Drive Time
3h 18m
Distance
170.8 mi
275 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
The drive from Salina, KS to Fredonia, KS covers 170.8 miles and takes about 3h 18m 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, KS 196/Northwest 90th Street 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 $25.94 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
85.4 miles from Salina, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .
The drive from Salina, KS to Fredonia, KS covers 170.8 miles and takes about 3h 18m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Iron Avenue.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 170.8 miles you will encounter 18 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 (South Santa Fe Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (West Claflin Avenue): Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto West Iron Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto South Santa Fe Avenue
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto West Claflin Avenue
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 135; US 81
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward KS 196: Whitewater, El Dorado
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
On the drive from Salina, KS to Fredonia, KS, road signs begin pointing toward El Dorado along the way.
El Dorado
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 135 | 64.3 mi | 1h 4m |
| Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway | 58.2 mi | 1h 7m |
| KS 196/Northwest 90th Street | 18.9 mi | 21m |
| KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| South Main Street | 9.2 mi | 11m |
| West Central Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| South Santa Fe Avenue | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| South 9th Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Salina, KS and Fredonia, KS.
Start on South 8th Street
Turn right onto West Iron Avenue
Turn right onto South Santa Fe Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto West Claflin Avenue
Turn left onto South 9th Street
Turn right
Turn right onto West Magnolia Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 135; US 81
Continue on I 135; US 50; US 81
Continue on I 135; US 81
Take the exit
Turn left onto KS 196
Continue on KS 196
Continue on KS 196
Take the ramp
Merge onto KS 254
Continue on KS 254
Turn right onto South Denver Street
Turn left onto West Kansas Avenue
Turn right onto US 54; US 77
Turn left onto Southeast 100th Street
Turn left onto US 400
Turn right onto Harper Road
Continue on North 2nd Street
Turn left onto Jackson Street
Turn right onto North 7th Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.4 miles or 1h 33m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fredonia, KS than in the middle of the route.
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 170.8 miles and 3h 18m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 85.4 mi from Salina, KS · 1h 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 85.4 miles from Salina, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 135 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.3 miles.
The final approach into Fredonia, 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 Fredonia, KS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$25.94 one way
$51.89 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $28.60 | $57.20 |
| premium | $4.80 | $32.24 | $64.49 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $37.95 | $75.89 |
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: 59.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.2 | 0 | $17.93 | $8.20 |
| Efficient EV | 42.7 | 0 | $14.95 | $6.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.3 | 0 | $23.91 | $10.93 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Salina on Saturday
Local time
4:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Fredonia on Saturday
Local time
4:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
52°F
Newton, KS
85 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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