How far is Hays, KS from Parsons, KS?

The driving distance from Hays, KS to Parsons, KS is about 305.9 miles (492.3 km), with a travel time of about 05h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 245.3 miles (394.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 19m 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
305.88 mi
05h 39m
Flight
245.24 mi
394.68 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
245.24 mi
Kilometers
394.68 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
305.88 mi
Kilometers
492.26 km
Drive Time
05h 39m

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 05h 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Parsons
Tue, May 5, 10:32 PM CDT
Return by in Hays
Wed, May 6, 4:11 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hays
2026-05-05T16:52
Arrive Parsons
Tue, May 5, 10:32 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:40 AM to 1:40 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
5:40 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
North Newton
KS

City in Harvey County, Kansas, United States of America

From Hays
152.8 mi
02h 49m
To Parsons
153.1 mi
02h 49m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Tuesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph NNE
Destination
71°F
Tuesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 16 mph ESE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    90.9 mi · 1 hr 31 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  13. 13

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

    2112 ft · 36 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    63 mi · 1 hr 3 min

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    2.2 mi · 2 min

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    4.9 mi · 5 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward KS 196: Whitewater, El Dorado

    1369 ft · 34 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left onto KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street

    9.6 mi · 11 min · KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street

  19. 19

    Continue on KS 196/Northwest 90th Street

    18.9 mi · 22 min · KS 196/Northwest 90th Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Northwest State Road 196

    135 m · 14 sec · Northwest State Road 196

  21. 21

    Take the ramp left

    1429 ft · 39 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left onto Southwest 20th Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · Southwest 20th Street

  23. 23

    Continue on West Central Avenue

    2.3 mi · 5 min · West Central Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn right onto South Denver Street

    2328 ft · 1 min · South Denver Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto West Kansas Avenue

    1974 ft · 56 sec · West Kansas Avenue

  26. 26

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    9.2 mi · 11 min · South Main Street

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Southeast 100th Street

    1421 ft · 24 sec · Southeast 100th Street

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway

    61.1 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway

  29. 29

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway

    48 m · 2 sec · Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway

  30. 30

    Exit the roundabout onto Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway

    33.8 mi · 39 min · Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway

  31. 31

    Turn right onto 24000 Road

    3.2 mi · 6 min · 24000 Road

  32. 32

    Continue on Main Street

    2 mi · 4 min · Main Street

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
33 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
3 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
90.9 mi · 30%
I 135 South
70.4 mi · 23%
Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway
61.1 mi · 20%
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
33.8 mi · 11%
KS 196/Northwest 90th Street
18.9 mi · 6%
KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street
9.61 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

90.9 mi · 01h 31m

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
05h 39m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+60.6 mi
245.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
North Newton
02h 49m from Hays
Leave By
5:40 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Hays and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Parsons.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 305.9 miles (492.3 km) and usually takes 05h 39m 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?

North Newton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 152.8 miles from Hays and 153.1 miles from Parsons.

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

The direct path is about 245.3 miles (394.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 60.6 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 5:40 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.69 one way or $81.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 95.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Hays and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Parsons.

Stop Ideas Near North Newton

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

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

RAIL

Newton

3 mi away
414 North Main St.
RAIL

Hutchinson

51 mi away
North Walnut St & East 3rd Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Hays and Parsons. Straight-line distance: 245.24 mi (394.68 km).

Hays

#1 Hays

City in Kansas, United States

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

#2 Parsons

City in Labette County, Kansas, USA

Population9,463
Coordinates37.3403400, -95.2610800
Altitude275
CountryUnited States
Start: Hays (-99.32677, 38.87918)
End: Parsons (-95.26108, 37.34034)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 492 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 11m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 48m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.79 gal
40.86 L · about $40.69
Round trip
$81.38
21.58 gal · 81.72 L
Estimated CO2
95.9 kg one way
Round trip: 191.8 kg / 423 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $40.69 $81.38
Mid-grade $4.25 $45.89 $91.78
Premium $4.65 $50.22 $100.43
Diesel $5.30 $57.23 $114.46

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 · May 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Hays and Parsons. The current time is 16:52:41.

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.