Origin
Salina, KS
Evening in Salina on Sunday
Local time
7:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salina, KS to Hays, KS
Drive Time
1h 44m
Distance
97.8 mi
157 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 37m
★
6 AM
1h 45m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 49m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salina, KS
Alan Wang
Hays, KS
Petr Ganaj
Trip Overview
Traveling from Salina to Hays covers 97.8 miles across the Great Plains, making for a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 44 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $15 on fuel for the trek, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. The path primarily utilizes the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, transitioning into local roads like North 9th Street and North Vine Street as you navigate the start and end points. It is a practical, efficient connection across Kansas that serves as a reliable link between these two regional hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
48.9 miles from Salina, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local driving experience as you transition off the primary highway arteries. While the route includes a substantial 92.9-mile stretch along the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, you will find that the overall character of the trip is defined by its navigation through local street segments. Despite the heavy highway usage, the drive feels less like a monotonous interstate grind and more like a focused transit between local communities. The transition from the high-speed stretches to the local roads requires your attention, especially as you arrive in Hays. Keep in mind that the route is balanced between sustained highway speeds and the lower-speed maneuvering required on North 9th and North Vine Streets.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 92.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Iron Avenue.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 97.8 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Iron Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North 9th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese 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 left onto West Iron Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 9th Street
Turn right onto North 9th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
2.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Turn left toward I 70 West: Hays
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 70 West: Hays
7
95.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
|
US 183 / North Vine Street
Merge onto US 183 / North Vine Street
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
96.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
|
US 183 / North Vine Street
Enter roundabout onto US 183 / North Vine Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 92.9 mi | 1h 32m |
| North 9th Street | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| North Vine Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East 27th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Iron Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 8th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 92.9 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salina, KS and Hays, KS.
1
Start on South 8th Street
92 ft
·
9 sec
·
South 8th Street
2
Turn left onto West Iron Avenue
279 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Iron Avenue
3
Turn right onto North 9th Street
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
North 9th Street
Use the none lane.
4
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 70 West: Hays
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 70; US 40
93 mi
·
1 hr 32 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward US 183, Hays, Stockton
7
Merge onto US 183
260 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Vine Street
Use the right lane.
8
Enter roundabout onto US 183
342 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Vine Street
9
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
North Vine Street
10
Continue on US 183
323 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Vine Street
11
Enter roundabout onto US 183
132 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Vine Street
12
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Vine Street
13
Enter roundabout onto US 183
341 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Vine Street
14
Continue on US 183
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Vine Street
15
Turn right onto East 27th Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
East 27th Street
16
Turn left onto Main Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
17
At end of road, turn left onto Main Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Main Street
18
Turn right
292 ft
·
21 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever it best fits your schedule. If you prefer to avoid potential traffic during local transitions, aim to travel during mid-morning or early afternoon hours. Given the $15 fuel estimate, it is wise to ensure your tank is topped off before leaving Salina to avoid unnecessary stops along the way. Since there are no designated stops programmed into this route, plan your breaks according to your personal comfort, as you will be spending nearly two hours behind the wheel. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to keep your navigation ready as you approach Hays, as the transition from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway onto North Vine Street is a key part of your final approach.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.9 miles from Salina, KS, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.9 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 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.9 miles or 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 1h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hays, 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 97.8 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Salina, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 92.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.9 mi from Salina, KS · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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 48.9 miles from Salina, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 92.9 miles.
Arriving in Hays, KS
The final approach into Hays, 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 Hays, 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
$14.85 one way
$29.71 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $16.38 | $32.75 |
| premium | $4.80 | $18.46 | $36.93 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $21.73 | $43.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.3 | 0 | $10.27 | $4.69 |
| Efficient EV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.56 | $3.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.1 | 0 | $13.69 | $6.26 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Hays, KS
Evening in Hays on Sunday
Local time
7:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
44°F
Lincoln, KS
49 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
1 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
1h 44m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 Hays, KS covers 97.8 miles and takes about 1h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, North 9th Street, North Vine Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.9 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 $14.85 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 97.8 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Iron Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North 9th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Salina, KS to Hays, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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