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Trip from Wichita, KS to Abilene, KS

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 48m

Distance

92.6 mi

149 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

6 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 40m ★
6 AM
1h 48m
8 AM
2h 4m
10 AM
1h 54m
12 PM
1h 52m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 3m
8 PM
1h 43m

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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Download GPX
city in and county seat of Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States

Wichita, KS

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Abilene, KS, KS

Abilene, KS

Tien Nguyen

Trip Overview

The drive from Wichita, KS to Abilene, KS covers 92.6 miles and takes about 1h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Eisenhower Memorial Highway, I 135, Bison Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36.1 miles on Eisenhower Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.75 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.

Midpoint

46.3 miles from Wichita, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 92.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (28%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 48m drive with frequent turns across 92.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Eisenhower Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 36.1 miles.

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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Central Avenue.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Wichita, KS to Abilene, KS is easy. At 1h 48m with 28% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (East 13th Street North): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 135; US 81; KS 15): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

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

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Central Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto East Central Avenue

Navigation decision point

4
1.2 mi into trip | ~2m in | East 13th Street North

Turn right onto East 13th Street North

Navigation decision point

5
2.3 mi into trip | ~4m in | I 135; US 81; KS 15

Merge onto I 135; US 81; KS 15

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
28.6 mi into trip | ~32m in

Take the exit toward KS 15: North Newton, Abilene

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 34 Toward KS 15: North Newton, Abilene
4
54.1 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in | KS 15 / Eisenhower Memorial Highway

Turn left onto KS 15 / Eisenhower Memorial Highway

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Eisenhower Memorial Highway 36.1 mi 42m
I 135 26.3 mi 27m
Bison Road 11.9 mi 13m
Gulf Road 8.4 mi 9m
200th Street 6 mi 7m
South Buckeye Avenue 1.1 mi 2m
North Broadway Street 1 mi 1m
East 13th Street North 0.9 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Eisenhower Memorial Highway — 36.1 mi, about 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wichita, KS and Abilene, KS.

1

Start on this road

359 ft · 28 sec · this road
2

At end of road, turn right onto East Central Avenue

0.1 mi · 20 sec · East Central Avenue
3

Turn left onto North Broadway Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Broadway Street
4

Turn right onto East 13th Street North

0.9 mi · 1 min · East 13th Street North
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 33 sec
6

Merge onto I 135; US 81; KS 15

22 mi · 23 min · I 135; US 81; KS 15
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on I 135; US 50; US 81

2.1 mi · 2 min · I 135; US 50; US 81
8

Continue on I 135; US 81

2.0 mi · 1 min · I 135; US 81
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Exit 34 Toward KS 15: North Newton, Abilene Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Turn right onto KS 15

7.2 mi · 8 min · Eisenhower Memorial Highway
11

Continue on KS 15

12 mi · 13 min · Bison Road
12

Turn right onto US 56; KS 15

6.0 mi · 7 min · 200th Street
13

Turn left onto KS 15

26 mi · 30 min · Eisenhower Memorial Highway
14

Continue on KS 15

8.4 mi · 9 min · Gulf Road
15

Continue on KS 15

2.9 mi · 3 min · Eisenhower Memorial Highway
16

Continue on KS 15

1.1 mi · 2 min · South Buckeye Avenue
17

Arrive at destination

KS 15

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.3 miles from Wichita, KS, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.1 miles.

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 20 miles or 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 46.3 miles or 53m 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 27m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Wichita, KS so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Wichita, KS

This is one driving day of about 92.6 miles and 1h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Wichita, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Eisenhower Memorial Highway for about 36.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 46.3 mi from Wichita, KS · 53m into the drive

city in Harvey County, Kansas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hesston, KS

46 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

Sedgwick, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hesston, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 46.3 miles from Wichita, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Abilene, KS

The final approach into Abilene, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

IONNA Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 92.6

Abilene, Kansas

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

2.7 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 92.6

Abilene, Kansas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18668167584

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Wichita, KS

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Great Plains Nature Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 6.6

Wichita, Kansas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+13166835499

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.75 one way

$27.50 round trip

$3.77/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $15.51 $31.01
premium $4.65 $16.97 $33.93
diesel $5.30 $19.34 $38.67

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 32.4 kg one way.

EV Charging Along Route

6 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

West's Plaza Country Mart - Tesla Supercharger

Abilene, KS

Tesla

12 DCFC

Abilene, KS Rechargery Relay - Buckeye Ave

Abilene, KS

IONNA

10 DCFC

Rusty Eck Ford

Wichita, KS

FORD_CHARGE

4 DCFC

Simon Towne East Square (Wichita, KS)

Wichita, KS

Electrify America

4 DCFC

24/7 Travel Store #6

Abilene, KS

EV Connect

4 DCFC

EVERGY @WSU YMCA-441A

Wichita, KS

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

FORD_CHARGE: 1 Electrify America: 1 ChargePoint Network: 1 Tesla: 1 IONNA: 1 EV Connect: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 27.8 0 $9.72 $4.44
Efficient EV 23.2 0 $8.10 $3.70
EV Truck/SUV 37 0 $12.96 $5.93

Gas CO2

32 kg

EV CO2

11 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Wichita, KS

Night in Wichita on Friday

Local time

9:08 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Abilene, KS

Night in Abilene on Friday

Local time

9:08 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°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

24 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 48m 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 Wichita, KS to Abilene, KS covers 92.6 miles and takes about 1h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Eisenhower Memorial Highway, I 135, Bison Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 46.3 miles from Wichita, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.75 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.

The drive from Wichita, KS to Abilene, KS is easy. At 1h 48m with 28% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (East 13th Street North): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 135; US 81; KS 15): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Wichita, KS to Abilene, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Return Trip

Abilene, KS to Wichita, KS

Plan the drive back the other way.

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