How far is Great Bend, KS from Salina, KS?

The driving distance from Great Bend, KS to Salina, KS is about 75.9 miles (122.1 km), with a travel time of about 01h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 70.4 miles (113.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 42m 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
75.87 mi
01h 21m
Flight
70.42 mi
113.33 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Great Bend.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
70.42 mi
Kilometers
113.33 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
75.87 mi
Kilometers
122.1 km
Drive Time
01h 21m

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 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Salina
Sun, May 3, 12:38 AM CDT
Return by in Great Bend
Sun, May 3, 1:59 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 Salina
Sun, May 3, 12:38 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:21 AM to 11:21 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:48 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Great Bend
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
Ellsworth
KS

City in Kansas

From Great Bend
40.8 mi
00h 40m
To Salina
35.2 mi
00h 40m

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
2 to 14 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Great Bend and Salina.

  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

    24.9 mi · 25 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  7. 7

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

    2112 ft · 36 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward KS 140

    1198 ft · 34 sec

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Old US 40

    150 m · 9 sec · Old US 40

  11. 11

    Continue on West State Street

    2107 ft · 40 sec · West State Street

  12. 12

    Keep slight right

    131 m · 9 sec

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto West State Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · West State Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto North College Avenue

    116 m · 16 sec · North College Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn left onto West Iron Avenue

    2400 ft · 1 min · West Iron Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn right onto South 8th Street

    28 m · 4 sec · South 8th Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South 8th Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
17 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
24.9 mi · 33%
10th Street
3.79 mi · 5%
I 135 South
2.24 mi · 3%
West State Street
1.39 mi · 2%
West Iron Avenue
0.45 mi · 1%
I-70 East
0.23 mi
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn left

47.9 mi · 00h 56m

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 21m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.5 mi
70.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ellsworth
00h 40m from Great Bend
Leave By
3:48 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Clear leaving Great Bend and Clear near Salina.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Great Bend to Salina?

The road trip is about 75.9 miles (122.1 km) and usually takes 01h 21m 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?

Ellsworth is a useful midpoint, sitting about 40.8 miles from Great Bend and 35.2 miles from Salina.

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

The direct path is about 70.4 miles (113.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.5 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 3:48 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $10.11 one way or $20.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 23.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Ellsworth

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

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

RAIL

Hutchinson

79 mi away
North Walnut St & East 3rd Ave
RAIL

Newton

108 mi away
414 North Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Great Bend and Salina. Straight-line distance: 70.42 mi (113.33 km).

Great Bend

#1 Great Bend

City in Barton County, Kansas, United States

Population1,653
Coordinates38.3644600, -98.7648100
Altitude564
CountryUnited States
Salina

#2 Salina

The most populous city in Saline County, Kansas.

Population46,274
Coordinates38.8402800, -97.6114200
Altitude373
CountryUnited States
Start: Lakin Avenue (-98.76481, 38.364418)
End: South 8th Street (-97.611466, 38.840281)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 122 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 53m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.68 gal
10.13 L · about $10.11
Round trip
$20.21
5.36 gal · 20.26 L
Estimated CO2
23.8 kg one way
Round trip: 47.6 kg / 105 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $10.11 $20.21
Mid-grade $4.25 $11.40 $22.80
Premium $4.65 $12.47 $24.95
Diesel $5.30 $14.21 $28.43

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 Salina. The current time is 23:17:02.

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.