Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Shawnee, KS to Arkansas City, KS

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 12m

Distance

222.9 mi

359 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
3h 59m ★
6 AM
4h 12m
8 AM
4h 39m
10 AM
4h 21m
12 PM
4h 19m
3 PM
4h 23m
5 PM
4h 37m
8 PM
4h 4m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States

Shawnee, KS

Wikimedia Commons

city in Cowley County, Kansas, United States

Arkansas City, KS

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Shawnee, KS to Arkansas City, KS covers 222.9 miles and takes about 4h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 35, Walnut Street, North Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 153.1 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.85 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

111.5 miles from Shawnee, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 59m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 12m. Total distance: 222.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (72%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 4h 12m highway drive covering 222.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and Walnut Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 153.1 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 22 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 153.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Walnut Street. 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 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 12m drive. You will face about 16 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 16 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.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 35 153.1 mi 2h 37m
Walnut Street 30.4 mi 37m
North Main Street 13.3 mi 18m
Main Street 10.4 mi 14m
US 54 7.9 mi 10m
Walnut Valley Green Way 3.4 mi 4m
Johnson Drive 1.2 mi 2m
Nieman Road 1.1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 35 — 153.1 mi, about 2h 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Shawnee, KS and Arkansas City, 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: Wichita Use 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: Wichita Use 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

109 mi · 1 hr 49 min · I 35; US 50; US 59
10

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward US 77: El Dorado
11

At end of road, turn left onto US 77

13 mi · 18 min · North Main Street
12

Take the exit onto US 54; US 77

7.9 mi · 10 min · US 54; US 77
13

Turn left onto US 77

30 mi · 37 min · Walnut Street
14

Continue on US 77; KS 15

10 mi · 14 min · Main Street
15

Turn left onto US 77

2.4 mi · 2 min · Walnut Valley Green Way
16

Enter roundabout onto US 77; US 166

193 ft · 3 sec · Walnut Valley Green Way
17

Continue on US 77; US 166

1.0 mi · 1 min · Walnut Valley Green Way
18

Turn right onto East Chestnut Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Chestnut Avenue
19

Turn left onto North C Street

443 ft · 14 sec · North C Street
20

Turn right onto East Central Avenue

0.2 mi · 30 sec · East Central Avenue
21

Turn left

120 ft · 8 sec
22

Arrive at 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 111.5 miles from Shawnee, KS, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 153.1 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 49 miles or 56m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 111.5 miles or 1h 59m 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 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arkansas City, 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 222.9 miles and 4h 12m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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 153.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 111.5 mi from Shawnee, KS · 1h 59m into the drive

city in Greenwood County, Kansas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Eureka, KS

111 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

Lenexa, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Council Grove, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 111.5 miles from Shawnee, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 153.1 miles.

Arriving in Arkansas City, KS

The final approach into Arkansas City, 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 Arkansas City, KS.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Pegah's Family Restaurant - Johnson Drive

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Shawnee, Kansas

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 6:30 am–8 pm

+19139626700

Visit website

Pegah's Family Restaurant - Johnson Drive

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Shawnee, Kansas

Hours: 6:30 am–8 pm

+19139626700

Visit website

The Restaurant KC

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Kansas City, Kansas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19134997456

Visit website

Fronteras Mexican Restaurant and Cantina

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20

Lenexa, Kansas

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+19139621369

Visit website

Jose Pepper's

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20

Shawnee, Kansas

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+19136311011

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$34.85 one way

$69.70 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 78 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $38.26 $76.52
premium $4.89 $42.90 $85.79
diesel $5.61 $49.21 $98.43

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$35

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$60–$85

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 78 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 66.9 0 $23.40 $10.70
Efficient EV 55.7 0 $19.50 $8.92
EV Truck/SUV 89.2 1 $31.21 $14.27

Gas CO2

78 kg

EV CO2

26 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Shawnee, KS

Afternoon in Shawnee on Friday

Local time

1:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arkansas City, KS

Afternoon in Arkansas City on Friday

Local time

1:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

76°F

Eureka, KS

111 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

4 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 12m 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 Arkansas City, KS covers 222.9 miles and takes about 4h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 35, Walnut Street, North Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 111.5 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 $34.85 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 12m drive. You will face about 16 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.

The route from Shawnee, KS to Arkansas City, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Arkansas City, KS

Kansas City, KS 230.8 mi · 3h 39m Lenexa, KS 215.4 mi · 4h 1m Junction City, KS 151.5 mi · 3h 9m Wichita, KS 62 mi · 1h 18m

More from Shawnee, KS

Colby, KS 369.8 mi · 6h 22m Hays, KS 263.8 mi · 3h 51m Ellsworth, KS 208.2 mi · 3h 43m Colwich, KS 199.2 mi · 3h 35m Coffeyville, KS 164.2 mi · 3h 11m Fredonia, KS 147.2 mi · 2h 55m

More trips to Arkansas City, KS

Overland Park, KS 219.2 mi Salina, KS 148.8 mi Newton, KS 87.6 mi
Overnight trips from Shawnee, KS Scenic drives in KS

Explore more options from Shawnee, KS or browse trips ending in Arkansas City, KS.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KS road trips.