Origin
Shawnee, KS
Afternoon in Shawnee on Thursday
Local time
3:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shawnee, KS to Great Bend, KS
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 29m
Distance
248.1 mi
399 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 16m
★
6 AM
4h 30m
8 AM
4h 56m
10 AM
4h 39m
12 PM
4h 36m
3 PM
4h 40m
5 PM
4h 55m
8 PM
4h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shawnee, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Great Bend, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Shawnee, KS to Great Bend, KS covers 248.1 miles and takes about 4h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West 49th Terrace, Garnett Street, West 51st Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.79 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
124.1 miles from Shawnee, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 29m. Total distance: 248.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 29m 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 4h 29m drive with frequent turns across 248.1 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 49th Terrace 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 29m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Shawnee, KS to Great Bend, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 49th Terrace | — | — |
| Garnett Street | — | — |
| West 51st Street | — | — |
| Quivira Drive | — | — |
| Quivira Lane | — | — |
| Holliday Drive | — | — |
| I 435 North | — | — |
| I 70 West | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West 49th Terrace
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shawnee, KS and Great Bend, KS.
1
Start on Bond Street
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Bond Street
2
Turn right onto West 49th Terrace
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
West 49th Terrace
3
Continue on Garnett Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Garnett Street
4
Turn right onto West 51st Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West 51st Street
5
At the end of the road, turn right onto Quivira Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Quivira Drive
6
Continue on Quivira Lane
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Quivira Lane
7
Turn right
56 ft
·
7 sec
8
Turn left onto Holliday Drive
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Holliday Drive
9
Turn left onto I 435 North
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
I 435 North
10
Merge slight left
4.8 mi
·
5 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 70 West: Topeka, Kansas Turnpike
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 70 West: Topeka, Kansas Turnpike
12
Merge slight left onto Kansas Turnpike
44 mi
·
44 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
13
Keep slight right to continue on Kansas Turnpike
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
14
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
92 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
15
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
49 mi
·
49 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
16
Take the exit slight right toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend
17
Turn left
48 mi
·
56 min
18
Take the ramp slight right
3.8 mi
·
6 min
19
Turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Main Street
20
Turn right onto Lakin Avenue
95 ft
·
4 sec
·
Lakin Avenue
21
Arrive at your 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 124.1 miles from Shawnee, KS, or about 2h 14m 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 55 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.1 miles or 2h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Great Bend, 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 248.1 miles and 4h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Shawnee, 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 124.1 mi from Shawnee, KS · 2h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
124 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 124.1 miles from Shawnee, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Great Bend, KS
The final approach into Great Bend, 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 Great Bend, 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
$38.79 one way
$77.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
87 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $42.59 | $85.17 |
| premium | $4.89 | $47.74 | $95.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $54.78 | $109.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74.4 | 0 | $26.05 | $11.91 |
| Efficient EV | 62 | 0 | $21.71 | $9.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 99.2 | 1 | $34.73 | $15.88 |
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Great Bend, KS
Afternoon in Great Bend on Thursday
Local time
3:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°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
6 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
4h 29m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Great Bend, KS covers 248.1 miles and takes about 4h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 49th Terrace, Garnett Street, West 51st Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 124.1 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 $38.79 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 29m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Shawnee, KS to Great Bend, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Shawnee, KS to Great Bend, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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