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Trip from Pittsburg, KS to Cherokee, KS

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

19m

Distance

13.1 mi

21 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 18m ★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 19m

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

city in Crawford County, in southeastern Kansas, United States

Pittsburg, KS

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Pittsburg, KS to Cherokee, KS covers 13.1 miles and takes about 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 400, US 69, West 4th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 6 miles on US 400. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.05 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

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

6.6 miles from Pittsburg, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 9m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 19m highway drive covering 13.1 miles, with most of the trip on US 400 and US 69. The longest continuous stretch is about 6 miles on US 400.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 400 is the longest continuous segment at about 6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 400 and US 69. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near KS 126 / West 4th Street.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 19m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (KS 126 / West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 69; US 160): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.4 miles (South 160th Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

4 of 4 key points

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

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | KS 126 / West 4th Street

Turn left onto KS 126 / West 4th Street

Navigation decision point

4
1.1 mi into trip | ~2m in | US 69; US 160

Turn left onto US 69; US 160

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
3
12.4 mi into trip | ~16m in | South 160th Street

Turn right onto South 160th Street

Navigation decision point

4
12.8 mi into trip | ~18m in | East Magnolia Street

Turn right onto East Magnolia Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 400 6 mi 7m
US 69 5.3 mi 7m
West 4th Street 1 mi 1m
East Magnolia Street 0.3 mi 1m
South 2nd Street 0.2 mi <1m
South 160th Street 0.2 mi <1m
North Broadway Street <0.1 mi <1m
East Magnolia Extension

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: US 400 — 6 mi, about 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pittsburg, KS and Cherokee, KS.

1

Start on US 69 Business

66 ft · 10 sec · North Broadway Street
2

Turn left onto KS 126

1.0 mi · 1 min · West 4th Street
3

Turn left onto US 69; US 160

5.3 mi · 7 min · US 69; US 160
Use the left / straight lanes.
4

Turn right onto US 400

6.0 mi · 7 min · US 400
5

Turn right onto South 160th Street

0.2 mi · 47 sec · South 160th Street
6

Continue on South 2nd Street

0.2 mi · 51 sec · South 2nd Street
7

Turn right onto East Magnolia Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · East Magnolia Street
8

Arrive at destination

East Magnolia Extension

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 6.6 miles from Pittsburg, KS, or about 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 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 13 miles or 19m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 6.6 miles or 9m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 15m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cherokee, KS than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving Pittsburg, KS.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Pittsburg, KS

This is one driving day of about 13.1 miles and 19m.

At 13.1 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on US 400 for about 6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 6.6 mi from Pittsburg, KS · 9m into the drive

Pacing Suggestions

Girard, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Arma, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 6.6 miles from Pittsburg, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Cherokee, KS

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Cherokee, KS if you are unfamiliar with the area.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.05 one way

$4.10 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 5 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $2.25 $4.50
premium $4.89 $2.52 $5.04
diesel $5.61 $2.89 $5.78

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 4.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.9 0 $1.38 $0.63
Efficient EV 3.3 0 $1.15 $0.52
EV Truck/SUV 5.2 0 $1.83 $0.84

Gas CO2

5 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (60% 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

Pittsburg, KS

Afternoon in Pittsburg on Wednesday

Local time

4:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cherokee, KS

Afternoon in Cherokee on Wednesday

Local time

4:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

24 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

19m 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 Pittsburg, KS to Cherokee, KS covers 13.1 miles and takes about 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 400, US 69, West 4th 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 6.6 miles from Pittsburg, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.05 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 is a straightforward 19m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (KS 126 / West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 69; US 160): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.4 miles (South 160th Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Pittsburg, KS to Cherokee, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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