How far is Parsons, KS from Hays, KS?

The driving distance from Parsons, KS to Hays, KS is about 308.4 miles (496.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 245.3 miles (394.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 42m 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
308.45 mi
04h 51m
Flight
245.24 mi
394.68 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Parsons.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
245.24 mi
Kilometers
394.68 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
308.45 mi
Kilometers
496.41 km
Drive Time
04h 51m

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 04h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hays
Tue, May 5, 8:25 PM CDT
Return by in Parsons
Wed, May 6, 1:17 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Parsons
2026-05-05T15:34
Arrive Hays
Tue, May 5, 8:25 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:51 AM to 12:51 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:18 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Parsons
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
North Newton
KS

City in Harvey County, Kansas, United States of America

From Parsons
154.2 mi
02h 25m
To Hays
154.3 mi
02h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Tuesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 16 mph ESE
Destination
58°F
Tuesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph NNE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    2 mi · 4 min · Main Street

  2. 2

    Continue on 24000 Road

    3.2 mi · 6 min · 24000 Road

  3. 3

    Turn left

    33.8 mi · 39 min

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway

    52 m · 2 sec · Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway

    61.6 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

    7.3 mi · 9 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on East 7th Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · East 7th Avenue

  8. 8

    Continue on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

    10.6 mi · 13 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35, KS 96: Kansas Turnpike

    1522 ft · 37 sec

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    10.1 mi · 12 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 135 North, KS 96 West, US 81 North, KS 15 North: Salina, Hutchinson

    2.2 mi · 3 min

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    18 mi · 19 min

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    2.1 mi · 2 min

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    63.2 mi · 1 hr 3 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 70 West: Hays

    1185 ft · 42 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    91.3 mi · 1 hr 31 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  17. 17

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

    1010 ft · 25 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto North Vine Street

    79 m · 7 sec · North Vine Street

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward North Vine Street

    104 m · 5 sec · North Vine Street

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street

    944 ft · 21 sec · North Vine Street

  21. 21

    Continue on North Vine Street

    99 m · 8 sec · North Vine Street

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Vine Street

    40 m · 2 sec · North Vine Street

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street

    1172 ft · 29 sec · North Vine Street

  24. 24

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Vine Street

    104 m · 8 sec · North Vine Street

  25. 25

    Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street

    2425 ft · 1 min · North Vine Street

  26. 26

    Turn right onto East 27th Street

    1218 ft · 30 sec · East 27th Street

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Main Street

    2212 ft · 1 min · Main Street

  28. 28

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

    574 ft · 18 sec · Main Street

  29. 29

    Turn right

    89 m · 21 sec

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
30 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
2 merges, 11 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
91.3 mi · 30%
I 135 North
85.5 mi · 28%
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
61.6 mi · 20%
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
17.9 mi · 6%
I 35
10.4 mi · 3%
24000 Road
3.25 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

91.3 mi · 01h 31m

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
04h 51m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+63.1 mi
245.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
North Newton
02h 25m from Parsons
Leave By
7:18 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Parsons and Chance Rain Showers near Hays.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 308.4 miles (496.4 km) and usually takes 04h 51m 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?

North Newton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 154.2 miles from Parsons and 154.3 miles from Hays.

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

The direct path is about 245.3 miles (394.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 63.1 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 7:18 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.03 one way or $82.06 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 96.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Parsons and Chance Rain Showers near Hays.

Stop Ideas Near North Newton

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

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

RAIL

Newton

3 mi away
414 North Main St.
RAIL

Hutchinson

51 mi away
North Walnut St & East 3rd Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Parsons and Hays. Straight-line distance: 245.24 mi (394.68 km).

Parsons

#1 Parsons

City in Labette County, Kansas, USA

Population9,463
Coordinates37.3403400, -95.2610800
Altitude275
CountryUnited States
Hays

#2 Hays

City in Kansas, United States

Population20,829
Coordinates38.8791800, -99.3267700
Altitude616
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-95.261078, 37.340489)
End: (-99.32671, 38.879268)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 496 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 42m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 08m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 50m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.88 gal
41.2 L · about $41.03
Round trip
$82.06
21.76 gal · 82.4 L
Estimated CO2
96.7 kg one way
Round trip: 193.4 kg / 426 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $41.03 $82.06
Mid-grade $4.25 $46.27 $92.55
Premium $4.65 $50.64 $101.27
Diesel $5.30 $57.71 $115.42

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 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Parsons and Hays. The current time is 15:34:32.

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.