The drive from Valley Falls, KS to Shawnee, KS covers 60.7 miles and takes about 1h 27m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on KS 16, US 24, US 59 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 23.9 miles on KS 16.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.49 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 60.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 27m highway drive covering 60.7 miles, with most of the trip on KS 16 and US 24. The longest continuous stretch is about 23.9 miles on KS 16.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 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 23.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on KS 16 and US 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near KS 16 / Phoebe Street.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.7 miles you will encounter 20 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 0.2 miles (KS 16 / Phoebe Street): Navigation decision point; at 34.3 miles (US 24; US 40 / West Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 49.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|KS 16 / Phoebe Street
Turn left onto KS 16 / Phoebe Street
Navigation decision point
6
34.3 mi into trip|~47m in|US 24; US 40 / West Street
Turn left onto US 24; US 40 / West Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
49.2 mi into trip|~1h 8m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East: Saint...
5
49.5 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
54.4 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Turner Diagonal
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Turner Diagonal
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 Valley Falls, KS to Shawnee, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Turner Diagonal along the way.
Turner Diagonal
54.4 mi in|~1h 14m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
KS 16
23.9 mi
33m
US 24
11.6 mi
14m
US 59
9.1 mi
11m
Kansas Turnpike
4.7 mi
5m
South 59th Street
2.8 mi
5m
West Street
1.7 mi
2m
Speedway Boulevard
1.4 mi
2m
Turner Diagonal
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
KS 16
— 23.9 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Valley Falls, KS and Shawnee, KS.
1
Start on Oak Street
0.2 mi·46 sec·Oak Street
2
Turn left onto KS 16
0.1 mi·18 sec·Phoebe Street
3
Continue on KS 16
0.3 mi·36 sec·9th Street
4
Turn left onto KS 4; KS 16
0.8 mi·1 min·KS 4; KS 16
5
Turn right onto KS 16
6.2 mi·8 min·KS 16
6
At end of road, turn right onto KS 16
0.4 mi·35 sec·KS 16
7
Keep slight left at fork onto KS 16
1.0 mi·1 min·KS 16
8
Turn right onto US 59; KS 16
9.1 mi·11 min·US 59; KS 16
9
Turn left onto KS 16; KS 92
2.9 mi·3 min·KS 16; KS 92
10
Keep slight right at fork onto KS 16; KS 92
13 mi·19 min·KS 16; KS 92
11
Turn left onto US 24; US 40
1.7 mi·2 min·West Street
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on US 24; US 40
12 mi·14 min·US 24; US 40
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto Speedway Boulevard
1.4 mi·2 min·Speedway Boulevard
14
Continue on North 110th Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·North 110th Street
15
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
16
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
4.7 mi·5 min·Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 415Toward College Parkway
18
Keep slight right at fork
390 ft·9 sec
Toward Turner DiagonalUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn straight onto Turner Diagonal
1.2 mi·1 min·Turner Diagonal
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on KS 32
1.0 mi·1 min·KS 32
21
Turn right onto South 55th Street
0.4 mi·52 sec·South 55th Street
22
Turn slight right
168 ft·7 sec
Use the slight right lane.
23
Turn straight onto Inland Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·Inland Drive
24
Turn left onto South 59th Street
2.8 mi·5 min·South 59th Street
25
Turn right onto 47th Street
0.3 mi·54 sec·47th Street
26
Turn left onto Bond Street
0.2 mi·42 sec·Bond Street
27
Arrive at destination
Bond Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.4 mi from Valley Falls, KS
· 42m into the drive
The midpoint is around 30.4 miles from Valley Falls, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Shawnee, KS
The final approach into Shawnee, KS usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.49 one way
$18.98 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg21 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$10.42
$20.84
premium
$4.89
$11.68
$23.36
diesel
$5.61
$13.40
$26.80
Estimated Tolls: $0.23
Kansas Turnpike
(4.7 mi)$0.23
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$0
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.2
0
$6.37
$2.91
Efficient EV
15.2
0
$5.31
$2.43
EV Truck/SUV
24.3
0
$8.50
$3.88
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Valley Falls, KS
Morning
in Valley Falls on Friday
Local time
6:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
S 15 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 14 at 9:24AM MDT until April 14 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Goodland KS
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 14 at 6:46AM CDT until April 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Hastings NE
Destination
Shawnee, KS
Morning
in Shawnee on Friday
Local time
6:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Partly Sunny
SSW 18 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 14 at 9:24AM MDT until April 14 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Goodland KS
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 14 at 6:46AM CDT until April 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Hastings NE
74°F
Reno, KS
30 mi in
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
2 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
1h 27m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Valley Falls, KS to Shawnee, KS covers 60.7 miles and takes about 1h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are KS 16, US 24, US 59. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.4 miles from Valley Falls, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.49 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 60.7 miles you will encounter 20 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 0.2 miles (KS 16 / Phoebe Street): Navigation decision point; at 34.3 miles (US 24; US 40 / West Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 49.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Valley Falls, KS to Shawnee, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Turner Diagonal along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
