The drive from Washington, KS to Lenexa, KS covers 181.9 miles and takes about 3h 29m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, South Lawrence Trafficway, Tuttle Creek Boulevard for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.4 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.44 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
91 miles from Washington, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 29m. Total distance: 181.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 29m drive with frequent turns across 181.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 51.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 66.8 miles in near KS 177; KS 18.
Driving Effort10/10
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 23 significant decision points across 181.9 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 66.8 miles (KS 177; KS 18): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 177.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 177.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 23 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
66.8 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|KS 177; KS 18
Take the exit onto KS 177; KS 18 toward Junction I-70, Zeandale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Junction I-70, Zeandale
7
177.8 mi into trip|~3h 22m in
Take the exit toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines, Renner Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines,...
8
177.9 mi into trip|~3h 22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines
8
178.5 mi into trip|~3h 23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35: Wichita, Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35: Wichita, Des Moines
9
181.5 mi into trip|~3h 27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Washington, KS and Lenexa, KS, road signs point toward Junction I-70, Zeandale, Topeka, Kansas City and Lawrence.
Junction I-70
66.8 mi in|~1h 22m|via KS 177; KS 18
Zeandale
66.8 mi in|~1h 22m|via KS 177; KS 18
Topeka
75.4 mi in|~1h 32m
Kansas City
127.3 mi in|~2h 27m|via I 70
Lawrence
142 mi in|~2h 42m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
51.4 mi
53m
South Lawrence Trafficway
35.4 mi
38m
Tuttle Creek Boulevard
25.3 mi
31m
Kansas Turnpike
14 mi
14m
10th Road
10.1 mi
11m
US 24
8.6 mi
9m
South Colorado Avenue
8.5 mi
10m
KS 177
8.5 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
— 51.4 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washington, KS and Lenexa, KS.
The midpoint is around 91 miles from Washington, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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,...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 127.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.44 one way
$56.88 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.22
$62.45
premium
$4.89
$35.01
$70.01
diesel
$5.61
$40.16
$80.32
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
$28
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.6
0
$19.10
$8.73
Efficient EV
45.5
0
$15.92
$7.28
EV Truck/SUV
72.8
0
$25.47
$11.64
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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 15, 2026
Origin
Washington, KS
Afternoon
in Washington on Friday
Local time
12:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lenexa, KS
Afternoon
in Lenexa on Friday
Local time
12:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Dover, KS
91 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 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
3h 29m 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 Washington, KS to Lenexa, KS covers 181.9 miles and takes about 3h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, South Lawrence Trafficway, Tuttle Creek Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 91 miles from Washington, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.44 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 23 significant decision points across 181.9 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 66.8 miles (KS 177; KS 18): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 177.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 177.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Washington, KS and Lenexa, KS, road signs point toward Junction I-70, Zeandale, Topeka, Kansas City and Lawrence.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
