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Trip from Syracuse, KS to Kansas City, KS

Drive Time

8h

Distance

424 mi

682 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$64

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
7h 52m ★
6 AM
8h 0m
8 AM
8h 18m
10 AM
8h 6m
12 PM
8h 5m
3 PM
8h 7m
5 PM
8h 17m
8 PM
7h 55m

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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Trip Overview

The drive from Syracuse, KS to Kansas City, KS covers 424 miles and takes about 8h behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on KS 156, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, Kansas Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 166.3 miles on KS 156. At current regular gas prices, budget about $64.40 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

212 miles from Syracuse, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 18m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Syracuse, KS to Kansas City, KS covers 424 miles and takes about 8h, 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 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
KS 156 is the longest continuous segment at about 166.3 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 53.1 miles in near KS 156.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 424 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 53.1 miles (KS 156): Lane positioning matters here; at 173.6 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 366.5 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

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

5
53.1 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in | KS 156

Turn left onto KS 156

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
173.6 mi into trip | ~3h 31m in | Washington Street

At end of road, turn right onto Washington Street

Navigation decision point

6
366.5 mi into trip | ~6h 58m 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
6
421.9 mi into trip | ~7h 55m in | I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69

Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69 toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69 North: Saint Louis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69...
9
422.2 mi into trip | ~7h 55m in | US 69

Take the exit onto US 69 toward US 69 North, US 169 South

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 422A Toward US 69 North, US 169 South

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Syracuse, KS to Kansas City, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.

Salina

226.2 mi in | ~4h 35m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
KS 156 166.3 mi 3h 18m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway 90.3 mi 1h 32m
Kansas Turnpike 54.7 mi 56m
Avenue A 52.2 mi 1h 1m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 50.5 mi 50m
10th Street 3.8 mi 5m
Railroad Avenue 2.6 mi 6m
South 7th Street Trafficway 1.5 mi 3m
Longest stretch: KS 156 — 166.3 mi, about 3h 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Syracuse, KS and Kansas City, KS.

1

Start on Barber Street

139 ft · 10 sec · Barber Street
2

Turn right onto US 50; US 400; KS 27

52 mi · 1 hr 1 min · Avenue A
3

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 55 sec
4

Keep slight left at fork

161 ft · 4 sec
5

Turn slight left onto East Mary Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Mary Street
6

Turn left onto KS 156

118 mi · 2 hr 22 min · KS 156
Use the left lane.
7

Turn right onto Railroad Avenue

2.1 mi · 5 min · Railroad Avenue
8

At end of road, turn right onto Washington Street

150 ft · 4 sec · Washington Street
9

Keep slight left at fork onto Railroad Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Railroad Avenue
10

Turn left onto US 281

0.4 mi · 40 sec · Main Street
11

Turn right onto US 56; KS 96; KS 156

3.8 mi · 5 min · 10th Street
12

Turn left onto KS 156

48 mi · 55 min · KS 156
13

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I-70 East, Salina
14

Merge onto I 70; US 40

49 mi · 49 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
15

Continue on I 70; US 40

75 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.1 mi · 1 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
17

Continue on I 70; US 40

15 mi · 17 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Use the slight right lane.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70

0.8 mi · 52 sec · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
19

Continue on I 70

55 mi · 56 min · Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
20

Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69

0.3 mi · 24 sec · I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69 North: Saint Louis
21

Take the exit onto US 69

0.2 mi · 20 sec · US 69
Exit 422A Toward US 69 North, US 169 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Turn left onto US 69

1.5 mi · 3 min · South 7th Street Trafficway
Toward US 69 North Use the left lane.
23

Turn left onto Armstrong Avenue

282 ft · 17 sec · Armstrong Avenue
24

Turn left

149 ft · 10 sec
25

Arrive at destination

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 212 miles from Syracuse, KS, or about 4h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 166.3 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 51m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 212 miles or 4h 18m 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 212 miles or 4h 18m

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 55m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kansas City, KS than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Syracuse, 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 Syracuse, KS

Aim for roughly 212 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Kansas City, KS

Aim for roughly 212 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 93 miles from Syracuse, 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 KS 156 for about 166.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 212 mi from Syracuse, KS · 4h 18m into the drive

city in Kansas

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Lincoln, KS

212 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 Lincoln, KS

Popular next leg

Lincoln, KS to Kansas City, KS

202.2 mi · 3h 44m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Lincoln, KS

212 mi · about 4h in

A practical overnight split lands near Lincoln, KS after about 212 miles or 4 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Hill City, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 93 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lincoln, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 212.1 miles from Syracuse, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Kansas City, KS

The final approach into Kansas City, 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 Kansas City, KS.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Kansas City, 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.

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 365.5
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$64.40 one way

$128.80 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 148 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $70.99 $141.99
premium $4.80 $80.04 $160.09
diesel $5.64 $94.20 $188.40

Estimated Tolls: $2.74

Kansas Turnpike (54.7 mi) $2.74

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

$64

Tolls

$3

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$197–$307

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 148.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 127.2 1 $44.52 $20.35
Efficient EV 106 1 $37.10 $16.96
EV Truck/SUV 169.6 2 $59.36 $27.14

Gas CO2

148 kg

EV CO2

50 kg (66% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 4 days ago

Origin

Syracuse, KS

Morning in Syracuse on Monday

Local time

11:30 AM

MDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kansas City, KS

Afternoon in Kansas City on Monday

Local time

12:30 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

44°F

Lincoln, KS

212 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.

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 later

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

22 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

8h 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 Syracuse, KS to Kansas City, KS covers 424 miles and takes about 8h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are KS 156, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, Kansas Turnpike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
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 212 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 212 miles from Syracuse, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $64.40 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 is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 424 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 53.1 miles (KS 156): Lane positioning matters here; at 173.6 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 366.5 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Syracuse, KS to Kansas City, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.

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Return Trip

Kansas City, KS to Syracuse, KS

Plan the drive back the other way.

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