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Drive Time
6h 26m
Distance
329.4 mi
530 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$52
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shawnee, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Riverside, KS
Connor Scott McManus
The drive from Shawnee, KS to Riverside, KS covers 329.4 miles and takes about 6h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, KS 96, KS 156 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 91.6 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $51.50 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
164.7 miles from Shawnee, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 55m into the drive .
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The drive from Shawnee, KS to Riverside, KS covers 329.4 miles and takes about 6h 26m, 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 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 329.4 miles you will encounter 16 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: 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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left toward I 435 North
Navigation decision point
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
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 / Kansas Turnpike toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Shawnee, KS and Riverside, KS, road signs point toward Salina, Ellsworth and Great Bend.
Salina
Ellsworth
Great Bend
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 91.6 mi | 1h 34m |
| KS 96 | 62.4 mi | 1h 13m |
| KS 156 | 53.5 mi | 1h 6m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 49.4 mi | 49m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 44.9 mi | 45m |
| North Pennsylvania Avenue | 11.3 mi | 16m |
| I 435 | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| West 51st Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Shawnee, KS and Riverside, KS.
Start on Bond Street
Turn right onto West 49th Terrace
Continue on Garnett Street
Turn right onto West 51st Street
At end of road, turn right onto Quivira Drive
Continue on Quivira Lane
Turn right
Turn left onto Holliday Drive
Turn left
Merge onto I 435
Take the exit
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
Continue on I 70
Continue on I 70; US 40
Take the exit
Turn left onto KS 156
Take the ramp onto KS 156
Turn right onto KS 96
Turn left onto US 283
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.7 miles or 2h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riverside, KS than in the middle of the route.
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 329.4 miles and 6h 26m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 164.7 mi from Shawnee, KS · 2h 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
165 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 164.7 miles from Shawnee, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 91.6 miles.
The final approach into Riverside, 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 Riverside, KS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$51.50 one way
$103.00 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $56.54 | $113.09 |
| premium | $4.89 | $63.39 | $126.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $72.73 | $145.45 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.25
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
$52
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 98.8 | 1 | $34.59 | $15.81 |
| Efficient EV | 82.4 | 0 | $28.82 | $13.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 131.8 | 1 | $46.12 | $21.08 |
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Shawnee on Tuesday
Local time
10:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Night in Riverside on Tuesday
Local time
10:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
52°F
Newton, KS
165 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
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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