Trip from Salem, KS to Lenexa, KS

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

5h 19m

Distance

264.8 mi

426 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$41

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 6m ★

6 AM

5h 19m

8 AM

5h 46m

10 AM

5h 29m

12 PM

5h 26m

3 PM

5h 30m

5 PM

5h 45m

8 PM

5h 11m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Salem, KS

Tien Nguyen

city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States

Lenexa, KS

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Salem, KS to Lenexa, KS covers 264.8 miles and takes about 5h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 24, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, South Lawrence Trafficway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 100.2 miles on US 24. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.40 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

132.4 miles from Salem, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 49m into the drive .

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Drive Character

The drive from Salem, KS to Lenexa, KS covers 264.8 miles and takes about 5h 19m, 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 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 24 is the longest continuous segment at about 100.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 149.8 miles in near KS 177; KS 18.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 264.8 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 149.8 miles (KS 177; KS 18): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 260.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 260.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 25 key points

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

149.8 mi into trip | ~3h 12m in | KS 177; KS 18

Take the exit onto KS 177; KS 18 toward Junction I-70, Zeandale

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward Junction I-70, Zeandale

260.7 mi into trip | ~5h 12m 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,...

260.8 mi into trip | ~5h 12m 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

261.4 mi into trip | ~5h 13m 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

264.4 mi into trip | ~5h 17m 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 Salem, KS and Lenexa, KS, road signs point toward Junction I-70, Zeandale, Topeka, Kansas City and Lawrence.

Junction I-70

149.8 mi in | ~3h 12m | via KS 177; KS 18

Zeandale

149.8 mi in | ~3h 12m | via KS 177; KS 18

Topeka

158.3 mi in | ~3h 22m

Kansas City

210.2 mi in | ~4h 17m | via I 70

Lawrence

224.9 mi in | ~4h 32m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 24	100.2 mi	2h
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway	51.4 mi	53m
South Lawrence Trafficway	35.4 mi	38m
KS 181	19.2 mi	22m
Kansas Turnpike	14 mi	14m
Madison Road	9.1 mi	10m
KS 177	8.5 mi	10m
Tuttle Creek Boulevard	6.6 mi	9m

Longest stretch: US 24 — 100.2 mi, about 2h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Salem, KS and Lenexa, KS.

Start on 20 Road

0.6 mi · 2 min · 20 Road

Turn left

2.0 mi · 7 min

Turn straight onto 100 Road

1.5 mi · 5 min · 100 Road

Turn left onto US 281

6.3 mi · 7 min · US 281

Continue on KS 181

19 mi · 22 min · KS 181

Turn left onto US 24; KS 9

92 mi · 1 hr 50 min · US 24; KS 9

Turn right onto KS 82

4.0 mi · 4 min · Cavalry Road

Turn left onto US 77

9.1 mi · 10 min · Madison Road

Turn right onto US 24

8.6 mi · 9 min · US 24

Enter roundabout onto US 24

267 ft · 3 sec · Tuttle Creek Boulevard

Continue on US 24

0.9 mi · 1 min · Tuttle Creek Boulevard

Enter roundabout onto US 24

161 ft · 1 sec · Tuttle Creek Boulevard

Continue on US 24

5.6 mi · 8 min · Tuttle Creek Boulevard

Use the left lane.

Continue on KS 177

0.4 mi · 1 min · Fort Riley Boulevard

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit onto KS 177; KS 18

8.5 mi · 10 min · KS 177; KS 18

Toward Junction I-70, Zeandale Use the right lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Toward I-70 East, Topeka

Merge onto I 70; US 40

36 mi · 35 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.1 mi · 1 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

15 mi · 17 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70

0.8 mi · 52 sec · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Toward I-70 East, Kansas City

Continue on I 70

14 mi · 14 min · Kansas Turnpike

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min

Exit 197 Toward KS 10: Lecompton, Lawrence

Turn right onto KS 10

35 mi · 38 min · South Lawrence Trafficway

Take the exit

391 ft · 6 sec

Toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines, Renner Boulevard Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 47 sec

Toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork

1.4 mi · 1 min

Toward I 35: Wichita, Des Moines Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 35 North: Des Moines Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35; US 56; US 169

0.9 mi · 1 min · I 35; US 56; US 169

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 19 sec

Exit 224 Toward 95th Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

296 ft · 7 sec

Toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie College Use the right lane.

Turn straight onto West 95th Street

189 ft · 3 sec · West 95th Street

Turn slight right onto Lenexa Drive

0.2 mi · 56 sec · Lenexa Drive

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto Rosehill Road

500 ft · 18 sec · Rosehill Road

Turn right

71 ft · 10 sec

Turn left

256 ft · 18 sec

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 132.4 miles from Salem, KS, or about 2h 49m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.2 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 80 miles or 1h 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 132.4 miles or 2h 49m 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 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lenexa, 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 264.8 miles and 5h 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 US 24 for about 100.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 132.4 mi from Salem, KS · 2h 49m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Valley Falls, KS

132 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

Belleville, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Grandview Plaza, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 132.4 miles from Salem, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 24 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 100.2 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,...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour Free near mile 210.1

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$41.40 one way

$82.80 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 93 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$45.45	$90.91
premium	$4.89	$50.96	$101.92
diesel	$5.61	$58.46	$116.93

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

$41

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$67–$92

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 92.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	79.4	0	$27.80	$12.71
Efficient EV	66.2	0	$23.17	$10.59
EV Truck/SUV	105.9	1	$37.07	$16.95

Gas CO2

93 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (67% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 hours ago

Origin

Salem, KS

Night in Salem on Tuesday

Local time

10:19 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lenexa, KS

Night in Lenexa on Tuesday

Local time

10:19 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 17 mph 45% chance Live forecast

44°F

Valley Falls, KS

132 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

19 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

5h 19m 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 Lenexa, KS covers 264.8 miles and takes about 5h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 24, 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 132.4 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 $41.40 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.