Origin
Smith Center, KS
Morning in Smith Center on Wednesday
Local time
7:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Smith Center, KS to Lenexa, KS
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h 21m
Distance
264.7 mi
426 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 9m
★
6 AM
4h 22m
8 AM
4h 48m
10 AM
4h 31m
12 PM
4h 28m
3 PM
4h 32m
5 PM
4h 47m
8 PM
4h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lenexa, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Smith Center, KS to Lenexa, KS covers 264.7 miles and takes about 4h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East 1st Street, North Main Street, Cavalry Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.38 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
132.3 miles from Smith Center, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 21m drive with frequent turns across 264.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East 1st Street 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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 21m 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 Smith Center, KS to Lenexa, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East 1st Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cavalry Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Madison Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tuttle Creek Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Fort Riley Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-70 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-70 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East 1st Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smith Center, KS and Lenexa, KS.
1
Start on the route
36 ft
·
5 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto East 1st Street
220 ft
·
12 sec
·
East 1st Street
3
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
North Main Street
4
Turn right
12 mi
·
14 min
5
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
6
Turn right
19 mi
·
22 min
7
Turn left
92 mi
·
1 hr 50 min
8
Turn right onto Cavalry Road
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Cavalry Road
9
Turn left onto Madison Road
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Madison Road
10
Turn right
8.6 mi
·
9 min
11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Tuttle Creek Boulevard
269 ft
·
3 sec
·
Tuttle Creek Boulevard
12
Exit the roundabout onto Tuttle Creek Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Tuttle Creek Boulevard
13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Tuttle Creek Boulevard
161 ft
·
2 sec
·
Tuttle Creek Boulevard
14
Exit the rotary onto Tuttle Creek Boulevard
5.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Tuttle Creek Boulevard
15
Continue on Fort Riley Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Fort Riley Boulevard
16
Take the exit right toward Junction I-70, Zeandale
8.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Junction I-70, Zeandale
17
Take the exit slight right toward I-70 East, Topeka
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
I-70 East, Topeka
18
Merge slight left onto Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
36 mi
·
35 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
19
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
20
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
21
Keep slight left to continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
22
Continue on Kansas Turnpike
14 mi
·
14 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
23
Take the exit slight right toward KS 10: Lecompton, Lawrence
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
KS 10: Lecompton, Lawrence
24
Turn right onto South Lawrence Trafficway
35 mi
·
38 min
·
South Lawrence Trafficway
25
Take the exit slight right toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines, Renner Boulevard
390 ft
·
6 sec
·
I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines, Renner Boulevard
26
Keep slight left to continue on I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines
0.6 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines
27
Keep slight right to continue on I 35: Wichita, Des Moines
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35: Wichita, Des Moines
28
Keep slight left to continue on I 35 North: Des Moines
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35 North: Des Moines
29
Merge slight left
0.9 mi
·
1 min
30
Take the exit slight right toward 95th Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
95th Street
31
Keep slight right to continue on 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie College
295 ft
·
7 sec
·
95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie College
32
Turn straight onto West 95th Street
190 ft
·
4 sec
·
West 95th Street
33
Turn slight right onto Lenexa Drive
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
Lenexa Drive
34
Turn left onto Rosehill Road
499 ft
·
19 sec
·
Rosehill Road
35
Turn right
72 ft
·
11 sec
36
Turn left
256 ft
·
19 sec
37
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 132.3 miles from Smith Center, KS, or about 2h 10m 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 80 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.3 miles or 2h 10m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lenexa, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Smith Center, 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 Smith Center, KS
This is one driving day of about 264.7 miles and 4h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Smith Center, 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 132.3 mi from Smith Center, KS · 2h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
132 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 132.3 miles from Smith Center, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lenexa, KS
The final approach into Lenexa, 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 Lenexa, 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
$41.38 one way
$82.77 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
93 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $45.44 | $90.87 |
| premium | $4.89 | $50.94 | $101.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $58.44 | $116.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.6 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 | 79.4 | 0 | $27.79 | $12.71 |
| Efficient EV | 66.2 | 0 | $23.16 | $10.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 105.9 | 1 | $37.06 | $16.94 |
Gas CO2
93 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.
Destination
Lenexa, KS
Morning in Lenexa on Wednesday
Local time
7:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Valley Falls, KS
132 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
7 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
4h 21m 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 Smith Center, KS to Lenexa, KS covers 264.7 miles and takes about 4h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East 1st Street, North Main Street, Cavalry Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 132.3 miles from Smith Center, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.38 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 21m 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 Smith Center, KS to Lenexa, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Smith Center, KS to Lenexa, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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