Origin
Salina, KS
Late night in Salina on Friday
Local time
1:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salina, KS to Arkansas City, KS
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
2h 48m
Distance
148.8 mi
240 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 38m
★
6 AM
2h 49m
8 AM
3h 11m
10 AM
2h 56m
12 PM
2h 54m
3 PM
2h 57m
5 PM
3h 9m
8 PM
2h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salina, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Arkansas City, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Salina, KS to Arkansas City, KS covers 148.8 miles and takes about 2h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Iron Avenue, South Santa Fe Avenue, West Claflin Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.26 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
74.4 miles from Salina, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 148.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 48m drive with frequent turns across 148.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Iron Avenue 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Salina, KS to Arkansas City, KS is easy. At 2h 48m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Salina, KS to Arkansas City, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Iron Avenue | — | — |
| South Santa Fe Avenue | — | — |
| West Claflin Avenue | — | — |
| South 9th Street | — | — |
| West Magnolia Road | — | — |
| I 35 South | — | — |
| Kansas Turnpike | — | — |
| US 166 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Iron Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salina, KS and Arkansas City, KS.
1
Start on South 8th Street
92 ft
·
6 sec
·
South 8th Street
2
Turn right onto West Iron Avenue
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
West Iron Avenue
3
Turn right onto South Santa Fe Avenue
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Santa Fe Avenue
4
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Claflin Avenue
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
West Claflin Avenue
5
Turn left onto South 9th Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South 9th Street
6
Turn right
141 ft
·
5 sec
7
Turn right onto West Magnolia Road
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Magnolia Road
8
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
9
Merge slight left
57 mi
·
57 min
10
Continue straight
2.2 mi
·
2 min
11
Continue straight
30 mi
·
34 min
12
Keep slight right to continue on I 35 South: Oklahoma City
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 35 South: Oklahoma City
13
Merge slight left onto Kansas Turnpike
38 mi
·
37 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
14
Take the exit slight right toward US 166, US 81: Arkansas City, South Haven
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 166, US 81: Arkansas City, South Haven
15
At the end of the road, turn left onto East 160th Street South
16 mi
·
24 min
·
East 160th Street South
16
Turn left onto South 8th Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
South 8th Street
17
Turn right onto West Washington Avenue
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
West Washington Avenue
18
Turn left onto South 4th Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
South 4th Street
19
Turn right onto West Central Avenue
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Central Avenue
20
Turn right
121 ft
·
9 sec
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.4 miles from Salina, KS, or about 1h 24m 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 33 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.4 miles or 1h 24m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arkansas City, 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 148.8 miles and 2h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 74.4 mi from Salina, KS · 1h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
74 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 74.4 miles from Salina, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Arkansas City, KS
The final approach into Arkansas City, 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 Arkansas City, 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
$23.26 one way
$46.53 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $25.54 | $51.08 |
| premium | $4.89 | $28.64 | $57.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.85 | $65.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.6 | 0 | $15.62 | $7.14 |
| Efficient EV | 37.2 | 0 | $13.02 | $5.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.5 | 0 | $20.83 | $9.52 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Arkansas City, KS
Late night in Arkansas City on Friday
Local time
1:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 48m 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 Arkansas City, KS covers 148.8 miles and takes about 2h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Iron Avenue, South Santa Fe Avenue, West Claflin Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74.4 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 $23.26 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.
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 Arkansas City, KS is easy. At 2h 48m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Salina, KS to Arkansas City, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Salina, KS to Arkansas City, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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