How far is Ottawa, KS from Lawrence, KS?

The driving distance from Ottawa, KS to Lawrence, KS is about 26.5 miles (42.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 40m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 24.7 miles (39.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 21m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CST.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
26.56 mi
00h 40m
Flight
24.67 mi
39.7 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ottawa.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
24.67 mi
Kilometers
39.7 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
26.56 mi
Kilometers
42.74 km
Drive Time
00h 40m

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 00h 40m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lawrence
Mon, Nov 2, 12:37 AM CST
Return by in Ottawa
Mon, Nov 2, 1:18 AM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ottawa
2026-11-01T23:57
Arrive Lawrence
Mon, Nov 2, 12:37 AM CST
Route Timing
00h 40m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CST
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:41 AM to 7:41 PM CST

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:08 PM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Ottawa
10:00 PM CST
Flexible departure

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
Pleasant Grove
KS

Unincorporated community in Douglas County, Kansas

From Ottawa
13.3 mi
00h 20m
To Lawrence
13.2 mi
00h 20m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
55°F
Overnight

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Nov 1 3:00 AM CST
Wind
0 to 5 mph E
Destination
55°F
Overnight

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Nov 1 3:00 AM CST
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ottawa and Lawrence.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ottawa and Lawrence.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    141 m · 42 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East 3rd Street

    60 m · 13 sec · East 3rd Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    1.4 mi · 4 min · South Main Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Old US 59

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Old US 59

  5. 5

    Take the ramp straight toward US 59 North

    1.2 km · 2 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    19.3 mi · 25 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Iowa Street

    830 ft · 25 sec · Iowa Street

  8. 8

    Turn right onto West 6th Street

    1.3 mi · 3 min · West 6th Street

  9. 9

    Continue on West 6th Street

    47 m · 7 sec · West 6th Street

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Massachusetts Street

    109 m · 19 sec · Massachusetts Street

  11. 11

    Turn left

    98 m · 24 sec

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ottawa and Lawrence.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
12 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
45.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 59 North
20.1 mi · 76%
Old US 59
3.33 mi · 13%
South Main Street
1.43 mi · 5%
West 6th Street
1.33 mi · 5%
Iowa Street
0.16 mi · 1%
Massachusetts Street
0.07 mi
Longest Stretch

US 59 North

Merge slight left

19.3 mi · 00h 25m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 40m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+1.8 mi
24.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Pleasant Grove
00h 20m from Ottawa
Leave By
7:08 PM CST
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Ottawa and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Lawrence.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ottawa to Lawrence?

The road trip is about 26.5 miles (42.7 km) and usually takes 00h 40m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Pleasant Grove is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13.3 miles from Ottawa and 13.2 miles from Lawrence.

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

The direct path is about 24.7 miles (39.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.8 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:08 PM CST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.67 one way or $7.35 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers around Ottawa and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Lawrence.

Stop Ideas Near Pleasant Grove

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

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

RAIL

Lawrence

13 mi away
413 East 7th Street
RAIL

Topeka

41 mi away
500 SE Holliday Place
RAIL

Union Station

65 mi away
30 West Pershing Rd.
RAIL

Independence

77 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ottawa and Lawrence. Straight-line distance: 24.67 mi (39.7 km).

Ottawa

#1 Ottawa

Town in Kansas, United States

Population43
Coordinates38.6155700, -95.2677500
Altitude275
CountryUnited States
Lawrence

#2 Lawrence

City in Kansas, United States

Population27
Coordinates38.9716700, -95.2352500
Altitude263
CountryUnited States
Start: Ottawa (-95.26775, 38.61557)
End: Lawrence (-95.23525, 38.97167)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 43 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.94 gal
3.55 L · about $3.67
Round trip
$7.35
1.88 gal · 7.1 L
Estimated CO2
8.4 kg one way
Round trip: 16.7 kg / 37 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.91 $3.67 $7.35
Mid-grade $4.28 $4.03 $8.05
Premium $4.65 $4.37 $8.73
Diesel $6.02 $5.65 $11.31

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 · Nov 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Ottawa and Lawrence. The current time is 23:57:05.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.