How far is Hays, KS from Lenexa, KS?

The driving distance from Hays, KS to Lenexa, KS is about 262.3 miles (422.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 246.9 miles (397.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 29m 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
262.33 mi
03h 44m
Flight
246.95 mi
397.43 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
246.95 mi
Kilometers
397.43 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
262.33 mi
Kilometers
422.18 km
Drive Time
03h 44m

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 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lenexa
Thu, Apr 23, 3:23 AM CDT
Return by in Hays
Thu, Apr 23, 7:08 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hays
2026-04-22T23:39
Arrive Lenexa
Thu, Apr 23, 3:23 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:45 AM to 11:45 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
9:30 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
131 mi
01h 52m
To Lenexa
131.4 mi
01h 52m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 28 mph S
Destination
76°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hays and Lenexa.

  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

    35.4 mi · 39 min · South Lawrence Trafficway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines, Renner Boulevard

    119 m · 6 sec

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines

    3070 ft · 48 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on I 35: Wichita, Des Moines

    1.4 mi · 2 min

  23. 23

    Keep slight left to continue on I 35 North: Des Moines

    3082 ft · 1 min

  24. 24

    Merge slight left

    1.4 km · 1 min

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward 95th Street

    805 ft · 20 sec

  26. 26

    Keep slight right to continue on 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie College

    90 m · 7 sec

  27. 27

    Turn straight onto West 95th Street

    58 m · 4 sec · West 95th Street

  28. 28

    Turn slight right onto Lenexa Drive

    1165 ft · 57 sec · Lenexa Drive

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Rosehill Road

    152 m · 19 sec · Rosehill Road

  30. 30

    Turn right

    22 m · 11 sec

  31. 31

    Turn left

    78 m · 19 sec

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
32 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
2 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
116 mi · 44%
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
90.3 mi · 34%
South Lawrence Trafficway
35.4 mi · 13%
Kansas Turnpike
14 mi · 5%
I 35
2.01 mi · 1%
I 35 North
1.48 mi · 1%
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
03h 44m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+15.4 mi
246.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chapman
01h 52m from Hays
Leave By
9:30 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Hays and Mostly Sunny near Lenexa.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Hays to Lenexa?

The road trip is about 262.3 miles (422.2 km) and usually takes 03h 44m 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 131 miles from Hays and 131.4 miles from Lenexa.

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

The direct path is about 246.9 miles (397.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 15.4 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 9:30 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.92 one way or $69.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 82.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Hays and Mostly Sunny near Lenexa.

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 Lenexa. Straight-line distance: 246.95 mi (397.43 km).

Hays

#1 Hays

City in Kansas, United States

Population20,829
Coordinates38.8791800, -99.3267700
Altitude616
CountryUnited States
Lenexa

#2 Lenexa

The most populous city in Johnson County, Kansas.

Population56,156
Coordinates38.9536200, -94.7335700
Altitude314
CountryUnited States
Start: (-99.32671, 38.879268)
End: (-94.73357, 38.953456)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 422 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 44m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.26 gal
35.04 L · about $34.92
Round trip
$69.84
18.52 gal · 70.08 L
Estimated CO2
82.3 kg one way
Round trip: 164.6 kg / 363 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $34.92 $69.84
Mid-grade $4.25 $39.38 $78.77
Premium $4.65 $43.10 $86.19
Diesel $5.30 $49.12 $98.23

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Hays and Lenexa. The current time is 23:39:05.

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.