How far is Valley Center, KS from Lenexa, KS?

The driving distance from Valley Center, KS to Lenexa, KS is about 186.8 miles (300.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 162.5 miles (261.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 39m 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
186.85 mi
02h 49m
Flight
162.51 mi
261.53 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Valley Center.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
162.51 mi
Kilometers
261.53 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
186.85 mi
Kilometers
300.7 km
Drive Time
02h 49m

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 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lenexa
Thu, Apr 16, 3:53 AM CDT
Return by in Valley Center
Thu, Apr 16, 6:43 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Valley Center
2026-04-16T01:03
Arrive Lenexa
Thu, Apr 16, 3:53 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:50 AM to 12:50 PM CDT

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

Leave by
12:50 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Valley Center
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
Emporia
KS

County seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States

From Valley Center
91.6 mi
01h 24m
To Lenexa
95.3 mi
01h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph S
Destination
81°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Valley Center and Lenexa.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Valley Center and Lenexa.

  1. 1

    Start on North Park Avenue

    13 m · 4 sec · North Park Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West 2nd Street

    110 m · 18 sec · West 2nd Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Meridian Street

    930 ft · 21 sec · North Meridian Street

  4. 4

    Continue on North Meridian Avenue

    2656 ft · 58 sec · North Meridian Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto West 77th Street North

    2 mi · 5 min · West 77th Street North

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Broadway Street;East 77th Street North

    43 m · 3 sec · East 77th Street North

  7. 7

    Exit the rotary onto East 77th Street North

    2192 ft · 1 min · East 77th Street North

  8. 8

    Take the ramp right toward I 135 South, US 81 South, KS 15 South

    1569 ft · 38 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward 61st Street

    1067 ft · 26 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto East 61st Street North

    3.3 mi · 6 min · East 61st Street North

  12. 12

    Continue on Kechi Road

    2362 ft · 50 sec · Kechi Road

  13. 13

    Turn right onto North Woodlawn Street

    929 ft · 25 sec · North Woodlawn Street

  14. 14

    Take the ramp left

    1187 ft · 29 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto East 61st Street North

    5.8 mi · 6 min · East 61st Street North

  16. 16

    Continue on Southwest 20th Street

    14.3 mi · 16 min · Southwest 20th Street

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight left

    81 m · 8 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight right onto Boyer Road

    79 m · 7 sec · Boyer Road

  19. 19

    Take the exit left

    799 ft · 22 sec

  20. 20

    Turn straight

    824 ft · 20 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Kansas Turnpike

    56 mi · 56 min · Kansas Turnpike

  22. 22

    Keep slight right

    95.5 mi · 1 hr 38 min

  23. 23

    Continue on I 35 North, US 56 East, US 169 North: Des Moines

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward 95th Street

    805 ft · 20 sec

  25. 25

    Keep slight right to continue on 95th Street, Pittsburgh State University, Brown Mackie College

    90 m · 7 sec

  26. 26

    Turn straight onto West 95th Street

    58 m · 4 sec · West 95th Street

  27. 27

    Turn slight right onto Lenexa Drive

    1165 ft · 57 sec · Lenexa Drive

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Rosehill Road

    152 m · 19 sec · Rosehill Road

  29. 29

    Turn right

    22 m · 11 sec

  30. 30

    Turn left

    78 m · 19 sec

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Valley Center and Lenexa.

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
31 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
4 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Kansas Turnpike
151 mi · 81%
Southwest 20th Street
14.3 mi · 8%
East 61st Street North
9.03 mi · 5%
West 77th Street North
1.96 mi · 1%
I 135 South
1.83 mi · 1%
I 35 North
1.56 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Kansas Turnpike

Keep slight right

95.5 mi · 01h 38m

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 49m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.3 mi
162.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Emporia
01h 24m from Valley Center
Leave By
12:50 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Valley Center and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny near Lenexa.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Valley Center to Lenexa?

The road trip is about 186.8 miles (300.7 km) and usually takes 02h 49m 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?

Emporia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 91.6 miles from Valley Center and 95.3 miles from Lenexa.

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

The direct path is about 162.5 miles (261.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.3 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 12:50 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.85 one way or $49.70 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 58.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Valley Center and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny near Lenexa.

Stop Ideas Near Emporia

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

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

RAIL

Topeka

85 mi away
500 SE Holliday Place
RAIL

Lawrence

104 mi away
413 East 7th Street
RAIL

Newton

109 mi away
414 North Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Valley Center and Lenexa. Straight-line distance: 162.51 mi (261.53 km).

Valley Center

#1 Valley Center

Township in Sedgwick County, Kansas

Population7,385
Coordinates37.8347300, -97.3733800
Altitude410
CountryUnited States
Lenexa

#2 Lenexa

The most populous city in Johnson County, Kansas.

Population56,156
Coordinates38.9536200, -94.7335700
Altitude314
CountryUnited States
Start: North Park Avenue (-97.373259, 37.834731)
End: (-94.73357, 38.953456)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 301 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 44m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.59 gal
24.96 L · about $24.85
Round trip
$49.70
13.18 gal · 49.92 L
Estimated CO2
58.6 kg one way
Round trip: 117.1 kg / 258 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $24.85 $49.70
Mid-grade $4.25 $28.03 $56.05
Premium $4.65 $30.67 $61.34
Diesel $5.30 $34.95 $69.91

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Valley Center and Lenexa. The current time is 01:03:56.

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.