Origin
Salem, KS
Night in Salem on Sunday
Local time
10:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salem, KS to Pittsburg, KS
Drive Time
5h 45m
Distance
358.7 mi
577 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$54
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 32m
★
6 AM
5h 45m
8 AM
6h 12m
10 AM
5h 55m
12 PM
5h 52m
3 PM
5h 56m
5 PM
6h 10m
8 PM
5h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pittsburg, KS
Ken Jacobsen
Trip Overview
The drive from Salem, KS to Pittsburg, KS covers 358.7 miles and takes about 5h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 100 Road, Salina, 140th Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $54.48 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
179.4 miles from Salem, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 52m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 45m drive with frequent turns across 358.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
100 Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 45m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Salem, KS to Pittsburg, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Salina | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 140th Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| KS 196 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northwest State Road 196 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Southwest 20th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Central Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Denver Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
100 Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, KS and Pittsburg, 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
6.3 mi
·
7 min
5
Continue straight
19 mi
·
22 min
6
Turn left
51 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
7
Take the ramp right toward Salina
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Salina
8
Merge slight left onto 140th Road
99 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
·
140th Road
9
Continue straight
4.9 mi
·
4 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward KS 196: Whitewater, El Dorado
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
KS 196: Whitewater, El Dorado
11
Turn left onto KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street
9.6 mi
·
11 min
·
KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street
12
Continue on KS 196/Northwest 90th Street
19 mi
·
21 min
·
KS 196/Northwest 90th Street
13
Continue on Northwest State Road 196
443 ft
·
14 sec
·
Northwest State Road 196
14
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
15
Merge slight left onto Southwest 20th Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest 20th Street
16
Continue on West Central Avenue
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West Central Avenue
17
Turn right onto South Denver Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Denver Street
18
Turn left onto West Kansas Avenue
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
West Kansas Avenue
19
Turn right onto South Main Street
9.2 mi
·
11 min
·
South Main Street
20
Turn left onto Southeast 100th Street
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Southeast 100th Street
21
Turn left onto Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway
61 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway
22
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
157 ft
·
2 sec
·
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
23
Exit the roundabout onto Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
71 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
24
Turn left
5.4 mi
·
7 min
25
Turn right onto West 4th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West 4th Street
26
Turn right onto North Broadway Street
66 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Broadway Street
27
Arrive at your 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 179.4 miles from Salem, KS, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
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 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 179.4 miles or 2h 52m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pittsburg, 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 358.7 miles and 5h 45m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 179.4 mi from Salem, KS · 2h 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
179 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 179.4 miles from Salem, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Pittsburg, KS
The final approach into Pittsburg, 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 Pittsburg, 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
$54.48 one way
$108.97 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
126 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $60.06 | $120.12 |
| premium | $4.80 | $67.72 | $135.43 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $79.69 | $159.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 125.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 107.6 | 1 | $37.66 | $17.22 |
| Efficient EV | 89.7 | 1 | $31.39 | $14.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 143.5 | 1 | $50.22 | $22.96 |
Gas CO2
126 kg
EV CO2
42 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.
Destination
Pittsburg, KS
Night in Pittsburg on Sunday
Local time
10:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
52°F
Newton, KS
179 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
10 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 45m 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 Pittsburg, KS covers 358.7 miles and takes about 5h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 100 Road, Salina, 140th Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 179.4 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 $54.48 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 is a straightforward 5h 45m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Salem, KS to Pittsburg, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Salem, KS to Pittsburg, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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