The drive from Salina, KS to Altamont, KS covers 223.3 miles and takes about 4h 24m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 135, Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway, Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.3 miles on I 135.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.91 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
111.7 miles from Salina, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 24m. Total distance: 223.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Salina, KS to Altamont, KS covers 223.3 miles and takes about 4h 24m, 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 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 135 is the longest continuous segment at about 64.3 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 early in the drive near West Iron Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 24m drive. You will face about 20 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Iron Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (West Claflin Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 195.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Iron Avenue
Turn right onto West Iron Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in|West Claflin Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto West Claflin Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
195.5 mi into trip|~3h 45m in
Take the exit toward US 169
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 169
6
195.8 mi into trip|~3h 46m in|US 169
Turn right onto US 169
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
206.3 mi into trip|~3h 58m in|US 160 / 4200 Road
Turn left onto US 160 / 4200 Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
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 Salina, KS to Altamont, KS, road signs begin pointing toward El Dorado along the way.
El Dorado
68.2 mi in|~1h 12m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 135
64.3 mi
1h 4m
Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway
61.1 mi
1h 10m
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
23.7 mi
27m
KS 196/Northwest 90th Street
18.9 mi
21m
US 160
15.4 mi
22m
US 169
10.5 mi
12m
KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street
9.6 mi
11m
South Main Street
9.2 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
I 135
— 64.3 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salina, KS and Altamont, KS.
1
Start on South 8th Street
92 ft·5 sec·South 8th Street
2
Turn right onto West Iron Avenue
0.1 mi·34 sec·West Iron Avenue
3
Turn right onto South Santa Fe Avenue
1.8 mi·3 min·South Santa Fe Avenue
4
At end of road, turn right onto West Claflin Avenue
0.2 mi·24 sec·West Claflin Avenue
5
Turn left onto South 9th Street
1.1 mi·2 min·South 9th Street
6
Turn right
140 ft·5 sec
7
Turn right onto West Magnolia Road
0.3 mi·49 sec·West Magnolia Road
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
9
Merge onto I 135; US 81
57 mi·57 min·I 135; US 81
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on I 135; US 50; US 81
2.2 mi·2 min·I 135; US 50; US 81
11
Continue on I 135; US 81
4.9 mi·4 min·I 135; US 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward KS 196: Whitewater, El Dorado
13
Turn left onto KS 196
9.6 mi·11 min·KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street
14
Continue on KS 196
19 mi·21 min·KS 196/Northwest 90th Street
15
Continue on KS 196
444 ft·14 sec·Northwest State Road 196
16
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
17
Merge onto KS 254
0.9 mi·1 min·Southwest 20th Street
18
Continue on KS 254
2.3 mi·4 min·West Central Avenue
19
Turn right onto South Denver Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Denver Street
20
Turn left onto West Kansas Avenue
0.4 mi·56 sec·West Kansas Avenue
21
Turn right onto US 54; US 77
9.2 mi·11 min·South Main Street
22
Turn left onto Southeast 100th Street
0.3 mi·23 sec·Southeast 100th Street
23
Turn left onto US 400
61 mi·1 hr 10 min·Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway
24
Enter roundabout onto US 400
157 ft·2 sec·Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
25
Continue on US 400
24 mi·27 min·Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
26
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward US 169Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Turn right onto US 169
10 mi·12 min·US 169
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
28
Turn left onto US 160
1.4 mi·2 min·4200 Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
29
Turn slight right onto US 160
15 mi·22 min·US 160
30
Turn right onto Huston Avenue
0.2 mi·42 sec·Huston Avenue
31
Arrive at destination
Huston Avenue
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 111.7 miles from Salina, KS, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.3 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 49 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.7 miles or 2h 8m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altamont, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Salina, 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 Salina, KS
This is one driving day of about 223.3 miles and 4h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Salina, 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 I 135 for about 64.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 111.7 mi from Salina, KS
· 2h 8m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.91 one way
$69.82 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$38.33
$76.66
premium
$4.89
$42.97
$85.94
diesel
$5.61
$49.30
$98.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
4 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
EVgo Charging Station
Salina, Kansas
EVgo
1 DCFC
Electrify America Charging Station
Salina, Kansas
Electrify America
1 DCFC
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
McPherson, Kansas
Other
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
McPherson, Kansas
EV Connect
1 DCFC
EVgo: 1
Electrify America: 1
Other: 1
EV Connect: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67
0
$23.45
$10.72
Efficient EV
55.8
0
$19.54
$8.93
EV Truck/SUV
89.3
1
$31.26
$14.29
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Salina, KS
Evening
in Salina on Friday
Local time
8:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Altamont, KS
Evening
in Altamont on Friday
Local time
8:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
82°F
Andover, KS
112 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
25 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 24m 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 Salina, KS to Altamont, KS covers 223.3 miles and takes about 4h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 135, Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway, Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 111.7 miles from Salina, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.91 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 24m drive. You will face about 20 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Iron Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (West Claflin Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 195.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Salina, KS to Altamont, KS, road signs begin pointing toward El Dorado along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
