How far is Great Bend, KS from Kansas City, KS?

The driving distance from Great Bend, KS to Kansas City, KS is about 249.5 miles (401.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 228.9 miles (368.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 39m 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
249.47 mi
03h 49m
Flight
228.89 mi
368.36 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Great Bend.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
228.89 mi
Kilometers
368.36 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
249.47 mi
Kilometers
401.49 km
Drive Time
03h 49m

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 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Kansas City
Sun, May 3, 3:07 AM CDT
Return by in Great Bend
Sun, May 3, 6:57 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Great Bend
2026-05-02T23:17
Arrive Kansas City
Sun, May 3, 3:07 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:50 AM to 11:50 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
9:20 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Great Bend
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
Junction City
KS

City in and county seat of Geary County, Kansas

From Great Bend
124.6 mi
01h 54m
To Kansas City
124.8 mi
01h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
46°F
Tonight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 PM CDT
Wind
7 to 14 mph SSW
Destination
48°F
Tonight

Clear

Starts
Sat, May 2 9:00 PM CDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Great Bend and Kansas City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Great Bend and Kansas City.

  1. 1

    Start on Lakin Avenue

    29 m · 9 sec · Lakin Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Main Street

    1110 ft · 26 sec · Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 10th Street

    3.8 mi · 6 min · 10th Street

  4. 4

    Turn left

    47.9 mi · 56 min

  5. 5

    Take the ramp right toward I-70 East, Salina

    1227 ft · 30 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    49.4 mi · 49 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    74.7 mi · 1 hr 15 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    14.9 mi · 17 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    1.2 km · 52 sec · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Kansas Turnpike

    54.7 mi · 56 min · Kansas Turnpike

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69 North: Saint Louis

    1600 ft · 25 sec

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 69 North, US 169 South

    943 ft · 21 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left onto South 7th Street Trafficway

    1.5 mi · 4 min · South 7th Street Trafficway

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Armstrong Avenue

    86 m · 18 sec · Armstrong Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn left

    45 m · 11 sec

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Great Bend and Kansas City.

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
17 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
90.3 mi · 36%
Kansas Turnpike
54.7 mi · 22%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
50.5 mi · 20%
10th Street
3.79 mi · 2%
South 7th Street Trafficway
1.52 mi · 1%
I 70 East
0.3 mi
Longest Stretch

Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

74.7 mi · 01h 15m

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 49m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20.6 mi
228.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Junction City
01h 54m from Great Bend
Leave By
9:20 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Clear leaving Great Bend and Clear near Kansas City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Great Bend to Kansas City?

The road trip is about 249.5 miles (401.5 km) and usually takes 03h 49m 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?

Junction City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 124.6 miles from Great Bend and 124.8 miles from Kansas City.

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

The direct path is about 228.9 miles (368.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 20.6 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 9:20 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.18 one way or $66.37 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 78.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear around Great Bend and Clear near Kansas City.

Stop Ideas Near Junction City

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

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

RAIL

Topeka

101 mi away
500 SE Holliday Place
RAIL

Newton

118 mi away
414 North Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Great Bend and Kansas City. Straight-line distance: 228.89 mi (368.36 km).

Great Bend

#1 Great Bend

City in Barton County, Kansas, United States

Population1,653
Coordinates38.3644600, -98.7648100
Altitude564
CountryUnited States
Kansas City

#2 Kansas City

The second most populous city in Kansas.

Population152,960
Coordinates39.1141700, -94.6274600
Altitude266
CountryUnited States
Start: Lakin Avenue (-98.76481, 38.364418)
End: Armstrong Avenue (-94.627458, 39.114578)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 401 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 59m
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
8.8 gal
33.32 L · about $33.18
Round trip
$66.37
17.6 gal · 66.64 L
Estimated CO2
78.2 kg one way
Round trip: 156.4 kg / 345 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $33.18 $66.37
Mid-grade $4.25 $37.43 $74.85
Premium $4.65 $40.96 $81.91
Diesel $5.30 $46.68 $93.35

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 · May 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Great Bend and Kansas City. The current time is 23:17:47.

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.