Origin
Wichita, KS
Evening in Wichita on Sunday
Local time
5:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wichita, KS to Derby, KS
Drive Time
19m
Distance
11.6 mi
19 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 18m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wichita, KS
Tien Nguyen
Derby, KS
Tien Nguyen
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick commute between Wichita and Derby, this 11.6-mile trip is an efficient way to navigate the Great Plains. Clocking in at approximately 19 minutes, the journey is perfect for a single-day excursion that requires no overnight stops. You will primarily navigate via Southeast Boulevard, South Washington Street, and East Central Avenue to reach your destination. Budgeting about $2 for fuel should easily cover this short distance. Since the entire trip takes place within the same region, you can expect a familiar landscape throughout your drive. It is a straightforward, practical route that offers maximum flexibility for your schedule.
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
5.8 miles from Wichita, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route features zero highway miles. Your time behind the wheel will be spent navigating city streets, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 8.8 miles along Southeast Boulevard. Because the road consists entirely of local thoroughfares, you should remain alert for frequent intersections and changing traffic patterns. The personality of this drive is functional and urban, requiring more active steering than a long-distance cruise. While you won't encounter high-speed highway sections, the route provides a direct path that effectively connects the two cities.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Southeast Boulevard is the longest continuous segment at about 8.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Central Avenue.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 19m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (North Washington Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (Southeast Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Central Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto East Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North Washington Avenue
Turn right onto North Washington Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
2.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Southeast Boulevard
Turn straight onto Southeast Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
3
11.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
East Main Street
Turn left onto East Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
11.6 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast Boulevard | 8.8 mi | 13m |
| South Washington Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| East Central Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Washington Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Baltimore Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Southeast Boulevard
— 8.8 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wichita, KS and Derby, KS.
1
Start on this road
359 ft
·
28 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto East Central Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Central Avenue
3
Turn right onto North Washington Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Avenue
4
Continue on South Washington Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Washington Street
5
Turn straight onto Southeast Boulevard
8.8 mi
·
13 min
·
Southeast Boulevard
Use the none lane.
6
Continue on KS 15
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Baltimore Avenue
7
Turn left onto East Main Street
271 ft
·
17 sec
·
East Main Street
8
Turn left
121 ft
·
8 sec
9
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Because this is a short 19-minute drive, you have complete freedom to depart whenever it best suits your plans. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops or rest breaks, as the duration is brief enough to complete in one go. Keep in mind that since the route relies on local roads, traffic density may fluctuate depending on the time of day, so check your GPS before you head out. Fueling up before you leave is a smart move, especially with the total cost estimated at just $2. My top tip for this specific trip is to pay close attention to the transition between Southeast Boulevard and the local streets, as the turn-heavy nature of the path requires you to stay focused on your navigation cues.
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 5.8 miles from Wichita, KS, or about 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.8 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 11.6 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 5.8 miles or 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Derby, 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.
+
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 Wichita, KS
This is one driving day of about 11.6 miles and 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Wichita, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Southeast Boulevard for about 8.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 5.8 mi from Wichita, KS · 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
6 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 11.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 5.8 miles from Wichita, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Derby, KS
The final approach into Derby, 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 Derby, 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
$1.76 one way
$3.52 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $1.94 | $3.88 |
| premium | $4.80 | $2.19 | $4.38 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.58 | $5.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.22 | $0.56 |
| Efficient EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.02 | $0.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.62 | $0.74 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Derby, KS
Evening in Derby on Sunday
Local time
5:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
52°F
Newton, KS
6 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
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
19m 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 Derby, KS covers 11.6 miles and takes about 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Southeast Boulevard, South Washington Street, East Central Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.8 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 $1.76 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 is a straightforward 19m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (North Washington Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (Southeast Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Wichita, KS to Derby, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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