How far is De Soto, KS from Hays, KS?

The driving distance from De Soto, KS to Hays, KS is about 249 miles (400.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 234.3 miles (377.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 34m 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
249.01 mi
03h 47m
Flight
234.33 mi
377.12 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from De Soto.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
234.33 mi
Kilometers
377.12 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
249.01 mi
Kilometers
400.74 km
Drive Time
03h 47m

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 03h 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hays
Sun, Apr 19, 4:04 AM CDT
Return by in De Soto
Sun, Apr 19, 7:51 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave De Soto
2026-04-19T00:17
Arrive Hays
Sun, Apr 19, 4:04 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:47 AM to 11:47 AM CDT

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

Leave by
9:26 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in De Soto
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
Chapman
KS

City in Kansas, USA

From De Soto
125 mi
01h 53m
To Hays
124 mi
01h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph W
Destination
75°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 17 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between De Soto and Hays.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between De Soto and Hays.

  1. 1

    Start on West 82nd Street

    927 ft · 46 sec · West 82nd Street

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Ottawa Street

    2267 ft · 1 min · Ottawa Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Lexington Avenue

    1.6 km · 2 min · Lexington Avenue

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Lexington Avenue

    32 m · 2 sec · Lexington Avenue

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto Lexington Avenue

    571 ft · 15 sec · Lexington Avenue

  6. 6

    Take the ramp right toward KS 10 West: Lawrence

    1746 ft · 42 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    24.4 mi · 27 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit right

    2384 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Kansas Turnpike

    13.4 mi · 13 min · Kansas Turnpike

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Kansas Turnpike

    1.5 km · 1 min · Kansas Turnpike

  11. 11

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    91.6 mi · 1 hr 34 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    115.5 mi · 1 hr 55 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 183, Hays, Stockton

    1010 ft · 25 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto North Vine Street

    79 m · 7 sec · North Vine Street

  15. 15

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward North Vine Street

    104 m · 5 sec · North Vine Street

  16. 16

    Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street

    944 ft · 21 sec · North Vine Street

  17. 17

    Continue on North Vine Street

    99 m · 8 sec · North Vine Street

  18. 18

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Vine Street

    40 m · 2 sec · North Vine Street

  19. 19

    Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street

    1172 ft · 29 sec · North Vine Street

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Vine Street

    104 m · 8 sec · North Vine Street

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street

    2425 ft · 1 min · North Vine Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto East 27th Street

    1218 ft · 30 sec · East 27th Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Main Street

    2212 ft · 1 min · Main Street

  24. 24

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Main Street

    574 ft · 18 sec · Main Street

  25. 25

    Turn right

    89 m · 21 sec

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between De Soto and Hays.

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
26 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
3 merges, 11 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
115 mi · 46%
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
91.6 mi · 37%
KS 10 West
25.2 mi · 10%
Kansas Turnpike
14.3 mi · 6%
Lexington Avenue
1.13 mi
North Vine Street
1.12 mi
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

115 mi · 01h 55m

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
03h 47m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14.7 mi
234.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chapman
01h 53m from De Soto
Leave By
9:26 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving De Soto and Sunny near Hays.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from De Soto to Hays?

The road trip is about 249 miles (400.7 km) and usually takes 03h 47m 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?

Chapman is a useful midpoint, sitting about 125 miles from De Soto and 124 miles from Hays.

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

The direct path is about 234.3 miles (377.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 14.7 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 9:26 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.15 one way or $66.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 78.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around De Soto and Sunny near Hays.

Stop Ideas Near Chapman

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

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

RAIL

Newton

107 mi away
414 North Main St.
RAIL

Topeka

118 mi away
500 SE Holliday Place

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between De Soto and Hays. Straight-line distance: 234.33 mi (377.12 km).

De Soto

#1 De Soto

City in Kansas, United States of America

Population6,648
Coordinates38.9791700, -94.9685800
Altitude262
CountryUnited States
Hays

#2 Hays

City in Kansas, United States

Population20,829
Coordinates38.8791800, -99.3267700
Altitude616
CountryUnited States
Start: West 82nd Street (-94.968568, 38.979466)
End: (-99.32671, 38.879268)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 401 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 17m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 09m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.79 gal
33.26 L · about $33.15
Round trip
$66.29
17.58 gal · 66.52 L
Estimated CO2
78.1 kg one way
Round trip: 156.2 kg / 344 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $33.15 $66.29
Mid-grade $4.25 $37.38 $74.77
Premium $4.65 $40.91 $81.82
Diesel $5.30 $46.62 $93.24

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between De Soto and Hays. The current time is 00:17:05.

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.