The drive from Shawnee, KS to Hillsboro, KS covers 160.2 miles and takes about 2h 59m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, US 50, KS 150 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 101.4 miles on I 35.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.05 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
80.1 miles from Shawnee, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 59m. Total distance: 160.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 2h 59m highway drive covering 160.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and US 50. The longest continuous stretch is about 101.4 miles on I 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 101.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 50. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West 49th Terrace.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 59m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West 49th Terrace): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Nieman Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (Johnson Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|West 49th Terrace
Turn left onto West 49th Terrace
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|Nieman Road
At end of road, turn right onto Nieman Road
Navigation decision point
5
1.6 mi into trip|~4m in|Johnson Drive
Turn left onto Johnson Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
2.8 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 South: Wichita
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 35 South: Wichita
5
2.9 mi into trip|~6m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Shawnee, KS to Hillsboro, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Newton along the way.
Newton
104.3 mi in|~1h 52m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
101.4 mi
1h 45m
US 50
24.6 mi
29m
KS 150
16.5 mi
19m
US 56
13.3 mi
15m
Johnson Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Nieman Road
1.1 mi
2m
North Ash St
0.5 mi
<1m
West 49th Terrace
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 101.4 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shawnee, KS and Hillsboro, KS.
1
Start on Bond Street
0.2 mi·46 sec·Bond Street
2
Turn left onto West 49th Terrace
0.3 mi·1 min·West 49th Terrace
3
At end of road, turn right onto Nieman Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Nieman Road
4
Turn left onto Johnson Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·Johnson Drive
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward I 35 South: WichitaUse the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 35
2.8 mi·3 min·I 35
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on I 35; US 56; US 169
4.2 mi·4 min·I 35; US 56; US 169
Toward I 35 South, US 56 West, US 169 South: WichitaUse the straight lane.
8
Continue on I 35; US 50; US 56; US 169
37 mi·39 min·I 35; US 50; US 56; US 169
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on I 35; US 50; US 59
57 mi·57 min·I 35; US 50; US 59
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Toward US 50: Emporia, Newton
11
Enter roundabout
433 ft·5 sec
12
Continue
0.2 mi·11 sec
13
Enter roundabout onto US 50
33 ft·0 sec·US 50
14
Continue on US 50
25 mi·29 min·US 50
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward KS 150 West: Marion
16
Turn straight onto KS 150
17 mi·19 min·KS 150
17
Enter roundabout onto US 56
190 ft·3 sec·US 56
18
Continue on US 56
13 mi·15 min·US 56
19
Turn left onto North Ash St;Indigo Road
288 ft·7 sec·North Ash St;Indigo Road
20
Continue on North Ash St; Indigo Road
0.4 mi·52 sec·North Ash St; Indigo Road
21
Continue on North Ash Street
0.3 mi·58 sec·North Ash Street
22
Turn left onto West A Street
475 ft·20 sec·West A Street
23
Arrive at destination
East A 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80.1 miles from Shawnee, KS, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.4 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 35 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.1 miles or 1h 27m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hillsboro, 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 160.2 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 101.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 80.1 mi from Shawnee, KS
· 1h 27m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.05 one way
$50.09 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.50
$55.00
premium
$4.89
$30.83
$61.66
diesel
$5.61
$35.37
$70.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.1
0
$16.82
$7.69
Efficient EV
40.1
0
$14.02
$6.41
EV Truck/SUV
64.1
0
$22.43
$10.25
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Shawnee, KS
Morning
in Shawnee on Saturday
Local time
8:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hillsboro, KS
Morning
in Hillsboro on Saturday
Local time
8:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°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
19 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 59m 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 Shawnee, KS to Hillsboro, KS covers 160.2 miles and takes about 2h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, US 50, KS 150. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 80.1 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 $25.05 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.
This is a straightforward 2h 59m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West 49th Terrace): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Nieman Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (Johnson Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Shawnee, KS to Hillsboro, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Newton along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
