How far is Leavenworth, KS from Columbus, KS?

The driving distance from Leavenworth, KS to Columbus, KS is about 168.1 miles (270.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 148.1 miles (238.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 40m 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
168.16 mi
03h 20m
Flight
148.05 mi
238.26 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Leavenworth.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
148.05 mi
Kilometers
238.26 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
168.16 mi
Kilometers
270.63 km
Drive Time
03h 20m

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 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Columbus
Tue, May 12, 9:31 PM CDT
Return by in Leavenworth
Wed, May 13, 12:51 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Leavenworth
2026-05-12T18:11
Arrive Columbus
Tue, May 12, 9:31 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:20 AM to 11:20 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
10:20 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Leavenworth
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
Pleasanton
KS

Human settlement in Linn County, Kansas, United States of America

From Leavenworth
84.2 mi
01h 40m
To Columbus
84 mi
01h 40m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Tuesday

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 16 mph SW
Destination
79°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 16 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Leavenworth and Columbus.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Leavenworth and Columbus.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    84 m · 25 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Spruce Street

    2974 ft · 1 min · Spruce Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South 4th Street

    3.2 mi · 6 min · South 4th Street

  4. 4

    Continue on North Main Street

    12.3 mi · 16 min · North Main Street

  5. 5

    Take the exit right toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East

    2724 ft · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Kansas Turnpike

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Kansas Turnpike

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 435 South

    1.1 km · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    13.9 mi · 15 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 69

    3250 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on US 69 South: College Boulevard

    1028 ft · 25 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on US 69 South

    1.6 km · 2 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on US 69 South

    1188 ft · 29 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Overland Parkway

    104.3 mi · 1 hr 53 min · Overland Parkway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right

    97 m · 9 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto West Atkinson Road

    18.7 mi · 24 min · West Atkinson Road

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right

    7.7 mi · 11 min

  17. 17

    Turn left onto North Kansas Avenue

    3228 ft · 2 min · North Kansas Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto West Pine Street

    111 m · 21 sec · West Pine Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto South Pennsylvania Avenue

    55 m · 10 sec · South Pennsylvania Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn right

    27 m · 6 sec

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Leavenworth and Columbus.

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
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Overland Parkway
104 mi · 62%
West Atkinson Road
26.3 mi · 16%
I 435 South
14.5 mi · 9%
North Main Street
12.3 mi · 7%
Kansas Turnpike
3.53 mi · 2%
South 4th Street
3.16 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Overland Parkway

Merge slight left onto Overland Parkway

104 mi · 01h 53m

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 20m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20 mi
148.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Pleasanton
01h 40m from Leavenworth
Leave By
10:20 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Leavenworth and Sunny near Columbus.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Leavenworth to Columbus?

The road trip is about 168.1 miles (270.6 km) and usually takes 03h 20m 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?

Pleasanton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.2 miles from Leavenworth and 84 miles from Columbus.

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

The direct path is about 148.1 miles (238.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 20 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 10:20 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.36 one way or $44.72 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Leavenworth and Sunny near Columbus.

Stop Ideas Near Pleasanton

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

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

RAIL

Lee's Summit

87 mi away
217 SW Main St.
RAIL

Lawrence

99 mi away
413 East 7th Street
RAIL

Union Station

102 mi away
30 West Pershing Rd.
RAIL

Independence

104 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Leavenworth and Columbus. Straight-line distance: 148.05 mi (238.26 km).

Leavenworth

#1 Leavenworth

City in Kansas

Population35,934
Coordinates39.3111100, -94.9224600
Altitude256
CountryUnited States
Columbus

#2 Columbus

City in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States

Population3,006
Coordinates37.1692300, -94.8441200
Altitude278
CountryUnited States
Start: Leavenworth (-94.92246, 39.31111)
End: Columbus (-94.84412, 37.16923)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 271 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.93 gal
22.46 L · about $22.36
Round trip
$44.72
11.86 gal · 44.92 L
Estimated CO2
52.7 kg one way
Round trip: 105.4 kg / 232 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.36 $44.72
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.22 $50.44
Premium $4.65 $27.60 $55.20
Diesel $5.30 $31.45 $62.91

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 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Leavenworth and Columbus. The current time is 18:11:33.

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.