How far is Carbondale, KS from Shawnee, KS?

The driving distance from Carbondale, KS to Shawnee, KS is about 75.2 miles (121.1 km), with a travel time of about 01h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 54.3 miles (87.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 28m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
75.22 mi
01h 14m
Flight
54.31 mi
87.4 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Carbondale.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
54.31 mi
Kilometers
87.4 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
75.22 mi
Kilometers
121.05 km
Drive Time
01h 14m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Shawnee
Sat, Apr 18, 2:37 AM CDT
Return by in Carbondale
Sat, Apr 18, 3:52 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Carbondale
2026-04-18T01:23
Arrive Shawnee
Sat, Apr 18, 2:37 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:14 AM to 11:14 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:02 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Carbondale
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Lawrence
KS

City in Kansas, United States

From Carbondale
37.5 mi
00h 37m
To Shawnee
37.7 mi
00h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph NW
Destination
58°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 17 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Carbondale and Shawnee.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Carbondale and Shawnee.

  1. 1

    Start on South 4th Street

    40 m · 8 sec · South 4th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1630 ft · 52 sec · Main Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp left

    852 ft · 21 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    12.4 mi · 13 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 470 East, I 335

    2324 ft · 57 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway

    2667 ft · 52 sec · Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I-70 East: Lawrence, Kansas City

    2170 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Kansas Turnpike

    54.3 mi · 55 min · Kansas Turnpike

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward College Parkway

    1178 ft · 29 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Turner Diagonal

    119 m · 10 sec

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto Turner Diagonal

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Turner Diagonal

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    1.5 km · 2 min

  13. 13

    Turn right onto South 55th Street

    1857 ft · 53 sec · South 55th Street

  14. 14

    Turn slight right

    51 m · 7 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto Inland Drive

    2653 ft · 1 min · Inland Drive

  16. 16

    Turn left onto South 59th Street

    2.8 mi · 5 min · South 59th Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto 47th Street

    1822 ft · 55 sec · 47th Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Bond Street

    977 ft · 43 sec · Bond Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Bond Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Carbondale and Shawnee.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
19 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
25.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Kansas Turnpike
54.3 mi · 72%
Main Street
12.9 mi · 17%
South 59th Street
2.77 mi · 4%
Turner Diagonal
2.19 mi · 3%
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway
0.51 mi · 1%
Inland Drive
0.5 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Kansas Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Kansas Turnpike

54.3 mi · 00h 55m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 14m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20.9 mi
54.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lawrence
00h 37m from Carbondale
Leave By
4:02 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Sunny leaving Carbondale and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Shawnee.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Carbondale to Shawnee?

The road trip is about 75.2 miles (121.1 km) and usually takes 01h 14m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lawrence is a useful midpoint, sitting about 37.5 miles from Carbondale and 37.7 miles from Shawnee.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 54.3 miles (87.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 20.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:02 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.99 one way or $19.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 23.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Sunny around Carbondale and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Shawnee.

Stop Ideas Near Lawrence

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Lawrence, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lawrence.

RAIL

Lawrence

413 East 7th Street
RAIL

Topeka

38 mi away
500 SE Holliday Place
RAIL

Union Station

58 mi away
30 West Pershing Rd.
RAIL

Independence

71 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Carbondale and Shawnee. Straight-line distance: 54.31 mi (87.4 km).

Carbondale

#1 Carbondale

City in Osage County, Kansas, United States

Population1,347
Coordinates38.8186200, -95.6891500
Altitude343
CountryUnited States
Shawnee

#2 Shawnee

The most populous city in Johnson County, Kansas.

Population66,298
Coordinates39.0416700, -94.7202400
Altitude325
CountryUnited States
Start: South 4th Street (-95.688747, 38.818625)
End: Bond Street (-94.719801, 39.041669)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 121 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 52m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 04m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.65 gal
10.05 L · about $9.99
Round trip
$19.99
5.3 gal · 20.1 L
Estimated CO2
23.6 kg one way
Round trip: 47.1 kg / 104 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $9.99 $19.99
Mid-grade $4.25 $11.27 $22.54
Premium $4.65 $12.33 $24.67
Diesel $5.30 $14.06 $28.11

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Kansas · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Carbondale and Shawnee. The current time is 01:23:29.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.