How far is Lenexa, KS from Clay Center, KS?

The driving distance from Lenexa, KS to Clay Center, KS is about 155.7 miles (250.6 km), with a travel time of about 02h 58m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 131.4 miles (211.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 56m 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
155.7 mi
02h 58m
Flight
131.39 mi
211.45 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lenexa.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
131.39 mi
Kilometers
211.45 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
155.7 mi
Kilometers
250.58 km
Drive Time
02h 58m

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 58m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clay Center
Mon, May 25, 7:51 AM CDT
Return by in Lenexa
Mon, May 25, 10:49 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lenexa
2026-05-25T04:53
Arrive Clay Center
Mon, May 25, 7:51 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 58m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:58 AM to 12:58 PM CDT

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

Leave by
12:34 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lenexa
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
Maple Hill
KS

City in Wabaunsee County, Kansas, United States

From Lenexa
77.7 mi
01h 29m
To Clay Center
78 mi
01h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Memorial Day

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph SE
Destination
88°F
Memorial Day

Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lenexa and Clay Center.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    78 m · 21 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right

    22 m · 10 sec

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Rosehill Road

    152 m · 21 sec · Rosehill Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Lenexa Drive

    635 ft · 31 sec · Lenexa Drive

  5. 5

    Continue on Lenexa Drive

    757 ft · 34 sec · Lenexa Drive

  6. 6

    Turn right onto West 95th Street

    1033 ft · 20 sec · West 95th Street

  7. 7

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 35 South, US 56 West, US 169 South: Wichita

    908 ft · 22 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    1.4 km · 60 sec

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 435 West, KS 10 West

    1.3 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    2141 ft · 33 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on KS 10 West: Lawrence

    1118 ft · 27 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    36.7 mi · 40 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit right

    2384 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Kansas Turnpike

    13.4 mi · 13 min · Kansas Turnpike

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Kansas Turnpike

    1.5 km · 1 min · Kansas Turnpike

  16. 16

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    52.4 mi · 55 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward Manhattan, Council Grove

    880 ft · 25 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right

    8.3 mi · 10 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit straight toward KS 18, KS 177, Tuttle Creek Boulevard, Fort Riley Boulevard

    938 ft · 42 sec

  20. 20

    Continue on Fort Riley Boulevard

    1241 ft · 40 sec · Fort Riley Boulevard

  21. 21

    Continue on Tuttle Creek Boulevard

    5.7 mi · 9 min · Tuttle Creek Boulevard

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Tuttle Creek Boulevard

    71 m · 3 sec · Tuttle Creek Boulevard

  23. 23

    Exit the rotary onto Tuttle Creek Boulevard

    1.5 km · 1 min · Tuttle Creek Boulevard

  24. 24

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Tuttle Creek Boulevard

    49 m · 2 sec · Tuttle Creek Boulevard

  25. 25

    Exit the roundabout onto Tuttle Creek Boulevard

    8.6 mi · 10 min · Tuttle Creek Boulevard

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Madison Road

    9.1 mi · 11 min · Madison Road

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Cavalry Road

    4 mi · 5 min · Cavalry Road

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Barton Road

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Barton Road

  29. 29

    Continue on 18th Road

    7.8 mi · 9 min · 18th Road

  30. 30

    Continue on Crawford Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · Crawford Street

  31. 31

    Turn left onto 6th Street

    1248 ft · 27 sec · 6th Street

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 6th Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
32 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
2 merges, 9 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
52.4 mi · 34%
KS 10 West
37.3 mi · 24%
Tuttle Creek Boulevard
15.2 mi · 10%
Kansas Turnpike
14.3 mi · 9%
Madison Road
9.09 mi · 6%
18th Road
7.84 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

52.4 mi · 00h 55m

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 58m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.3 mi
131.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Maple Hill
01h 29m from Lenexa
Leave By
12:34 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Lenexa and Sunny near Clay Center.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lenexa to Clay Center?

The road trip is about 155.7 miles (250.6 km) and usually takes 02h 58m 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?

Maple Hill is a useful midpoint, sitting about 77.7 miles from Lenexa and 78 miles from Clay Center.

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

The direct path is about 131.4 miles (211.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.3 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:34 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.70 one way or $41.41 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 48.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Maple Hill

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

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

RAIL

Topeka

32 mi away
500 SE Holliday Place
RAIL

Lawrence

70 mi away
413 East 7th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lenexa and Clay Center. Straight-line distance: 131.39 mi (211.45 km).

Lenexa

#1 Lenexa

The most populous city in Johnson County, Kansas.

Population56,156
Coordinates38.9536200, -94.7335700
Altitude314
CountryUnited States
Clay Center

#2 Clay Center

City in Kansas

Population4,173
Coordinates39.3769400, -97.1247400
Altitude366
CountryUnited States
Start: Lenexa (-94.73357, 38.95362)
End: Clay Center (-97.12474, 39.37694)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 251 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 11m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 53m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 35m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.49 gal
20.8 L · about $20.70
Round trip
$41.41
10.98 gal · 41.6 L
Estimated CO2
48.8 kg one way
Round trip: 97.6 kg / 215 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $20.70 $41.41
Mid-grade $4.25 $23.35 $46.70
Premium $4.65 $25.55 $51.10
Diesel $5.30 $29.12 $58.24

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 25, 2026

There is no time difference between Lenexa and Clay Center. The current time is 04:53:29.

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.