How far is Salina, KS from Abilene, KS?

The driving distance from Salina, KS to Abilene, KS is about 26.6 miles (42.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 22.1 miles (35.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 04m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
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
26.59 mi
00h 32m
Flight
22.03 mi
35.46 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Salina.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
22.03 mi
Kilometers
35.46 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
26.59 mi
Kilometers
42.79 km
Drive Time
00h 32m

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 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Abilene
Sat, Apr 18, 4:52 AM CDT
Return by in Salina
Sat, Apr 18, 5:24 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Salina
2026-04-18T04:19
Arrive Abilene
Sat, Apr 18, 4:52 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:32 AM to 7:32 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:26 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Salina
10:00 PM CDT
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
Solomon
KS

Human settlement in Dickinson County, Kansas, United States of America

From Salina
13.3 mi
00h 16m
To Abilene
13.3 mi
00h 16m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
61°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
16 mph NW
Destination
61°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Salina and Abilene.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Salina and Abilene.

  1. 1

    Start on South 8th Street

    28 m · 9 sec · South 8th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Iron Avenue

    85 m · 16 sec · West Iron Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North 9th Street

    2.4 mi · 5 min · North 9th Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right toward I 70 East: Topeka

    1240 ft · 30 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    22.1 mi · 22 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward KS 15: Abilene, Clay Center

    989 ft · 28 sec

  7. 7

    Turn right onto North Buckeye Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · North Buckeye Avenue

  8. 8

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Buckeye Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Salina and Abilene.

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
8 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
30.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
22.1 mi · 83%
North 9th Street
2.42 mi · 9%
North Buckeye Avenue
1.53 mi · 6%
I 70 East
0.23 mi · 1%
KS 15
0.19 mi · 1%
West Iron Avenue
0.05 mi
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

22.1 mi · 00h 22m

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 32m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.5 mi
22.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Solomon
00h 16m from Salina
Leave By
7:26 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers then Sunny leaving Salina and Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers then Sunny near Abilene.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Salina to Abilene?

The road trip is about 26.6 miles (42.8 km) and usually takes 00h 32m 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?

Solomon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13.3 miles from Salina and 13.3 miles from Abilene.

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

The direct path is about 22.1 miles (35.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.5 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:26 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.54 one way or $7.09 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers then Sunny around Salina and Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers then Sunny near Abilene.

Stop Ideas Near Solomon

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

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

RAIL

Newton

97 mi away
414 North Main St.
RAIL

Hutchinson

108 mi away
North Walnut St & East 3rd Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Salina and Abilene. Straight-line distance: 22.03 mi (35.46 km).

Salina

#1 Salina

The most populous city in Saline County, Kansas.

Population46,274
Coordinates38.8402800, -97.6114200
Altitude373
CountryUnited States
Abilene

#2 Abilene

City in Kansas, United States

Population6,123
Coordinates38.9172200, -97.2139100
Altitude352
CountryUnited States
Start: Salina (-97.61142, 38.84028)
End: Abilene (-97.21391, 38.91722)

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 $3.54
Round trip
$7.09
1.88 gal · 7.1 L
Estimated CO2
8.4 kg one way
Round trip: 16.7 kg / 37 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $3.54 $7.09
Mid-grade $4.25 $4.00 $8.00
Premium $4.65 $4.37 $8.75
Diesel $5.30 $4.99 $9.97

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Salina and Abilene. The current time is 04:19:52.

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.