How far is Shawnee, KS from Carbondale, KS?

The driving distance from Shawnee, KS to Carbondale, KS is about 75.1 miles (120.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 54.3 miles (87.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 52m 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
75.03 mi
01h 26m
Flight
54.31 mi
87.4 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Shawnee.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
54.31 mi
Kilometers
87.4 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
75.03 mi
Kilometers
120.75 km
Drive Time
01h 26m

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 01h 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Carbondale
Sat, Apr 18, 4:20 AM CDT
Return by in Shawnee
Sat, Apr 18, 5:46 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Shawnee
2026-04-18T02:53
Arrive Carbondale
Sat, Apr 18, 4:20 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:26 AM to 11:26 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:38 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Shawnee
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
Lawrence
KS

City in Kansas, United States

From Shawnee
37.5 mi
00h 43m
To Carbondale
37.5 mi
00h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 17 mph NW
Destination
59°F
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Shawnee and Carbondale.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Shawnee and Carbondale.

  1. 1

    Start on Bond Street

    948 ft · 44 sec · Bond Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West 49th Terrace

    782 ft · 34 sec · West 49th Terrace

  3. 3

    Continue on Garnett Street

    705 ft · 33 sec · Garnett Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West 51st Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · West 51st Street

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Quivira Drive

    1.1 km · 1 min · Quivira Drive

  6. 6

    Continue on Quivira Lane

    1.3 km · 2 min · Quivira Lane

  7. 7

    Turn right

    17 m · 7 sec

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Holliday Drive

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Holliday Drive

  9. 9

    Turn left onto I 435 North

    1903 ft · 46 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    4.8 mi · 5 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 70 West: Topeka, Kansas Turnpike

    1593 ft · 45 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Kansas Turnpike

    43.9 mi · 44 min · Kansas Turnpike

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Kansas Turnpike

    6.7 mi · 7 min · Kansas Turnpike

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 470 West, US 75: Topeka, Salina

    999 ft · 28 sec

  15. 15

    Continue on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway

    1.1 km · 1 min · Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward US 75 South

    726 ft · 18 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left

    155 m · 15 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Southwest Burlingame Road

    2048 ft · 53 sec · Southwest Burlingame Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Southwest 42nd Street

    93 m · 13 sec · Southwest 42nd Street

  20. 20

    Take the ramp right

    1466 ft · 36 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left

    12.1 mi · 13 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right

    853 ft · 22 sec

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1092 ft · 35 sec · Main Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto South 4th Street

    40 m · 6 sec · South 4th Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South 4th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Shawnee and Carbondale.

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
25 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
33.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Kansas Turnpike
50.6 mi · 67%
Southwest 42nd Street
12.6 mi · 17%
I 435 North
5.17 mi · 7%
West 51st Street
1.49 mi · 2%
Holliday Drive
1.18 mi · 2%
Quivira Lane
0.8 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Kansas Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Kansas Turnpike

43.9 mi · 00h 44m

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
01h 26m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20.8 mi
54.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lawrence
00h 43m from Shawnee
Leave By
3:38 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Shawnee and Chance Rain Showers then Sunny near Carbondale.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Shawnee to Carbondale?

The road trip is about 75.1 miles (120.8 km) and usually takes 01h 26m 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?

Lawrence is a useful midpoint, sitting about 37.5 miles from Shawnee and 37.5 miles from Carbondale.

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

The direct path is about 54.3 miles (87.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 20.8 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 3:38 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.99 one way or $19.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 23.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Shawnee and Chance Rain Showers then Sunny near Carbondale.

Stop Ideas Near Lawrence

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

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

RAIL

Lawrence

413 East 7th Street
RAIL

Topeka

38 mi away
500 SE Holliday Place
RAIL

Union Station

58 mi away
30 West Pershing Rd.
RAIL

Independence

71 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Shawnee and Carbondale. Straight-line distance: 54.31 mi (87.4 km).

Shawnee

#1 Shawnee

The most populous city in Johnson County, Kansas.

Population66,298
Coordinates39.0416700, -94.7202400
Altitude325
CountryUnited States
Carbondale

#2 Carbondale

City in Osage County, Kansas, United States

Population1,347
Coordinates38.8186200, -95.6891500
Altitude343
CountryUnited States
Start: Shawnee (-94.72024, 39.04167)
End: Carbondale (-95.68915, 38.81862)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 121 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 52m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 04m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.65 gal
10.02 L · about $9.99
Round trip
$19.99
5.3 gal · 20.04 L
Estimated CO2
23.6 kg one way
Round trip: 47.1 kg / 104 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $9.99 $19.99
Mid-grade $4.25 $11.27 $22.54
Premium $4.65 $12.33 $24.67
Diesel $5.30 $14.06 $28.11

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 Shawnee and Carbondale. The current time is 02:53:53.

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.