Origin
Soldier, KS
Morning in Soldier on Thursday
Local time
10:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Soldier, KS to Abilene, KS
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 5m
Distance
101.8 mi
164 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 57m
★
6 AM
2h 6m
8 AM
2h 23m
10 AM
2h 12m
12 PM
2h 10m
3 PM
2h 13m
5 PM
2h 23m
8 PM
2h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Soldier, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Abilene, KS
Tien Nguyen
Trip Overview
The drive from Soldier, KS to Abilene, KS covers 101.8 miles and takes about 2h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on KS 16, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, K-13 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.9 miles on KS 16. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.92 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.9 miles from Soldier, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 101.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (29%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 5m drive with frequent turns across 101.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
KS 16 is the longest continuous segment at about 27.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 31.5 miles in near KS 16; KS 99.
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 101.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 31.5 miles (KS 16; KS 99): Navigation decision point; at 61.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 72.4 miles (KS 18): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
31.5 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
KS 16; KS 99
At end of road, turn left onto KS 16; KS 99
Navigation decision point
5
61.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Take the ramp toward KS 18 West: Fort Riley Boulevard West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward KS 18 West: Fort Riley Boulevard West
5
72.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
|
KS 18
Take the exit onto KS 18 toward I-70 West, Salina
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 West, Salina
5
72.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
|
I 70; US 40; KS 18 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Merge onto I 70; US 40; KS 18 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
100 mi into trip
|
~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward KS 15: Abilene, Clay Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 275
Toward KS 15: Abilene, Clay Center
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Soldier, KS to Abilene, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.
Salina
72.4 mi in
|
~1h 33m
|
via KS 18
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| KS 16 | 27.9 mi | 35m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 27.3 mi | 27m |
| K-13 | 14.6 mi | 18m |
| Fort Riley Boulevard | 11.1 mi | 12m |
| 230 Road | 6 mi | 7m |
| North Seth Child Road | 5.6 mi | 8m |
| E Road | 4.8 mi | 8m |
| North Buckeye Avenue | 1.6 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
KS 16
— 27.9 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Soldier, KS and Abilene, KS.
1
Start on Jackson Street
397 ft
·
7 sec
·
Jackson Street
2
Turn slight right onto KS 62
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
1st Street
3
Continue on KS 62
4.8 mi
·
8 min
·
E Road
4
Turn right onto KS 16
6.0 mi
·
7 min
·
230 Road
5
Turn right onto KS 63
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 63
6
Turn left onto KS 16
19 mi
·
25 min
·
KS 16
7
At end of road, turn left onto KS 16; KS 99
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
KS 16; KS 99
8
Turn right onto KS 16
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
KS 16
9
Continue on K-13
15 mi
·
18 min
·
K-13
10
Enter roundabout onto US 24
90 ft
·
1 sec
·
Tuttle Creek Boulevard
11
Continue on US 24
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Tuttle Creek Boulevard
12
Enter roundabout onto K-113
322 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Seth Child Road
13
Continue on K-113
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
North Seth Child Road
Use the left lane.
14
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward KS 18 West: Fort Riley Boulevard West
Use the right lane.
15
Merge onto KS 18
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Fort Riley Boulevard
16
Take the exit onto KS 18
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
KS 18
Toward I-70 West, Salina
17
Merge onto I 70; US 40; KS 18
27 mi
·
27 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 275
Toward KS 15: Abilene, Clay Center
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn left onto KS 15
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Buckeye Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
KS 15
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.9 miles from Soldier, KS, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.9 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 22 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.9 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Abilene, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Soldier, 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 Soldier, KS
This is one driving day of about 101.8 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Soldier, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on KS 16 for about 27.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50.9 mi from Soldier, KS · 1h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 50.9 miles from Soldier, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Abilene, KS
The final approach into Abilene, 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 Abilene, 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
$15.92 one way
$31.83 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.47 | $34.95 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.59 | $39.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.48 | $44.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.5 | 0 | $10.69 | $4.89 |
| Efficient EV | 25.5 | 0 | $8.91 | $4.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.7 | 0 | $14.25 | $6.52 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% 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
Abilene, KS
Morning in Abilene on Thursday
Local time
10:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Manhattan, KS
51 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 5m 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 Soldier, KS to Abilene, KS covers 101.8 miles and takes about 2h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are KS 16, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, K-13. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.9 miles from Soldier, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.92 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 101.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 31.5 miles (KS 16; KS 99): Navigation decision point; at 61.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 72.4 miles (KS 18): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Soldier, KS to Abilene, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.
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