How far is Colby, KS from Derby, KS?

The driving distance from Colby, KS to Derby, KS is about 298.7 miles (480.7 km), with a travel time of about 04h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 241.3 miles (388.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 24m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
298.7 mi
04h 12m
Flight
241.28 mi
388.3 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Colby.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
241.28 mi
Kilometers
388.3 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
298.7 mi
Kilometers
480.71 km
Drive Time
04h 12m

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 04h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Derby
Sat, Apr 11, 7:16 PM CDT
Return by in Colby
Sat, Apr 11, 11:28 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Colby
2026-04-11T15:03
Arrive Derby
Sat, Apr 11, 7:16 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:12 AM to 12:12 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:36 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Colby
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Dorrance
KS

Human settlement in Russell County, Kansas, United States of America

From Colby
149.4 mi
02h 06m
To Derby
149.3 mi
02h 06m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Saturday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 25 mph S
Destination
76°F
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 22 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Colby and Derby.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Colby and Derby.

  1. 1

    Start on West 3rd Street

    668 ft · 35 sec · West 3rd Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Range Avenue

    2.2 mi · 4 min · North Range Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left

    1241 ft · 30 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    196.3 mi · 3 hr 16 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 135 South, US 81 South: Wichita

    2112 ft · 36 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    63 mi · 1 hr 3 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    2.2 mi · 2 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    26.3 mi · 29 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward Pawnee Avenue

    1004 ft · 28 sec

  10. 10

    Turn right onto East Pawnee Street

    1365 ft · 29 sec · East Pawnee Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto South Southeast Boulevard

    7.3 mi · 11 min · South Southeast Boulevard

  12. 12

    Continue on North Baltimore Avenue

    2237 ft · 45 sec · North Baltimore Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    83 m · 17 sec · East Main Street

  14. 14

    Turn left

    37 m · 9 sec

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Colby and Derby.

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
15 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
196 mi · 66%
I 135 South
91.8 mi · 31%
South Southeast Boulevard
7.34 mi · 2%
North Range Avenue
2.22 mi · 1%
North Baltimore Avenue
0.42 mi
East Pawnee Street
0.26 mi
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

196 mi · 03h 16m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 12m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+57.4 mi
241.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Dorrance
02h 06m from Colby
Leave By
8:36 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Colby and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Derby.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Colby to Derby?

The road trip is about 298.7 miles (480.7 km) and usually takes 04h 12m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Dorrance is a useful midpoint, sitting about 149.4 miles from Colby and 149.3 miles from Derby.

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

The direct path is about 241.3 miles (388.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 57.4 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:36 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.75 one way or $79.49 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 93.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Colby and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Derby.

Stop Ideas Near Dorrance

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Dorrance, 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 Dorrance.

RAIL

Hutchinson

105 mi away
North Walnut St & East 3rd Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Colby and Derby. Straight-line distance: 241.28 mi (388.3 km).

Colby

#1 Colby

City in Thomas County, Kansas, United States of America

Population5,315
Coordinates39.3958400, -101.0523800
Altitude963
CountryUnited States
Derby

#2 Derby

City in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States

Population25,145
Coordinates37.5455700, -97.2689300
Altitude394
CountryUnited States
Start: West 3rd Street (-101.052379, 39.396069)
End: North Georgie (-97.268759, 37.545571)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 481 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.54 gal
39.9 L · about $39.75
Round trip
$79.49
21.08 gal · 79.8 L
Estimated CO2
93.7 kg one way
Round trip: 187.3 kg / 413 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $39.75 $79.49
Mid-grade $4.25 $44.83 $89.65
Premium $4.65 $49.05 $98.11
Diesel $5.30 $55.90 $111.81

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 11, 2026

There is no time difference between Colby and Derby. The current time is 15:03:48.

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.