The drive from Overland Park, KS to Valley Falls, KS covers 67.1 miles and takes about 1h 32m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on McLouth Road, US 24, Kansas Turnpike for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 15.6 miles on McLouth Road.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.49 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.
Midpoint
33.6 miles from Overland Park, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 67.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 32m highway drive covering 67.1 miles, with most of the trip on McLouth Road and US 24. The longest continuous stretch is about 15.6 miles on McLouth Road.
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.
McLouth Road is the longest continuous segment at about 15.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on McLouth Road and US 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Metcalf Avenue.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.1 miles you will encounter 18 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 18 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
19.8 mi into trip|~26m in|US 24; US 40
Keep slight right at fork onto US 24; US 40 toward US 24 East, US 40 East, US 73 North, KS 7 North: Lansing, Leavenworth, Tonganoxie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 24 East, US 40 East, US 73 North, KS...
7
21.3 mi into trip|~28m in|US 24; US 40
Take the exit onto US 24; US 40 toward US 24 West, US 40 West: Basehor, Tonganoxie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 24 West, US 40 West: Basehor, Tongano...
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 Valley Falls, KS, road signs point toward Leavenworth and Tonganoxie.
Leavenworth
19.8 mi in|~26m|via US 24; US 40
Tonganoxie
19.8 mi in|~26m|via US 24; US 40
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
McLouth Road
15.6 mi
22m
US 24
13.3 mi
18m
Kansas Turnpike
10.4 mi
11m
US 59
9.1 mi
11m
KS 16
8.1 mi
11m
Harry Darby Memorial Highway
4.7 mi
5m
Metcalf Avenue
3.8 mi
6m
KS 4
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
McLouth Road
— 15.6 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Overland Park, KS and Valley Falls, 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 4BToward I 70 West: TopekaUse the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
10 mi·11 min·Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 24; US 40
0.3 mi·37 sec·US 24; US 40
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 24; US 40
1.5 mi·2 min·US 24; US 40
Toward US 24 East, US 40 East, US 73 North, KS 7 North: Lansing, Leavenworth, TonganoxieUse the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit onto US 24; US 40
12 mi·15 min·US 24; US 40
Toward US 24 West, US 40 West: Basehor, TonganoxieUse the left lane.
12
Turn right onto KS 16
0.5 mi·58 sec·West 4th Street
13
Continue on KS 16
16 mi·22 min·McLouth Road
14
At end of road, turn right onto US 59; KS 16; KS 92
9.1 mi·11 min·US 59; KS 16; KS 92
15
Turn left onto KS 16
0.9 mi·1 min·KS 16
16
Keep slight right at fork onto KS 16
0.5 mi·49 sec·KS 16
17
Turn left onto KS 16
6.2 mi·8 min·KS 16
18
At end of road, turn left onto KS 4; KS 16
0.8 mi·1 min·KS 4; KS 16
19
Turn right onto KS 16
0.4 mi·54 sec·KS 16
20
Turn right onto Oak Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Oak Street
21
Arrive at destination
Oak 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 33.6 miles from Overland Park, KS, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.6 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 15 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.6 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Valley Falls, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Overland Park, KS
This is one driving day of about 67.1 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Overland Park, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on McLouth Road for about 15.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.6 mi from Overland Park, KS
· 45m into the drive
The midpoint is around 33.6 miles from Overland Park, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Valley Falls, KS
The final approach into Valley Falls, KS usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
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,...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
Free
near mile 48.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.49 one way
$20.98 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$11.52
$23.04
premium
$4.89
$12.91
$25.83
diesel
$5.61
$14.81
$29.63
Estimated Tolls: $0.52
Kansas Turnpike
(10.4 mi)$0.52
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
$10
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.1
0
$7.05
$3.22
Efficient EV
16.8
0
$5.87
$2.68
EV Truck/SUV
26.8
0
$9.39
$4.29
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Overland Park, KS
Afternoon
in Overland Park on Friday
Local time
12:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Valley Falls, KS
Afternoon
in Valley Falls on Friday
Local time
12:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Reno, KS
34 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
1h 32m 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 Valley Falls, KS covers 67.1 miles and takes about 1h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are McLouth Road, US 24, Kansas Turnpike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.6 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 $10.49 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 67.1 miles you will encounter 18 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.
Between Overland Park, KS and Valley Falls, KS, road signs point toward Leavenworth and Tonganoxie.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
