Origin
Shawnee, KS
Afternoon in Shawnee on Thursday
Local time
2:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shawnee, KS to Syracuse, KS
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
8h 2m
Distance
422.4 mi
680 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$66
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 54m
★
6 AM
8h 2m
8 AM
8h 19m
10 AM
8h 8m
12 PM
8h 6m
3 PM
8h 9m
5 PM
8h 18m
8 PM
7h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shawnee, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Syracuse, KS
Tien Nguyen
Trip Overview
The drive from Shawnee, KS to Syracuse, KS covers 422.4 miles and takes about 8h 2m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on US 56, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, US 50 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 118.4 miles on US 56. At current regular gas prices, budget about $66.04 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
211.2 miles from Shawnee, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 44m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
8h 2m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 8h 2m highway drive covering 422.4 miles, with most of the trip on US 56 and Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 118.4 miles on US 56.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 56 is the longest continuous segment at about 118.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 56 and Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 422.4 miles you will encounter 20 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
4.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Turn left toward I 435 North
Navigation decision point
Toward I 435 North
8
9.8 mi into trip
|
~17m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12B
Toward I 70 West: Topeka, Kansas Turnpike
5
10.1 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
54 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
I 70 / Kansas Turnpike
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
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
5
196 mi into trip
|
~3h 26m in
Take the exit toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Shawnee, KS and Syracuse, KS, road signs point toward Salina, Ellsworth and Great Bend.
Salina
54 mi in
|
~1h 2m
|
via I 70
Ellsworth
196 mi in
|
~3h 26m
Great Bend
196 mi in
|
~3h 26m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 56 | 118.4 mi | 2h 22m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 91.6 mi | 1h 34m |
| US 50 | 52.2 mi | 1h 1m |
| KS 156 | 51.8 mi | 1h 2m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 49.4 mi | 49m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 44.9 mi | 45m |
| I 435 | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Railroad Avenue | 2.7 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
US 56
— 118.4 mi, about 2h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shawnee, KS and Syracuse, KS.
1
Start on Bond Street
0.2 mi
·
43 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
·
32 sec
·
Garnett Street
4
Turn right onto West 51st Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West 51st Street
5
At end of 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
54 ft
·
7 sec
8
Turn left onto Holliday Drive
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Holliday Drive
9
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 435 North
10
Merge onto I 435
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
I 435
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 12B
Toward I 70 West: Topeka, Kansas Turnpike
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
44 mi
·
44 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 70
92 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Toward I-70 West
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on I 70; US 40
49 mi
·
49 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend
17
Turn left onto KS 156
48 mi
·
56 min
·
KS 156
18
Take the ramp onto KS 156
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
KS 156
19
Turn left onto US 281
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Main Street
20
Turn right onto Railroad Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Railroad Avenue
21
Turn left onto Railroad Avenue
2.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Railroad Avenue
22
At end of road, turn left onto US 56; KS 156
118 mi
·
2 hr 22 min
·
US 56; KS 156
23
Turn right onto East Mary Street
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
East Mary Street
24
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
25
Turn straight onto US 50; US 83; US 400
19 mi
·
22 min
·
US 50; US 83; US 400
26
Continue on US 50; US 400
33 mi
·
39 min
·
US 50; US 400
27
Turn left onto Barber Street
139 ft
·
6 sec
·
Barber Street
28
Arrive at destination
Barber Street
Trip Plan
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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 211.2 miles from Shawnee, KS, or about 3h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.4 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 93 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 211.2 miles or 3h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 211.2 miles or 3h 44m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Syracuse, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Shawnee, KS
Aim for roughly 211 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Syracuse, KS
Aim for roughly 211 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 93 miles from Shawnee, KS.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 56 for about 118.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 211.2 mi from Shawnee, KS · 3h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
211 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Salina, KSOvernight Options
Night 1
211 mi · about 4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Salina, KS after about 211 miles or 4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 93 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 211.2 miles from Shawnee, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 56 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 118.4 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 211 miles or 4 hours on the road.
Arriving in Syracuse, KS
The final approach into Syracuse, 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 Syracuse, KS.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Syracuse, KS with some flexibility left in the schedule.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$66.04 one way
$132.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
148 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $72.51 | $145.01 |
| premium | $4.89 | $81.29 | $162.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $93.26 | $186.52 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.25
Kansas Turnpike
(44.9 mi)
$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
$66
Tolls
$2
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$198–$308
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 147.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 126.7 | 1 | $44.35 | $20.28 |
| Efficient EV | 105.6 | 1 | $36.96 | $16.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 169 | 2 | $59.14 | $27.03 |
Gas CO2
148 kg
EV CO2
49 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Syracuse, KS
Afternoon in Syracuse on Thursday
Local time
1:28 PM
MDT
Current temp
87°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
13 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
8h 2m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 Syracuse, KS covers 422.4 miles and takes about 8h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 56, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, US 50. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 211 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 211.2 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 $66.04 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 422.4 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
Between Shawnee, KS and Syracuse, KS, road signs point toward Salina, Ellsworth and Great Bend.
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