Trip from Shawnee, KS to Auburn, KS

Drive Time

1h 33m

Distance

73.5 mi

118 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

11 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min

4 AM

1h 27m ★

6 AM

1h 34m

8 AM

1h 48m

10 AM

1h 39m

12 PM

1h 37m

3 PM

1h 40m

5 PM

1h 47m

8 PM

1h 30m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Shawnee, KS

Tien Nguyen

Trip Overview

The drive from Shawnee, KS to Auburn, KS covers 73.5 miles and takes about 1h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Kansas Turnpike, Southwest 61st Street, I 435 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 50.6 miles on Kansas Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.16 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

36.7 miles from Shawnee, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 1h 33m highway drive covering 73.5 miles, with most of the trip on Kansas Turnpike and Southwest 61st Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 50.6 miles on Kansas Turnpike.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Kansas Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 50.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and Southwest 61st Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 73.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4.6 mi into trip | ~11m in

Turn left toward I 435 North

Navigation decision point

Toward I 435 North

9.8 mi into trip | ~17m in

Take the exit toward I 70 West: Topeka, Kansas Turnpike

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 12B Toward I 70 West: Topeka, Kansas Turnpike

10.1 mi into trip | ~17m in | I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike

Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

54 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in | I 470 / Kansas Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 470 / Kansas Turnpike toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, Wichita

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, Wichita

60.7 mi into trip | ~1h 8m in

Take the exit toward I 470 West, US 75: Topeka, Salina

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 470 West, US 75: Topeka, Salina

Towns Along This Route

Between Shawnee, KS and Auburn, KS, road signs point toward Kansas Turnpike, Wichita and Salina.

Kansas Turnpike

9.8 mi in | ~17m

Wichita

54 mi in | ~1h 2m | via I 470

Salina

60.7 mi in | ~1h 8m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Kansas Turnpike	50.6 mi	50m
Southwest 61st Street	5 mi	8m
I 435	4.8 mi	5m
Southwest Burlingame Road	3.2 mi	5m
Southwest Auburn Road	3 mi	7m
West 51st Street	1.5 mi	3m
Holliday Drive	1.2 mi	2m
Quivira Lane	0.8 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Kansas Turnpike — 50.6 mi, about 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Shawnee, KS and Auburn, KS.

Start on Bond Street

0.2 mi · 43 sec · Bond Street

Turn right onto West 49th Terrace

0.1 mi · 34 sec · West 49th Terrace

Continue on Garnett Street

0.1 mi · 32 sec · Garnett Street

Turn right onto West 51st Street

1.5 mi · 3 min · West 51st Street

At end of road, turn right onto Quivira Drive

0.7 mi · 1 min · Quivira Drive

Continue on Quivira Lane

0.8 mi · 1 min · Quivira Lane

Turn right

54 ft · 7 sec

Turn left onto Holliday Drive

1.2 mi · 2 min · Holliday Drive

Turn left

0.4 mi · 46 sec

Toward I 435 North

Merge onto I 435

4.8 mi · 5 min · I 435

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec

Exit 12B Toward I 70 West: Topeka, Kansas Turnpike Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40

44 mi · 44 min · Kansas Turnpike

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 470

6.7 mi · 6 min · Kansas Turnpike

Toward I 470, I 335: South Topeka, Wichita Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Toward I 470 West, US 75: Topeka, Salina

Continue on I 470

0.7 mi · 1 min · Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec

Toward US 75 South

Keep slight left at fork

509 ft · 14 sec

Turn left onto Southwest Burlingame Road

3.2 mi · 5 min · Southwest Burlingame Road

Turn straight onto Southwest 61st Street

2.0 mi · 3 min · Southwest 61st Street

Enter roundabout onto Southwest 61st Street

109 ft · 2 sec · Southwest 61st Street

Continue on Southwest 61st Street

3.0 mi · 5 min · Southwest 61st Street

Turn left onto Southwest Auburn Road

3.0 mi · 7 min · Southwest Auburn Road

Continue on North Washington Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Washington Street

Turn left onto East 8th Street

34 ft · 1 sec · East 8th Street

Arrive at destination

East 8th Street

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.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 36.7 miles from Shawnee, KS, or about 44m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.6 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 73.5 miles or 1h 33m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 36.7 miles or 44m 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 11m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, KS than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Shawnee, 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 Shawnee, KS

This is one driving day of about 73.5 miles and 1h 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Shawnee, 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 Kansas Turnpike for about 50.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 36.7 mi from Shawnee, KS · 44m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Valley Falls, KS

37 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

Valley Falls, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 73.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Valley Falls, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36.7 miles from Shawnee, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Auburn, KS

The final approach into Auburn, 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 Auburn, KS.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park

National Historical Park

The path to equality has been anything but smooth. It's taken courage and dedication by everyday people coming together for a common goal to carry the country toward true equality. Parents, teachers,...

2 mi from route ~6 min detour Free near mile 58.3

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.16 one way

$22.33 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$12.31	$24.61
premium	$4.80	$13.88	$27.75
diesel	$5.64	$16.33	$32.66

Estimated Tolls: $2.53

Kansas Turnpike (50.6 mi) $2.53

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$11

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

11 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Hy-Vee - Tesla Supercharger

Lenexa, KS

Tesla

12 DCFC

Lawrence Service Area - Tesla Supercharger

Tonganoxie, KS

Tesla

12 DCFC

Hy-Vee - Tesla Supercharger

Mission, KS

Tesla

8 DCFC

Victory Ford

Kansas City, KS

RED_E

6 DCFC

Wyandotte Plaza

Kansas City, KS

eVgo Network

4 DCFC

Matt Ross CC

Overland Park, KS

Blink Network

2 DCFC

Reed Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram

Shawnee, KS

Blink Network

2 DCFC

HYUNDAI KC REED HYUNDAI 1

Merriam, KS

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

Tesla: 3 ChargePoint Network: 3 Blink Network: 2 RED_E: 1 eVgo Network: 1 CHARGELAB: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	22.1	$7.72	$3.53
Efficient EV	18.4	$6.43	$2.94
EV Truck/SUV	29.4	$10.29	$4.70

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (65% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Shawnee, KS

Morning in Shawnee on Monday

Local time

7:55 AM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Mostly Cloudy

SSW 16 mph 10% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 13 at 6:10AM CDT until April 13 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Hastings NE

Fire Weather Watch

Fire Weather Watch issued April 13 at 6:10AM CDT until April 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Hastings NE

Destination

Auburn, KS

Morning in Auburn on Monday

Local time

7:55 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

44°F

Valley Falls, KS

37 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

13 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 33m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Shawnee, KS to Auburn, KS covers 73.5 miles and takes about 1h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Kansas Turnpike, Southwest 61st Street, I 435. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 36.7 miles from Shawnee, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.16 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.

Between Shawnee, KS and Auburn, KS, road signs point toward Kansas Turnpike, Wichita and Salina.

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Trip from Shawnee, KS to Auburn, KS

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Auburn, KS

National Parks Near This Route

Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Shawnee, KS

Auburn, KS

Same local time

13 degrees warmer at arrival

1h 33m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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