How far is Junction City, KS from Atchison, KS?

The driving distance from Junction City, KS to Atchison, KS is about 115.8 miles (186.3 km), with a travel time of about 02h 11m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 98.6 miles (158.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 22m 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
115.77 mi
02h 11m
Flight
98.59 mi
158.67 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Junction City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
98.59 mi
Kilometers
158.67 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
115.77 mi
Kilometers
186.31 km
Drive Time
02h 11m

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 02h 11m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Atchison
Sat, Apr 18, 7:51 AM CDT
Return by in Junction City
Sat, Apr 18, 10:02 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Junction City
2026-04-18T05:40
Arrive Atchison
Sat, Apr 18, 7:51 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 11m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:11 AM to 12:11 PM CDT

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

Leave by
2:08 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Junction City
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
Menoken
KS

Township in Shawnee County, Kansas

From Junction City
57.8 mi
01h 05m
To Atchison
58 mi
01h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph NW
Destination
59°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 14 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Junction City and Atchison.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Junction City and Atchison.

  1. 1

    Start on North Jefferson Street

    40 m · 11 sec · North Jefferson Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West 6th Street

    1.7 mi · 4 min · West 6th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto J Hill Road

    764 ft · 22 sec · J Hill Road

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left toward I-70 East, US 40 East, KS 18 East: Topeka

    1090 ft · 27 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    50.5 mi · 51 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    6.9 mi · 8 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 75 North: Gage Boulevard, Holton

    970 ft · 24 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on US 75 North: Holton

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 24 East: Lawrence

    3035 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    6.6 mi · 8 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right

    1333 ft · 40 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Northeast Sherman Road

    29.4 mi · 34 min · Northeast Sherman Road

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    14.7 mi · 17 min

  15. 15

    Turn left onto South 22nd Street

    611 ft · 12 sec · South 22nd Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Woodlawn Avenue

    2328 ft · 47 sec · Woodlawn Avenue

  17. 17

    Keep slight right

    144 m · 9 sec

  18. 18

    Turn slight right onto Main Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · Main Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto South 10th Street

    792 ft · 24 sec · South 10th Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Kansas Avenue

    1608 ft · 44 sec · Kansas Avenue

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Kansas Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Junction City and Atchison.

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
21 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
57.4 mi · 50%
Northeast Sherman Road
44.1 mi · 38%
US 24 East
7.38 mi · 6%
West 6th Street
1.67 mi · 1%
US 75 North
1.63 mi · 1%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1.07 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Merge slight left onto Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

50.5 mi · 00h 51m

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
02h 11m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+17.2 mi
98.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Menoken
01h 05m from Junction City
Leave By
2:08 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Sunny leaving Junction City and Sunny near Atchison.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Junction City to Atchison?

The road trip is about 115.8 miles (186.3 km) and usually takes 02h 11m 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?

Menoken is a useful midpoint, sitting about 57.8 miles from Junction City and 58 miles from Atchison.

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

The direct path is about 98.6 miles (158.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 17.2 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 2:08 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $15.39 one way or $30.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 36.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Sunny around Junction City and Sunny near Atchison.

Stop Ideas Near Menoken

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

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

RAIL

Topeka

9 mi away
500 SE Holliday Place
RAIL

Lawrence

47 mi away
413 East 7th Street
RAIL

Union Station

101 mi away
30 West Pershing Rd.
RAIL

Independence

114 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Junction City and Atchison. Straight-line distance: 98.59 mi (158.67 km).

Junction City

#1 Junction City

City in and county seat of Geary County, Kansas

Population21,482
Coordinates39.0286100, -96.8314000
Altitude337
CountryUnited States
Atchison

#2 Atchison

City in Kansas, USA

Population10,427
Coordinates39.5630500, -95.1216400
Altitude248
CountryUnited States
Start: Junction City (-96.8314, 39.02861)
End: Atchison (-95.12164, 39.56305)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 186 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 53m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 18m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 55m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.08 gal
15.46 L · about $15.39
Round trip
$30.77
8.16 gal · 30.92 L
Estimated CO2
36.3 kg one way
Round trip: 72.5 kg / 160 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $15.39 $30.77
Mid-grade $4.25 $17.35 $34.70
Premium $4.65 $18.99 $37.98
Diesel $5.30 $21.64 $43.28

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 Junction City and Atchison. The current time is 05:40:15.

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.