Origin
Valley Center, KS
Late night in Valley Center on Saturday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Valley Center, KS to Lenexa, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 49m
Distance
186.8 mi
301 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 39m
★
6 AM
2h 50m
8 AM
3h 12m
10 AM
2h 58m
12 PM
2h 55m
3 PM
2h 59m
5 PM
3h 11m
8 PM
2h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Valley Center, KS
Stephen Leonardi
Lenexa, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Valley Center, KS to Lenexa, KS covers 186.8 miles and takes about 2h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West 2nd Street, North Meridian Street, North Meridian Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.73 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
93.4 miles from Valley Center, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 49m. Total distance: 186.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 49m drive with frequent turns across 186.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 2nd 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Valley Center, KS to Lenexa, KS is easy. At 2h 49m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Valley Center, KS to Lenexa, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 2nd Street | — | — |
| North Meridian Street | — | — |
| North Meridian Avenue | — | — |
| West 77th Street North | — | — |
| North Broadway Street | — | — |
| East 77th Street North | — | — |
| I 135 South | — | — |
| 61st Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West 2nd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Valley Center, KS and Lenexa, KS.
1
Start on North Park Avenue
43 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Park Avenue
2
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
361 ft
·
18 sec
·
West 2nd Street
3
Turn right onto North Meridian Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
North Meridian Street
4
Continue on North Meridian Avenue
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
North Meridian Avenue
5
Turn left onto West 77th Street North
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
West 77th Street North
6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Broadway Street;East 77th Street North
141 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Broadway Street;East 77th Street North
7
Exit the rotary onto East 77th Street North
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East 77th Street North
8
Take the ramp right toward I 135 South, US 81 South, KS 15 South
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 135 South, US 81 South, KS 15 South
9
Merge slight left
1.5 mi
·
1 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward 61st Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
61st Street
11
Turn left onto East 61st Street North
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
East 61st Street North
12
Continue on Kechi Road
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Kechi Road
13
Turn right onto North Woodlawn Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
North Woodlawn Street
14
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
15
Merge slight left onto East 61st Street North
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
East 61st Street North
16
Continue on Southwest 20th Street
14 mi
·
15 min
·
Southwest 20th Street
17
Take the exit slight left
266 ft
·
8 sec
18
Merge slight right onto Boyer Road
259 ft
·
7 sec
·
Boyer Road
19
Take the exit left
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
20
Turn straight
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
21
Merge slight left onto Kansas Turnpike
56 mi
·
56 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
22
Keep slight right
95 mi
·
1 hr 38 min
23
Continue on I 35 North, US 56 East, US 169 North: Des Moines
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35 North, US 56 East, US 169 North: Des Moines
24
Take the exit slight right toward 95th Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
95th Street
25
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
26
Turn straight onto West 95th Street
190 ft
·
4 sec
·
West 95th Street
27
Turn slight right onto Lenexa Drive
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
Lenexa Drive
28
Turn left onto Rosehill Road
499 ft
·
19 sec
·
Rosehill Road
29
Turn right
72 ft
·
11 sec
30
Turn left
256 ft
·
19 sec
31
Arrive at your destination
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 93.4 miles from Valley Center, KS, or about 1h 24m 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 41 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.4 miles or 1h 24m 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 19m
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 Valley 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 Valley Center, KS
This is one driving day of about 186.8 miles and 2h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Valley 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 93.4 mi from Valley Center, KS · 1h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 93.4 miles from Valley 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
$27.73 one way
$55.47 round trip
$3.77/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $31.28 | $62.56 |
| premium | $4.65 | $34.23 | $68.45 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $39.01 | $78.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56 | 0 | $19.61 | $8.97 |
| Efficient EV | 46.7 | 0 | $16.35 | $7.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.7 | 0 | $26.15 | $11.96 |
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.
Destination
Lenexa, KS
Late night in Lenexa on Saturday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
1 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
2h 49m 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 Valley Center, KS to Lenexa, KS covers 186.8 miles and takes about 2h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 2nd Street, North Meridian Street, North Meridian Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 93.4 miles from Valley Center, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.73 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Valley Center, KS to Lenexa, KS is easy. At 2h 49m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Valley Center, KS to Lenexa, KS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Valley Center, KS to Lenexa, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Lenexa, KS
More from Valley Center, KS
More trips to Lenexa, KS
Explore more options from Valley Center, KS or browse trips ending in Lenexa, KS.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KS road trips.