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Trip from Soldier, KS to Fort Scott, KS

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 27m

Distance

185.2 mi

298 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$29

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 15m ★
6 AM
3h 27m
8 AM
3h 52m
10 AM
3h 36m
12 PM
3h 33m
3 PM
3h 37m
5 PM
3h 50m
8 PM
3h 20m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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member of the armed forces

Soldier, KS

Wikimedia Commons

city in Kansas, USA

Fort Scott, KS

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Soldier, KS to Fort Scott, KS covers 185.2 miles and takes about 3h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Overland Parkway, South Lawrence Trafficway, Arizona Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 76.6 miles on Overland Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.95 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.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

92.6 miles from Soldier, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 27m. Total distance: 185.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Soldier, KS to Fort Scott, KS covers 185.2 miles and takes about 3h 27m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Overland Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 76.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 44.5 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 185.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 44.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 103.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 106.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
44.5 mi into trip | ~54m 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
7
103.7 mi into trip | ~2h in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 435 East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 435 East
7
106.2 mi into trip | ~2h 3m in

Take the exit toward US 69

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 81 Toward US 69
7
106.8 mi into trip | ~2h 4m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 69 South: College Boulevard

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 69 South: College Boulevard
7
107 mi into trip | ~2h 5m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 69 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward US 69 South

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Soldier, KS and Fort Scott, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City and Lawrence.

Kansas City

44.5 mi in | ~54m

Lawrence

66.8 mi in | ~1h 18m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Overland Parkway 76.6 mi 1h 18m
South Lawrence Trafficway 36.5 mi 40m
Arizona Avenue 27.7 mi 30m
Kansas Turnpike 14 mi 14m
230 Road 10.9 mi 13m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway 8.1 mi 9m
E Road 4.8 mi 8m
I 435 2.2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Overland Parkway — 76.6 mi, about 1h 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Soldier, KS and Fort Scott, 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 left onto KS 16

11 mi · 13 min · 230 Road
5

Continue on KS 16

0.5 mi · 1 min · West 4th Street
6

Turn right onto US 75

28 mi · 30 min · Arizona Avenue
Use the straight lane.
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East, KS 4 East: Kansas City, Gage Boulevard
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
9

Merge onto I 70; US 40; KS 4

7.3 mi · 8 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Use the slight right lane.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70

0.8 mi · 52 sec · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
11

Continue on I 70

14 mi · 14 min · Kansas Turnpike
12

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Exit 197 Toward KS 10: Lecompton, Lawrence
13

Turn right onto KS 10

36 mi · 40 min · South Lawrence Trafficway
Use the straight lane.
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 435 East Use the slight left lane.
15

Merge onto I 435

2.2 mi · 2 min · I 435
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 81 Toward US 69 Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward US 69 South: College Boulevard Use the slight right lane.
18

Keep slight right at fork

1.0 mi · 2 min
Toward US 69 South Use the straight / slight left lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward US 69 South
20

Merge onto US 69

77 mi · 1 hr 18 min · Overland Parkway
Use the straight lane.
21

Turn right onto East 3rd Street

0.2 mi · 35 sec · East 3rd Street
22

Turn right onto South National Avenue

375 ft · 14 sec · South National Avenue
23

Turn left onto West 2nd Street

280 ft · 12 sec · West 2nd Street
24

Arrive at destination

West 2nd Street

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 92.6 miles from Soldier, KS, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.6 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 41 miles or 50m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 92.6 miles or 1h 47m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 52m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Scott, 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 185.2 miles and 3h 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Soldier, 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.
The longest stretch is on Overland Parkway for about 76.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 92.6 mi from Soldier, KS · 1h 47m into the drive

city in Leavenworth County, Kansas, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Basehor, KS

93 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

Dover, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Basehor, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 92.6 miles from Soldier, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Overland Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.6 miles.

Arriving in Fort Scott, KS

The final approach into Fort Scott, 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 Fort Scott, KS.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park

Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park

National Historical Park

The path to equality has been anything but smooth. It's taken courage and dedication by everyday people coming together for a common goal to carry the country toward true equality. Parents, teachers,...

2 mi from route ~5 min detour Free near mile 51.1
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$28.95 one way

$57.91 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 65 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $31.79 $63.58
premium $4.89 $35.64 $71.28
diesel $5.61 $40.89 $81.78

Estimated Tolls: $0.70

Kansas Turnpike (14 mi) $0.70

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

$29

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 64.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 55.6 0 $19.45 $8.89
Efficient EV 46.3 0 $16.21 $7.41
EV Truck/SUV 74.1 0 $25.93 $11.85

Gas CO2

65 kg

EV CO2

22 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Soldier, KS

Afternoon in Soldier on Thursday

Local time

2:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fort Scott, KS

Afternoon in Fort Scott on Thursday

Local time

2:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°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.

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

20 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

3h 27m 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 Fort Scott, KS covers 185.2 miles and takes about 3h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Overland Parkway, South Lawrence Trafficway, Arizona Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 92.6 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 $28.95 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 185.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 44.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 103.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 106.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Soldier, KS and Fort Scott, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City and Lawrence.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park.

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