Origin
Salina, KS
Morning in Salina on Thursday
Local time
11:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salina, KS to Shawnee, KS
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 32m
Distance
170.9 mi
275 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 23m
★
6 AM
2h 33m
8 AM
2h 53m
10 AM
2h 40m
12 PM
2h 38m
3 PM
2h 41m
5 PM
2h 52m
8 PM
2h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salina, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Shawnee, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Salina, KS to Shawnee, KS covers 170.9 miles and takes about 2h 32m 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, North 9th Street, I 70 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.72 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 16m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 170.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m 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 32m drive with frequent turns across 170.9 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 Shawnee, KS is easy. At 2h 32m 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 Shawnee, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Iron Avenue | — | — |
| North 9th Street | — | — |
| I 70 East | — | — |
| Dwight D | — | — |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | — | — |
| Kansas Turnpike | — | — |
| College Parkway | — | — |
| Turner Diagonal | — | — |
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 Shawnee, KS.
1
Start on South 8th Street
92 ft
·
9 sec
·
South 8th Street
2
Turn left onto West Iron Avenue
279 ft
·
16 sec
·
West Iron Avenue
3
Turn right onto North 9th Street
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
North 9th Street
4
Take the ramp right toward I 70 East: Topeka
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
I 70 East: Topeka
5
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
22 mi
·
22 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
75 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
7
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
9
Keep slight left to continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
10
Continue on Kansas Turnpike
49 mi
·
49 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
11
Take the exit slight right toward College Parkway
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
College Parkway
12
Keep slight right to continue on Turner Diagonal
390 ft
·
10 sec
·
Turner Diagonal
13
Turn straight onto Turner Diagonal
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Turner Diagonal
14
Continue straight
1.0 mi
·
1 min
15
Turn right onto South 55th Street
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
South 55th Street
16
Turn slight right
167 ft
·
7 sec
17
Turn straight onto Inland Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Inland Drive
18
Turn left onto South 59th Street
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
South 59th Street
19
Turn right onto 47th Street
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
47th Street
20
Turn left onto Bond Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Bond Street
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 85.4 miles from Salina, KS, or about 1h 16m 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 38 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.4 miles or 1h 16m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shawnee, 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 170.9 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 85.4 mi from Salina, KS · 1h 16m 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 85.4 miles from Salina, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Shawnee, KS
The final approach into Shawnee, 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 Shawnee, 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
$26.72 one way
$53.44 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $29.34 | $58.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.89 | $65.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.73 | $75.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
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, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.3 | 0 | $17.94 | $8.20 |
| Efficient EV | 42.7 | 0 | $14.95 | $6.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.4 | 0 | $23.93 | $10.94 |
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.
Destination
Shawnee, KS
Morning in Shawnee on Thursday
Local time
11:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Dover, 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
7 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 32m 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 Shawnee, KS covers 170.9 miles and takes about 2h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Iron Avenue, North 9th Street, I 70 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 85.4 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 $26.72 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 Shawnee, KS is easy. At 2h 32m 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 Shawnee, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Salina, KS to Shawnee, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Shawnee, KS
More trips to Shawnee, KS
Explore more options from Salina, KS or browse trips ending in Shawnee, KS.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KS road trips.
Explore maps for Salina, KS or Shawnee, KS on MapSof.net.