Origin
Pittsburg, KS
Afternoon in Pittsburg on Thursday
Local time
3:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pittsburg, KS to Salina, KS
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 48m
Distance
252.5 mi
406 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 35m
★
6 AM
4h 48m
8 AM
5h 15m
10 AM
4h 58m
12 PM
4h 55m
3 PM
4h 59m
5 PM
5h 14m
8 PM
4h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pittsburg, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Salina, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Pittsburg, KS to Salina, KS covers 252.5 miles and takes about 4h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 135, US 400, Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 80.8 miles on I 135. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.48 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
126.3 miles from Pittsburg, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 48m. Total distance: 252.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 48m highway drive covering 252.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 135 and US 400. The longest continuous stretch is about 80.8 miles on I 135.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 135 is the longest continuous segment at about 80.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 135 and US 400. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near KS 126 / West 4th Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 252.5 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (KS 126 / West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 69; US 160): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (US 400): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese 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.
4
6.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 400
Turn right onto US 400
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
157.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 7m in
Take the exit toward I 35, KS 96: Kansas Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35, KS 96: Kansas Turnpike
8
167.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 19m in
|
KS 96
Keep slight right at fork onto KS 96 toward I 135 North, KS 96 West, US 81 North, KS 15 North: Salina, Hutchinson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 135 North, KS 96 West, US 81 North, KS...
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 Pittsburg, KS to Salina, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Hutchinson along the way.
Hutchinson
167.5 mi in
|
~3h 19m
|
via KS 96
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 135 | 80.8 mi | 1h 21m |
| US 400 | 70.5 mi | 1h 22m |
| Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway | 61.6 mi | 1h 11m |
| Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway | 17.9 mi | 21m |
| KS 96 | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| US 69 | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| West State Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| West 4th Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 135
— 80.8 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pittsburg, KS and Salina, 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
71 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
US 400
Use the straight lane.
5
Enter roundabout onto US 400
170 ft
·
2 sec
·
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
6
Continue on US 400
62 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
7
Continue on US 54; US 77; US 400
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
8
Continue on US 54; US 77; US 400
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 7th Avenue
9
Continue on US 54; US 400
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 35, KS 96: Kansas Turnpike
11
Continue on KS 96
10 mi
·
11 min
·
KS 96
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto KS 96
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
KS 96
Toward I 135 North, KS 96 West, US 81 North, KS 15 North: Salina, Hutchinson
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on I 135; US 81; KS 15
18 mi
·
18 min
·
I 135; US 81; KS 15
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Continue on I 135; US 50; US 81
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 135; US 50; US 81
15
Continue on I 135; US 81
61 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 135; US 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward KS 140
17
Turn right onto West State Street
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
West State Street
18
Keep slight right at fork
428 ft
·
9 sec
19
Turn straight onto West State Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West State Street
20
Turn right onto North College Avenue
379 ft
·
15 sec
·
North College Avenue
21
Turn left onto West Iron Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Iron Avenue
22
Turn right onto South 8th Street
92 ft
·
3 sec
·
South 8th Street
23
Arrive at destination
South 8th Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 126.3 miles from Pittsburg, KS, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.8 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 56 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.3 miles or 2h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salina, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pittsburg, 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 Pittsburg, KS
This is one driving day of about 252.5 miles and 4h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Pittsburg, 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 I 135 for about 80.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 126.3 mi from Pittsburg, KS · 2h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
126 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 126.3 miles from Pittsburg, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 135 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.8 miles.
Arriving in Salina, KS
The final approach into Salina, 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 Salina, 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
$39.48 one way
$78.95 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $43.34 | $86.69 |
| premium | $4.89 | $48.59 | $97.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.75 | $111.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.8 | 0 | $26.51 | $12.12 |
| Efficient EV | 63.1 | 0 | $22.09 | $10.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101 | 1 | $35.35 | $16.16 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Salina, KS
Afternoon in Salina on Thursday
Local time
3:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Augusta, KS
126 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
25 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
4h 48m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Salina, KS covers 252.5 miles and takes about 4h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 135, US 400, Clayton J. Connell 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 126.3 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 $39.48 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 252.5 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (KS 126 / West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 69; US 160): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (US 400): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Pittsburg, KS to Salina, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Hutchinson along the way.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Salina, KS
More trips to Salina, KS
Explore more options from Pittsburg, KS or browse trips ending in Salina, KS.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KS road trips.
Explore maps for Pittsburg, KS or Salina, KS on MapSof.net.