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Trip from Shawnee, KS to Smith Center, KS

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

Drive Time

5h 13m

Distance

267.9 mi

431 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 0m ★
6 AM
5h 13m
8 AM
5h 40m
10 AM
5h 23m
12 PM
5h 20m
3 PM
5h 24m
5 PM
5h 39m
8 PM
5h 5m

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

city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States

Shawnee, KS

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Shawnee, KS to Smith Center, KS covers 267.9 miles and takes about 5h 13m 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 $41.88 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

133.9 miles from Shawnee, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 36m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 13m. Total distance: 267.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 13m 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 5h 13m drive with frequent turns across 267.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 41 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 5h 13m 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 Smith Center, 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 Smith Center, 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

52 mi · 54 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
15

Take the exit slight right toward Manhattan, Council Grove

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Manhattan, Council Grove
16

Turn right

8.3 mi · 9 min
17

Take the exit straight toward KS 18, KS 177, Tuttle Creek Boulevard, Fort Riley Boulevard

0.2 mi · 42 sec · KS 18, KS 177, Tuttle Creek Boulevard, Fort Riley Boulevard
18

Continue on Fort Riley Boulevard

0.2 mi · 40 sec · Fort Riley Boulevard
19

Continue on Tuttle Creek Boulevard

5.7 mi · 8 min · Tuttle Creek Boulevard
20

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Tuttle Creek Boulevard

233 ft · 3 sec · Tuttle Creek Boulevard
21

Exit the rotary onto Tuttle Creek Boulevard

0.9 mi · 1 min · Tuttle Creek Boulevard
22

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Tuttle Creek Boulevard

161 ft · 2 sec · Tuttle Creek Boulevard
23

Exit the roundabout onto Tuttle Creek Boulevard

8.6 mi · 10 min · Tuttle Creek Boulevard
24

Turn left onto Madison Road

9.1 mi · 10 min · Madison Road
25

Turn right onto Cavalry Road

4.0 mi · 4 min · Cavalry Road
26

Turn left onto Barton Road

2.5 mi · 2 min · Barton Road
27

Continue on 18th Road

7.8 mi · 9 min · 18th Road
28

Continue on Crawford Street

2.2 mi · 4 min · Crawford Street
29

Continue on 18th Road

12 mi · 13 min · 18th Road
30

Continue on Eagle Road

24 mi · 27 min · Eagle Road
31

Continue on Dove Road

3.3 mi · 3 min · Dove Road
32

Continue on Elk Road

1.4 mi · 1 min · Elk Road
33

Continue on Fox Road

1.5 mi · 1 min · Fox Road
34

Continue on Gold Road

37 mi · 44 min · Gold Road
35

Turn right

19 mi · 22 min
36

Continue straight

367 ft · 11 sec
37

Take the ramp left

12 mi · 14 min
38

Turn left onto North Main Street

0.4 mi · 42 sec · North Main Street
39

Turn left onto East 1st Street

220 ft · 15 sec · East 1st Street
40

Turn left

36 ft · 3 sec
41

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 133.9 miles from Shawnee, KS, or about 2h 36m 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 59 miles or 1h 9m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 133.9 miles or 2h 36m 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 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Smith Center, 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 267.9 miles and 5h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 133.9 mi from Shawnee, KS · 2h 36m into the drive

city in Riley and Pottawatomie counties in Kansas, United States, county seat of Riley County

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Manhattan, KS

134 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 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Manhattan, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 133.9 miles from Shawnee, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Smith Center, KS

The final approach into Smith Center, 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 Smith Center, 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

$41.88 one way

$83.77 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 94 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $45.99 $91.97
premium $4.89 $51.55 $103.11
diesel $5.61 $59.15 $118.30

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$42

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$67–$92

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 93.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 80.4 0 $28.13 $12.86
Efficient EV 67 0 $23.44 $10.72
EV Truck/SUV 107.2 1 $37.51 $17.15

Gas CO2

94 kg

EV CO2

31 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

Late night in Shawnee on Friday

Local time

3:43 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Smith Center, KS

Late night in Smith Center on Friday

Local time

3:43 AM

CDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

80°F

Manhattan, KS

134 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

23 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

5h 13m 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 Smith Center, KS covers 267.9 miles and takes about 5h 13m 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 133.9 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 $41.88 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 5h 13m 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 Smith Center, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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

How this page is built

Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.

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