The drive from Saint Francis, KS to Lenexa, KS covers 438.2 miles and takes about 7h 52m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, South Lawrence Trafficway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 258.5 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $68.51 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
219.1 miles from Saint Francis, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 3m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 52m. Total distance: 438.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 52m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 7h 52m drive with frequent turns across 438.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 258.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 434.1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 438.2 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: at 434.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 434.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 434.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
434.1 mi into trip|~7h 45m in
Take the exit toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines, Renner Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines,...
8
434.2 mi into trip|~7h 45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines
8
434.8 mi into trip|~7h 46m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35: Wichita, Des Moines
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 35: Wichita, Des Moines
7
436.1 mi into trip|~7h 48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Des Moines
9
437.8 mi into trip|~7h 51m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saint Francis, KS and Lenexa, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City and Lawrence.
Kansas City
383.5 mi in|~6h 50m|via I 70
Lawrence
398.3 mi in|~7h 5m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
258.5 mi
4h 18m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
90.3 mi
1h 32m
South Lawrence Trafficway
35.4 mi
38m
KS 27
30 mi
52m
Kansas Turnpike
14 mi
14m
US 36
4.9 mi
6m
I 35
0.9 mi
1m
South Benton Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 258.5 mi, about 4h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Francis, KS and Lenexa, KS.
The midpoint is around 219.1 miles from Saint Francis, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 258.5 miles.
Arriving in Lenexa, KS
The final approach into Lenexa, 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 Lenexa, KS.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
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,...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 377.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$68.51 one way
$137.02 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg153 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$75.22
$150.44
premium
$4.89
$84.33
$168.66
diesel
$5.61
$96.75
$193.50
Estimated Tolls: $0.70
Kansas Turnpike
(14 mi)$0.70
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
$69
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$94–$119
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 153.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
131.5
1
$46.01
$21.03
Efficient EV
109.6
1
$38.34
$17.53
EV Truck/SUV
175.3
2
$61.35
$28.04
Gas CO2
153 kg
EV CO2
51 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Saint Francis, KS
Morning
in Saint Francis on Friday
Local time
8:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lenexa, KS
Morning
in Lenexa on Friday
Local time
8:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 17 mph45% chanceLive forecast
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
20 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
7h 52m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Saint Francis, KS to Lenexa, KS covers 438.2 miles and takes about 7h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, South Lawrence Trafficway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 219.1 miles from Saint Francis, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $68.51 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 438.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 434.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 434.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 434.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Saint Francis, KS and Lenexa, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City and Lawrence.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
