How far is Lenexa, KS from Hays, KS?

The driving distance from Lenexa, KS to Hays, KS is about 263.4 miles (423.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 246.9 miles (397.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 38m 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
263.41 mi
03h 49m
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 Lenexa.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
246.95 mi
Kilometers
397.43 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
263.41 mi
Kilometers
423.92 km
Drive Time
03h 49m

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 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hays
Wed, Apr 22, 10:13 PM CDT
Return by in Lenexa
Thu, Apr 23, 2:02 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lenexa
2026-04-22T18:23
Arrive Hays
Wed, Apr 22, 10:13 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:49 AM to 11:49 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
9:22 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lenexa
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 Lenexa
131.6 mi
01h 54m
To Hays
131.8 mi
01h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 15 mph S
Destination
85°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 28 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    91.6 mi · 1 hr 34 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    115.5 mi · 1 hr 55 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward US 183, Hays, Stockton

    1010 ft · 25 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto North Vine Street

    79 m · 7 sec · North Vine Street

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward North Vine Street

    104 m · 5 sec · North Vine Street

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street

    944 ft · 21 sec · North Vine Street

  22. 22

    Continue on North Vine Street

    99 m · 8 sec · North Vine Street

  23. 23

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Vine Street

    40 m · 2 sec · North Vine Street

  24. 24

    Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street

    1172 ft · 29 sec · North Vine Street

  25. 25

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Vine Street

    104 m · 8 sec · North Vine Street

  26. 26

    Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street

    2425 ft · 1 min · North Vine Street

  27. 27

    Turn right onto East 27th Street

    1218 ft · 30 sec · East 27th Street

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Main Street

    2212 ft · 1 min · Main Street

  29. 29

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

    574 ft · 18 sec · Main Street

  30. 30

    Turn right

    89 m · 21 sec

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
31 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
3 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
115 mi · 44%
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
91.6 mi · 35%
KS 10 West
37.3 mi · 14%
Kansas Turnpike
14.3 mi · 5%
I 435 West
1.21 mi
North Vine Street
1.12 mi
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on 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 49m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.5 mi
246.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chapman
01h 54m from Lenexa
Leave By
9:22 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Lenexa and Sunny near Hays.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 263.4 miles (423.9 km) and usually takes 03h 49m 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 131.6 miles from Lenexa and 131.8 miles from Hays.

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 16.5 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 9:22 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.07 one way or $70.14 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 82.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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

Lenexa

#1 Lenexa

The most populous city in Johnson County, Kansas.

Population56,156
Coordinates38.9536200, -94.7335700
Altitude314
CountryUnited States
Hays

#2 Hays

City in Kansas, United States

Population20,829
Coordinates38.8791800, -99.3267700
Altitude616
CountryUnited States
Start: (-94.73357, 38.953456)
End: (-99.32671, 38.879268)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 424 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.3 gal
35.19 L · about $35.07
Round trip
$70.14
18.6 gal · 70.38 L
Estimated CO2
82.6 kg one way
Round trip: 165.3 kg / 364 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $35.07 $70.14
Mid-grade $4.25 $39.55 $79.11
Premium $4.65 $43.28 $86.56
Diesel $5.30 $49.33 $98.65

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Lenexa and Hays. The current time is 18:23:47.

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.