Origin
Prairie Village, KS
Afternoon in Prairie Village on Saturday
Local time
1:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Prairie Village, KS to Tecumseh, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
64.5 mi
104 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Prairie Village, KS
Tom Fisk
Tecumseh, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Prairie Village, KS to Tecumseh, KS covers 64.5 miles and takes about 1h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Kansas Turnpike, Harry Darby Memorial Highway, Metcalf Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 52.3 miles on Kansas Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.08 one way before food or hotel costs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Turnpike | 52.3 mi | 54m |
| Harry Darby Memorial Highway | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| Metcalf Avenue | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| West 75th Street | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| US 40 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Southeast Tecumseh Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Oakland Expressway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Southeast 3rd Terrace | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 52.3 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Prairie Village, KS and Tecumseh, KS.
1
Start on this road
0.1 mi
·
58 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto West 75th Street
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
West 75th Street
3
Turn right onto Metcalf Avenue
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Metcalf Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto I 635
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Harry Darby Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 4B
Toward I 70 West: Topeka
Use the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
51 mi
·
51 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Kansas Turnpike
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto I 70
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Use the right lane.
9
Merge onto US 40; KS 4
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Oakland Expressway
10
Take the exit onto US 40
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
US 40
11
Turn left onto US 40
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 40
12
Turn left onto Southeast Tecumseh Road
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Southeast Tecumseh Road
13
Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Terrace
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Southeast 3rd Terrace
14
Arrive at destination
Southeast 3rd Terrace
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.3 miles from Prairie Village, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 61 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Metcalf Avenue
Turn right onto Metcalf Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
5.2 mi into trip
|
~10m 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
9.9 mi into trip
|
~16m 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
5
10.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
61 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.08 one way
$20.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.07 | $22.14 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.41 | $24.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.24 | $28.48 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.61
Kansas Turnpike
(52.3 mi)
$2.61
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$3
Total
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.6 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 | 19.3 | 0 | $6.77 | $3.10 |
| Efficient EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.64 | $2.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.03 | $4.13 |
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.
Destination
Tecumseh, KS
Afternoon in Tecumseh on Saturday
Local time
1:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 14m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
64.5 mi in 1h 14m, mostly highway — 52.3 mi of that is on Kansas Turnpike.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.3 mi on Kansas Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and Harry Darby Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in near Metcalf Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.5 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: at 2.1 miles (Metcalf Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles (I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Prairie Village, KS to Tecumseh, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.
Salina
61 mi in
|
~1h 8m
|
via I 70
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 64.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.3 miles on Kansas Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.61 in tolls one way, starting with Kansas Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Tecumseh, KS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles (Metcalf Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles (I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tecumseh, KS before heading back.
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.
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