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

The driving distance from Hays, KS to De Soto, KS is about 249.6 miles (401.7 km), with a travel time of about 04h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 234.3 miles (377.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 42m 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
249.6 mi
04h 21m
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 Hays.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
249.6 mi
Kilometers
401.69 km
Drive Time
04h 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 04h 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in De Soto
Sat, Apr 18, 9:44 AM CDT
Return by in Hays
Sat, Apr 18, 2:05 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hays
2026-04-18T05:23
Arrive De Soto
Sat, Apr 18, 9:44 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:21 AM to 12:21 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
8:18 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Hays
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 Hays
124.5 mi
02h 10m
To De Soto
125.1 mi
02h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 17 mph NW
Destination
57°F
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    89 m · 27 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Main Street

    574 ft · 17 sec · Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Main Street

    2212 ft · 1 min · Main Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West 27th Street

    1218 ft · 26 sec · West 27th Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto North Vine Street

    2458 ft · 1 min · North Vine Street

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Vine Street

    105 m · 8 sec · North Vine Street

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street

    1160 ft · 28 sec · North Vine Street

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Vine Street

    39 m · 2 sec · North Vine Street

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street

    104 m · 8 sec · North Vine Street

  10. 10

    Continue on North Vine Street

    4 m · 1 sec · North Vine Street

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right

    949 ft · 23 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

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

  13. 13

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

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

  14. 14

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    14.9 mi · 17 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    1.2 km · 52 sec · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Kansas Turnpike

    14 mi · 14 min · Kansas Turnpike

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward KS 10: Lecompton, Lawrence

    2307 ft · 1 min

  19. 19

    Turn right onto South Lawrence Trafficway

    24.1 mi · 27 min · South Lawrence Trafficway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward Lexington Avenue

    2113 ft · 54 sec

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Lexington Avenue

    2038 ft · 51 sec · Lexington Avenue

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Lexington Avenue

    14 m · 1 sec · Lexington Avenue

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout onto Lexington Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Lexington Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Ottawa Street

    2267 ft · 1 min · Ottawa Street

  25. 25

    Turn right onto West 82nd Street

    927 ft · 41 sec · West 82nd Street

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 82nd Street

Car Route Details

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

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
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
1 merges, 9 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
116 mi · 47%
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
90.3 mi · 36%
South Lawrence Trafficway
24.1 mi · 10%
Kansas Turnpike
14 mi · 6%
Lexington Avenue
1.8 mi · 1%
North Vine Street
1.02 mi
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Merge slight left onto 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
04h 21m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+15.3 mi
234.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chapman
02h 10m from Hays
Leave By
8:18 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Hays and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near De Soto.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 249.6 miles (401.7 km) and usually takes 04h 21m 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 124.5 miles from Hays and 125.1 miles from De Soto.

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 15.3 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 8:18 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.22 one way or $66.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 78.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Hays and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near De Soto.

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 Hays and De Soto. Straight-line distance: 234.33 mi (377.12 km).

Hays

#1 Hays

City in Kansas, United States

Population20,829
Coordinates38.8791800, -99.3267700
Altitude616
CountryUnited States
De Soto

#2 De Soto

City in Kansas, United States of America

Population6,648
Coordinates38.9791700, -94.9685800
Altitude262
CountryUnited States
Start: Hays (-99.32677, 38.87918)
End: De Soto (-94.96858, 38.97917)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 402 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
8.81 gal
33.34 L · about $33.22
Round trip
$66.45
17.62 gal · 66.68 L
Estimated CO2
78.3 kg one way
Round trip: 156.6 kg / 345 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $33.22 $66.45
Mid-grade $4.25 $37.47 $74.94
Premium $4.65 $41.00 $82.00
Diesel $5.30 $46.73 $93.46

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 Hays and De Soto. The current time is 05:23:17.

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.