Trip from Salem, KS to Shawnee, KS

Drive Time

5h 21m

Distance

266.2 mi

428 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

25 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 8m ★

6 AM

5h 21m

8 AM

5h 48m

10 AM

5h 31m

12 PM

5h 28m

3 PM

5h 32m

5 PM

5h 47m

8 PM

5h 13m

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

Shawnee, KS

Tien Nguyen

Trip Overview

The drive from Salem, KS to Shawnee, KS covers 266.2 miles and takes about 5h 21m 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, Kansas Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 100.2 miles on US 24. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.09 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

133.1 miles from Salem, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 5h 21m highway drive covering 266.2 miles, with most of the trip on US 24 and Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 100.2 miles on US 24.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 32 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 is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 24 and Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. 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 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 266.2 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 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 158.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 210.2 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 21 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

158.3 mi into trip | ~3h 22m in

Take the exit toward I-70 East, Topeka

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

Toward I-70 East, Topeka

210.2 mi into trip | ~4h 17m in | I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway toward I-70 East, Kansas City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I-70 East, Kansas City

259.6 mi into trip | ~5h 7m in

Take the exit toward College Parkway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 415 Toward College Parkway

259.8 mi into trip | ~5h 8m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Turner Diagonal

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward Turner Diagonal

Towns Along This Route

Between Salem, KS and Shawnee, KS, road signs point toward Junction I-70, Zeandale, Topeka and Kansas City.

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

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 24	100.2 mi	2h
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway	51.4 mi	53m
Kansas Turnpike	48.7 mi	49m
KS 181	19.2 mi	22m
Madison Road	9.1 mi	10m
KS 177	8.5 mi	10m
Tuttle Creek Boulevard	6.6 mi	9m
US 281	6.3 mi	7m

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Salem, KS and Shawnee, 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

49 mi · 49 min · Kansas Turnpike

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Exit 415 Toward College Parkway

Keep slight right at fork

390 ft · 9 sec

Toward Turner Diagonal Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto Turner Diagonal

1.2 mi · 1 min · Turner Diagonal

Use the straight lane.

Continue on KS 32

1.0 mi · 1 min · KS 32

Turn right onto South 55th Street

0.4 mi · 52 sec · South 55th Street

Turn slight right

168 ft · 7 sec

Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto Inland Drive

0.5 mi · 1 min · Inland Drive

Turn left onto South 59th Street

2.8 mi · 5 min · South 59th Street

Turn right onto 47th Street

0.3 mi · 54 sec · 47th Street

Turn left onto Bond Street

0.2 mi · 42 sec · Bond Street

Arrive at destination

Bond Street

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 133.1 miles from Salem, KS, or about 2h 50m 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 133.1 miles or 2h 50m 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 25m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shawnee, 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 266.2 miles and 5h 21m.

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 133.1 mi from Salem, KS · 2h 50m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Beatrice, NE

133 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 133.1 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 Shawnee, KS

The final approach into Shawnee, 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 Shawnee, 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,...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 201.9

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$42.09 one way

$84.18 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 97 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$46.40	$92.80
premium	$4.80	$52.31	$104.62
diesel	$5.64	$61.56	$123.12

Estimated Tolls: $2.43

Kansas Turnpike (48.7 mi) $2.43

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

$42

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$70–$95

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 97 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

25 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Lawrence Service Area - Tesla Supercharger

Tonganoxie, KS

Tesla

12 DCFC

Hy-Vee - Tesla Supercharger

Lenexa, KS

Tesla

12 DCFC

Arby's - Tesla Supercharger

Topeka, KS

Tesla

8 DCFC

Topeka Service Area - Tesla Supercharger

Topeka, KS

Tesla

8 DCFC

Victory Ford

Kansas City, KS

RED_E

6 DCFC

24/7 Travel Store #5

Maple Hill, KS

EV Connect

4 DCFC

Walmart 1802 (Topeka, KS)

Topeka, KS

Electrify America

4 DCFC

Laird Noller Ford of Lawrence

Lawrence, KS

SYNERGEV

4 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 12 Tesla: 4 SYNERGEV: 2 Blink Network: 2 EV Connect: 1 Electrify America: 1 CHARGELAB: 1 RED_E: 1 eVgo Network: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	79.9	0	$27.95	$12.78
Efficient EV	66.6	0	$23.29	$10.65
EV Truck/SUV	106.5	1	$37.27	$17.04

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 3 days ago

Origin

Salem, KS

Late night in Salem on Monday

Local time

5:45 AM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Shawnee, KS

Late night in Shawnee on Monday

Local time

5:45 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°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

3 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 21m 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 Shawnee, KS covers 266.2 miles and takes about 5h 21m 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, Kansas Turnpike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 133.1 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 $40.43 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.

Between Salem, KS and Shawnee, KS, road signs point toward Junction I-70, Zeandale, Topeka and Kansas City.

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Trip from Salem, KS to Shawnee, KS

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Shawnee, KS

National Parks Near This Route

Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Salem, KS

Shawnee, KS

Same local time

3 degrees warmer at arrival

5h 21m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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