How far is Prairie Village, KS from Clay Center, KS?

The driving distance from Prairie Village, KS to Clay Center, KS is about 142.7 miles (229.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 115.9 miles (186.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 42m 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
142.71 mi
02h 51m
Flight
115.9 mi
186.53 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Prairie Village.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
115.9 mi
Kilometers
186.53 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
142.71 mi
Kilometers
229.67 km
Drive Time
02h 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 02h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clay Center
Wed, Sep 23, 5:23 PM CDT
Return by in Prairie Village
Wed, Sep 23, 8:14 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Prairie Village
2026-09-23T14:31
Arrive Clay Center
Wed, Sep 23, 5:23 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:51 AM to 12:51 PM CDT

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

Leave by
12:48 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Prairie Village
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
Lost Springs
KS

Township in Marion County, Kansas

From Prairie Village
71.4 mi
01h 25m
To Clay Center
71.3 mi
01h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Sep 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 mph E
Destination
76°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Sep 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Prairie Village and Clay Center.

  1. 1

    Start on West 8th Street

    849 ft · 43 sec · West 8th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Andover Road

    1.6 mi · 3 min · North Andover Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East 21st Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · East 21st Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right

    1367 ft · 39 sec

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn left

    1205 ft · 29 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Kansas Turnpike

    18.2 mi · 18 min · Kansas Turnpike

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right

    2876 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    26.7 mi · 31 min · North Main Street

  9. 9

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward US 77 North: Junction City

    62 m · 9 sec

  10. 10

    Exit the roundabout onto US 77 North: Junction City

    8.8 mi · 10 min

  11. 11

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    52 m · 3 sec

  12. 12

    Exit the roundabout

    19.5 mi · 23 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right

    49.4 mi · 1 hr

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    2784 ft · 42 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Cavalry Road

    4 mi · 5 min · Cavalry Road

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Barton Road

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Barton Road

  17. 17

    Continue on 18th Road

    7.8 mi · 9 min · 18th Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Crawford Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · Crawford Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto 6th Street

    1248 ft · 27 sec · 6th Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 6th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
1 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 77 North
78.3 mi · 55%
North Main Street
26.7 mi · 19%
Kansas Turnpike
18.7 mi · 13%
18th Road
7.84 mi · 5%
Cavalry Road
3.98 mi · 3%
Barton Road
2.5 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

US 77 North

Keep slight right

49.4 mi · 01h 00m

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 51m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.8 mi
115.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lost Springs
01h 25m from Prairie Village
Leave By
12:48 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Prairie Village and Partly Sunny near Clay Center.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Prairie Village to Clay Center?

The road trip is about 142.7 miles (229.7 km) and usually takes 02h 51m 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?

Lost Springs is a useful midpoint, sitting about 71.4 miles from Prairie Village and 71.3 miles from Clay Center.

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

The direct path is about 115.9 miles (186.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.8 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:48 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.05 one way or $42.10 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 44.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Prairie Village and Partly Sunny near Clay Center.

Stop Ideas Near Lost Springs

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

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

RAIL

Newton

66 mi away
414 North Main St.
RAIL

Hutchinson

101 mi away
North Walnut St & East 3rd Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Prairie Village and Clay Center. Straight-line distance: 115.9 mi (186.53 km).

Prairie Village

#1 Prairie Village

City in Kansas, United States

Population22,315
Coordinates37.6994600, -97.1381000
Altitude412
CountryUnited States
Clay Center

#2 Clay Center

City in Kansas

Population4,173
Coordinates39.3769400, -97.1247400
Altitude366
CountryUnited States
Start: Prairie Village (-97.1381, 37.69946)
End: Clay Center (-97.12474, 39.37694)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 230 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 46m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.04 gal
19.06 L · about $21.05
Round trip
$42.10
10.08 gal · 38.12 L
Estimated CO2
44.8 kg one way
Round trip: 89.6 kg / 198 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.18 $21.05 $42.10
Mid-grade $4.52 $22.80 $45.60
Premium $4.89 $24.64 $49.27
Diesel $6.25 $31.49 $62.99

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 · Sep 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Prairie Village and Clay Center. The current time is 14:31:47.

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.