Origin
Salem, KS
Afternoon in Salem on Thursday
Local time
3:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salem, KS to Derby, KS
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 11m
Distance
214.8 mi
346 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 58m
★
6 AM
4h 11m
8 AM
4h 38m
10 AM
4h 20m
12 PM
4h 18m
3 PM
4h 22m
5 PM
4h 36m
8 PM
4h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salem, KS
Tien Nguyen
Derby, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Salem, KS to Derby, KS covers 214.8 miles and takes about 4h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 140th Road, US 24, I 135 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 99.5 miles on 140th Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.58 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
107.4 miles from Salem, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 11m. Total distance: 214.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
The drive from Salem, KS to Derby, KS covers 214.8 miles and takes about 4h 11m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
140th Road is the longest continuous segment at about 99.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 11m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 80.8 miles (US 81 / 140th Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 206.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
80.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
|
US 81 / 140th Road
Merge onto US 81 / 140th Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
206.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 57m in
Take the exit toward Pawnee Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 3B
Toward Pawnee Avenue
5
206.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 58m in
|
East Pawnee Street
Turn right onto East Pawnee Street
Navigation decision point
5
214.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 11m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
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 Salem, KS to Derby, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.
Salina
80.5 mi in
|
~1h 47m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 140th Road | 99.5 mi | 1h 40m |
| US 24 | 51 mi | 1h 1m |
| I 135 | 26.3 mi | 29m |
| KS 181 | 19.2 mi | 22m |
| South Southeast Boulevard | 7.3 mi | 11m |
| US 281 | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| 100 Road | 1.5 mi | 5m |
| 20 Road | 0.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
140th Road
— 99.5 mi, about 1h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, KS and Derby, KS.
1
Start on 20 Road
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
20 Road
2
Turn left
2.0 mi
·
7 min
3
Turn straight onto 100 Road
1.5 mi
·
5 min
·
100 Road
4
Turn left onto US 281
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
US 281
5
Continue on KS 181
19 mi
·
22 min
·
KS 181
6
Turn left onto US 24; KS 9
51 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
US 24; KS 9
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward Salina
8
Merge onto US 81
99 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
·
140th Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on I 135; US 81
26 mi
·
29 min
·
I 135; US 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 3B
Toward Pawnee Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto East Pawnee Street
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
East Pawnee Street
12
Turn left onto South Southeast Boulevard
7.3 mi
·
11 min
·
South Southeast Boulevard
13
Continue on KS 15
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Baltimore Avenue
14
Turn left onto East Main Street
271 ft
·
17 sec
·
East Main Street
15
Turn left
121 ft
·
8 sec
16
Arrive at destination
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 107.4 miles from Salem, KS, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.5 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 47 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.4 miles or 2h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Derby, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Salem, 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 Salem, KS
This is one driving day of about 214.8 miles and 4h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Salem, 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 140th Road for about 99.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 107.4 mi from Salem, KS · 2h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
107 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 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 107.4 miles from Salem, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before 140th Road if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.5 miles.
Arriving in Derby, KS
The final approach into Derby, 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 Derby, 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
$33.58 one way
$67.16 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
75 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $36.87 | $73.74 |
| premium | $4.89 | $41.34 | $82.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.43 | $94.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.4 | 0 | $22.55 | $10.31 |
| Efficient EV | 53.7 | 0 | $18.79 | $8.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 85.9 | 1 | $30.07 | $13.75 |
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% 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
Derby, KS
Afternoon in Derby on Thursday
Local time
3:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live 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
6 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
4h 11m 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 Salem, KS to Derby, KS covers 214.8 miles and takes about 4h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 140th Road, US 24, I 135. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 107.4 miles from Salem, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.58 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 is a straightforward 4h 11m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 80.8 miles (US 81 / 140th Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 206.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Salem, KS to Derby, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.
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