Origin
Salina, KS
Night in Salina on Tuesday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salina, KS to Riverside, KS
Data updated 2 hours ago
Drive Time
3h 33m
Distance
163.1 mi
262 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 21m
★
6 AM
3h 34m
8 AM
3h 58m
10 AM
3h 42m
12 PM
3h 40m
3 PM
3h 43m
5 PM
3h 57m
8 PM
3h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salina, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Riverside, KS
Connor Scott McManus
Trip Overview
The drive from Salina, KS to Riverside, KS covers 163.1 miles and takes about 3h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on KS 96, KS 156, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 62.4 miles on KS 96. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.50 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
81.5 miles from Salina, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 3h 33m highway drive covering 163.1 miles, with most of the trip on KS 96 and KS 156. The longest continuous stretch is about 62.4 miles on KS 96.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
KS 96 is the longest continuous segment at about 62.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on KS 96 and KS 156. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Iron Avenue.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Salina, KS to Riverside, KS is easy. At 3h 33m with 71% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Iron Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 29.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 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
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
5
29.6 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend
4
145.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 53m in
|
US 283 / North Pennsylvania Avenue
Turn left onto US 283 / North Pennsylvania Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
157 mi into trip
|
~3h 10m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Salina, KS and Riverside, KS, road signs point toward Ellsworth and Great Bend.
Ellsworth
29.6 mi in
|
~33m
Great Bend
29.6 mi in
|
~33m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| KS 96 | 62.4 mi | 1h 13m |
| KS 156 | 53.5 mi | 1h 6m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 26.8 mi | 26m |
| North Pennsylvania Avenue | 11.3 mi | 16m |
| North 9th Street | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| West Iron Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 8th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
KS 96
— 62.4 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salina, KS and Riverside, 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
4
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 70 West: Hays
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 70; US 40
27 mi
·
26 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend
7
Turn left onto KS 156
48 mi
·
56 min
·
KS 156
8
Take the ramp onto KS 156
5.6 mi
·
10 min
·
KS 156
9
Turn right onto KS 96
62 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
KS 96
10
Turn left onto US 283
11 mi
·
16 min
·
North Pennsylvania Avenue
11
Turn left
6.0 mi
·
23 min
12
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 81.5 miles from Salina, KS, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.4 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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.5 miles or 1h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riverside, 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 163.1 miles and 3h 33m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on KS 96 for about 62.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 81.5 mi from Salina, KS · 1h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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 81.5 miles from Salina, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before KS 96 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.4 miles.
Arriving in Riverside, KS
The final approach into Riverside, 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 Riverside, 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
$25.50 one way
$51.00 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
57 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $28.00 | $55.99 |
| premium | $4.89 | $31.39 | $62.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.01 | $72.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.9 | 0 | $17.13 | $7.83 |
| Efficient EV | 40.8 | 0 | $14.27 | $6.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.2 | 0 | $22.83 | $10.44 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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
Riverside, KS
Night in Riverside on Tuesday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Lincoln, KS
82 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
37 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
3h 33m 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 Riverside, KS covers 163.1 miles and takes about 3h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are KS 96, KS 156, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 81.5 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 $25.50 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Salina, KS to Riverside, KS is easy. At 3h 33m with 71% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Iron Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 29.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Salina, KS and Riverside, KS, road signs point toward Ellsworth and Great Bend.
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