Drive Time
2h 13m
Distance
128.3 mi
206 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
Photo: Alan Wang
The drive from WaKeeney, KS to Salina, KS covers 128.3 miles and takes about 2h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, I 135, West State Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 122.1 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.49 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.1 miles from WaKeeney, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 13m drive with frequent turns across 128.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Railroad Avenue.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 128.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (South Railroad Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 0.2 miles (South 8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 283; US 40 Bus / Barclay Avenue): Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight right at fork onto South Railroad Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn left onto South 8th Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 283; US 40 Bus / Barclay Avenue
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward I 135 South, US 81 South: Wichita
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward KS 140
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 122.1 mi | 2h 2m |
| I 135 | 1.8 mi | 1m |
| West State Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| South 13th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Iron Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Barclay Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| US 40 Business | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South 8th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between WaKeeney, KS and Salina, KS.
Start on North 8th Street
Turn slight left
Turn slight left
Keep slight right at fork onto South Railroad Avenue
Turn left onto South 8th Street
Turn left onto US 283; US 40 Bus
Turn right onto US 40 Bus
Take the ramp onto US 40 Business
Merge onto I 70; US 40
Take the exit
Merge onto I 135; US 81
Take the exit
Turn left onto Old US 40
Continue on West State Street
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto West State Street
Turn right onto North College Avenue
Turn left onto West Iron Avenue
Turn right onto South 8th Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.1 miles or 1h 5m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salina, KS than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving WaKeeney, 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 WaKeeney, KS
This is one driving day of about 128.3 miles and 2h 13m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.1 mi from WaKeeney, KS · 1h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 64.1 miles from WaKeeney, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 122.1 miles.
The final approach into Salina, 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 Salina, KS.
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.
Regular Gas
$19.49 one way
$38.97 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $21.48 | $42.97 |
| premium | $4.80 | $24.22 | $48.44 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $28.50 | $57.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.5 | 0 | $13.47 | $6.16 |
| Efficient EV | 32.1 | 0 | $11.23 | $5.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.3 | 0 | $17.96 | $8.21 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in WaKeeney on Saturday
Local time
4:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Salina on Saturday
Local time
4:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
44°F
Lincoln, KS
64 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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