How far is Shawnee, KS from Hays, KS?

The driving distance from Shawnee, KS to Hays, KS is about 263.8 miles (424.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 247.7 miles (398.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 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
263.77 mi
03h 51m
Flight
247.72 mi
398.66 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Shawnee.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
247.72 mi
Kilometers
398.66 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
263.77 mi
Kilometers
424.49 km
Drive Time
03h 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 03h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hays
Thu, Apr 23, 1:42 AM CDT
Return by in Shawnee
Thu, Apr 23, 5:34 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Shawnee
2026-04-22T21:51
Arrive Hays
Thu, Apr 23, 1:42 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:51 AM to 11:51 AM CDT

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

Leave by
9:18 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Shawnee
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
Chapman
KS

City in Kansas, USA

From Shawnee
131.8 mi
01h 55m
To Hays
132 mi
01h 55m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 15 mph S
Destination
85°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 28 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 right to continue on Kansas Turnpike

    1.5 km · 1 min · Kansas Turnpike

  14. 14

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    91.6 mi · 1 hr 34 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    115.5 mi · 1 hr 55 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  16. 16

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

    1010 ft · 25 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto North Vine Street

    79 m · 7 sec · North Vine Street

  18. 18

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward North Vine Street

    104 m · 5 sec · North Vine Street

  19. 19

    Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street

    944 ft · 21 sec · North Vine Street

  20. 20

    Continue on North Vine Street

    99 m · 8 sec · North Vine Street

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Vine Street

    40 m · 2 sec · North Vine Street

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street

    1172 ft · 29 sec · North Vine Street

  23. 23

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Vine Street

    104 m · 8 sec · North Vine Street

  24. 24

    Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street

    2425 ft · 1 min · North Vine Street

  25. 25

    Turn right onto East 27th Street

    1218 ft · 30 sec · East 27th Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Main Street

    2212 ft · 1 min · Main Street

  27. 27

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

    574 ft · 18 sec · Main Street

  28. 28

    Turn right

    89 m · 21 sec

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
29 steps
19 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
3 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
115 mi · 44%
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
91.6 mi · 35%
Kansas Turnpike
44.9 mi · 17%
I 435 North
5.17 mi · 2%
West 51st Street
1.49 mi · 1%
Holliday Drive
1.18 mi
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

115 mi · 01h 55m

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
03h 51m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.1 mi
247.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chapman
01h 55m from Shawnee
Leave By
9:18 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Shawnee and Sunny near Hays.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 263.8 miles (424.5 km) and usually takes 03h 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?

Chapman is a useful midpoint, sitting about 131.8 miles from Shawnee and 132 miles from Hays.

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

The direct path is about 247.7 miles (398.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.1 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 9:18 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.11 one way or $70.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 82.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Shawnee and Sunny near Hays.

Stop Ideas Near Chapman

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

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

RAIL

Newton

107 mi away
414 North Main St.
RAIL

Topeka

118 mi away
500 SE Holliday Place

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Shawnee and Hays. Straight-line distance: 247.72 mi (398.66 km).

Shawnee

#1 Shawnee

The most populous city in Johnson County, Kansas.

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

#2 Hays

City in Kansas, United States

Population20,829
Coordinates38.8791800, -99.3267700
Altitude616
CountryUnited States
Start: Bond Street (-94.719801, 39.041669)
End: (-99.32671, 38.879268)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 424 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 46m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.31 gal
35.23 L · about $35.11
Round trip
$70.22
18.62 gal · 70.46 L
Estimated CO2
82.7 kg one way
Round trip: 165.5 kg / 365 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $35.11 $70.22
Mid-grade $4.25 $39.60 $79.19
Premium $4.65 $43.33 $86.66
Diesel $5.30 $49.38 $98.76

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Shawnee and Hays. The current time is 21:51:24.

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.