Salina

66.6 mi in | ~1h 12m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Kansas Turnpike	57.5 mi	58m
Southwest 61st Street	5 mi	8m
Harry Darby Memorial Highway	4.7 mi	5m
Metcalf Avenue	3.8 mi	6m
Southwest Burlingame Road	3.2 mi	5m
Southwest Auburn Road	3 mi	7m
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway	0.7 mi	1m
North Washington Street	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Kansas Turnpike — 57.5 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on this road

134 ft · 13 sec · this road

Turn right onto West 81st Street

182 ft · 12 sec · West 81st Street

Turn left onto Marty Street

482 ft · 23 sec · Marty Street

Turn right onto West 80th Street

0.1 mi · 35 sec · West 80th Street

Turn left onto Metcalf Avenue

3.8 mi · 6 min · Metcalf Avenue

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 635

4.7 mi · 5 min · Harry Darby Memorial Highway

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec

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

Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40

51 mi · 51 min · Kansas Turnpike

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 470

6.7 mi · 6 min · Kansas Turnpike

Toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, Wichita Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Toward I 470 West, US 75: Topeka, Salina

Continue on I 470

0.7 mi · 1 min · Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec

Toward US 75 South

Keep slight left at fork

509 ft · 14 sec

Turn left onto Southwest Burlingame Road

3.2 mi · 5 min · Southwest Burlingame Road

Turn straight onto Southwest 61st Street

2.0 mi · 3 min · Southwest 61st Street

Enter roundabout onto Southwest 61st Street

109 ft · 2 sec · Southwest 61st Street

Continue on Southwest 61st Street

3.0 mi · 5 min · Southwest 61st Street

Turn left onto Southwest Auburn Road

3.0 mi · 7 min · Southwest Auburn Road

Continue on North Washington Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Washington Street

Turn left onto East 8th Street

34 ft · 1 sec · East 8th Street

Arrive at destination

East 8th Street

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.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 39.7 miles from Overland Park, KS, or about 45m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.5 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 79.3 miles or 1h 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 39.7 miles or 45m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 14m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, 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 79.3 miles and 1h 38m.

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 Kansas Turnpike for about 57.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 39.7 mi from Overland Park, KS · 45m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Valley Falls, KS

40 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 79.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Valley Falls, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.7 miles from Overland Park, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Auburn, KS

The final approach into Auburn, 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 Auburn, 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

$12.40 one way

$24.80 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$13.61	$27.22
premium	$4.89	$15.26	$30.52
diesel	$5.61	$17.51	$35.02

Estimated Tolls: $2.87

Kansas Turnpike (57.5 mi) $2.87

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

$12

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	23.8	$8.33	$3.81
Efficient EV	19.8	$6.94	$3.17
EV Truck/SUV	31.7	$11.10	$5.08

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (68% 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 2 hours ago

Origin

Overland Park, KS

Late night in Overland Park on Wednesday

Local time

5:33 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Auburn, KS

Late night in Auburn on Wednesday

Local time

5:33 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

75°F

Valley Falls, KS

40 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

5 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

1h 38m 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 Auburn, KS covers 79.3 miles and takes about 1h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Kansas Turnpike, Southwest 61st Street, Harry Darby Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 39.7 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 $12.40 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.