Origin
Silver Lake, KS
Afternoon in Silver Lake on Thursday
Local time
12:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Silver Lake, KS to Shawnee, KS
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
72.8 mi
117 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Silver Lake, KS
Sean Ewing
Shawnee, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Silver Lake, KS to Shawnee, KS covers 72.8 miles and takes about 1h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Kansas Turnpike, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, South Chestnut Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 48.7 miles on Kansas Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.38 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 72.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 25m highway drive covering 72.8 miles, with most of the trip on Kansas Turnpike and Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 48.7 miles on Kansas Turnpike.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Kansas Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 48.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kansas Turnpike and Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
7.3 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
9 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 East, US 40 East, KS 4 East: Kansas City, Gage Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East, KS 4 East: Kansas...
7
9.3 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-70 East, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
6
16.8 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway toward I-70 East, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
8
66.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Turner Diagonal
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Turner Diagonal
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Silver Lake, KS and Shawnee, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City and Turner Diagonal.
Kansas City
9.3 mi in
|
~12m
Turner Diagonal
66.4 mi in
|
~1h 12m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Turnpike | 48.7 mi | 49m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 8.1 mi | 9m |
| South Chestnut Street | 7.3 mi | 9m |
| South 59th Street | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| US 75 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Turner Diagonal | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| KS 32 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Inland Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Kansas Turnpike
— 48.7 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Silver Lake, KS and Shawnee, KS.
1
Start on US 24
7.3 mi
·
9 min
·
South Chestnut Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
2
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Merge onto US 75
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 75
Use the straight lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East, KS 4 East: Kansas City, Gage Boulevard
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
6
Merge onto I 70; US 40; KS 4
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
8
Continue on I 70
49 mi
·
49 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 415
Toward College Parkway
10
Keep slight right at fork
390 ft
·
9 sec
Toward Turner Diagonal
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto Turner Diagonal
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Turner Diagonal
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on KS 32
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
KS 32
13
Turn right onto South 55th Street
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
South 55th Street
14
Turn slight right
168 ft
·
7 sec
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto Inland Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Inland Drive
16
Turn left onto South 59th Street
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
South 59th Street
17
Turn right onto 47th Street
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
47th Street
18
Turn left onto Bond Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Bond Street
19
Arrive at destination
Bond Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.4 mi from Silver Lake, KS · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.4 miles from Silver Lake, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Shawnee, KS
The final approach into Shawnee, KS usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.38 one way
$22.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.50 | $24.99 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.01 | $28.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.07 | $32.15 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.43
Kansas Turnpike
(48.7 mi)
$2.43
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$2
Total
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.64 | $3.49 |
| Efficient EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.37 | $2.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.1 | 0 | $10.19 | $4.66 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Shawnee, KS
Afternoon in Shawnee on Thursday
Local time
12:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Reno, KS
36 mi in
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
5 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
1h 25m 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 Silver Lake, KS to Shawnee, KS covers 72.8 miles and takes about 1h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kansas Turnpike, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, South Chestnut 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 36.4 miles from Silver Lake, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.38 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Silver Lake, KS and Shawnee, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City and Turner Diagonal.
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