How far is Wakarusa, KS from Lenexa, KS?

The driving distance from Wakarusa, KS to Lenexa, KS is about 61.4 miles (98.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 51.9 miles (83.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 16m 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
61.36 mi
01h 08m
Flight
51.94 mi
83.59 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Wakarusa.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
51.94 mi
Kilometers
83.59 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
61.36 mi
Kilometers
98.75 km
Drive Time
01h 08m

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 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lenexa
Wed, May 13, 3:22 PM CDT
Return by in Wakarusa
Wed, May 13, 4:30 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wakarusa
2026-05-13T14:14
Arrive Lenexa
Wed, May 13, 3:22 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:08 AM to 11:08 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:14 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Wakarusa
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
Kanwaka
KS

Township in Douglas County, Kansas

From Wakarusa
34.6 mi
00h 34m
To Lenexa
26.7 mi
00h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph N
Destination
82°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wakarusa and Lenexa.

  1. 1

    Start on Southwest Kingston Road

    9 m · 3 sec · Southwest Kingston Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Southwest 3rd Street

    55 m · 11 sec · Southwest 3rd Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Southwest Jordan Road

    1591 ft · 1 min · Southwest Jordan Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Southwest 97th Street

    2738 ft · 2 min · Southwest 97th Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Southwest Topeka Boulevard

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Southwest Topeka Boulevard

  6. 6

    Turn left

    1196 ft · 29 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    6.2 mi · 7 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 470 East, I 335

    2324 ft · 57 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway

    2667 ft · 52 sec · Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I-70 East: Lawrence, Kansas City

    2170 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Kansas Turnpike

    19.7 mi · 20 min · Kansas Turnpike

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward KS 10: Lecompton, Lawrence

    2307 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Turn right onto South Lawrence Trafficway

    35.4 mi · 39 min · South Lawrence Trafficway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines, Renner Boulevard

    119 m · 6 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 35, I 435 North: Wichita, Des Moines

    3070 ft · 48 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on I 35: Wichita, Des Moines

    1.4 mi · 2 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on I 35 North: Des Moines

    3082 ft · 1 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    1.4 km · 1 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward 95th Street

    805 ft · 20 sec

  20. 20

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

    90 m · 7 sec

  21. 21

    Turn straight onto West 95th Street

    58 m · 4 sec · West 95th Street

  22. 22

    Turn slight right onto Lenexa Drive

    1165 ft · 57 sec · Lenexa Drive

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Rosehill Road

    152 m · 19 sec · Rosehill Road

  24. 24

    Turn right

    22 m · 11 sec

  25. 25

    Turn left

    78 m · 19 sec

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
26 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
42.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Lawrence Trafficway
35.4 mi · 58%
Kansas Turnpike
19.7 mi · 32%
Southwest Topeka Boulevard
7.28 mi · 12%
I 35
2.01 mi · 3%
I 35 North
1.48 mi · 2%
Southwest 97th Street
0.52 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

South Lawrence Trafficway

Turn right onto South Lawrence Trafficway

35.4 mi · 00h 39m

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 08m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.5 mi
51.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kanwaka
00h 34m from Wakarusa
Leave By
4:14 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Wakarusa and Sunny near Lenexa.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Wakarusa to Lenexa?

The road trip is about 61.4 miles (98.8 km) and usually takes 01h 08m 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?

Kanwaka is a useful midpoint, sitting about 34.6 miles from Wakarusa and 26.7 miles from Lenexa.

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

The direct path is about 51.9 miles (83.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:14 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.18 one way or $16.37 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 19.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Wakarusa and Sunny near Lenexa.

Stop Ideas Near Kanwaka

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

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

RAIL

Lawrence

12 mi away
413 East 7th Street
RAIL

Topeka

27 mi away
500 SE Holliday Place
RAIL

Union Station

69 mi away
30 West Pershing Rd.
RAIL

Independence

82 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wakarusa and Lenexa. Straight-line distance: 51.94 mi (83.59 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Wakarusa

Census-designated place in Shawnee County, Kansas

Population2,174
Coordinates38.8858400, -95.6958200
Altitude290
CountryUnited States
Lenexa

#2 Lenexa

The most populous city in Johnson County, Kansas.

Population56,156
Coordinates38.9536200, -94.7335700
Altitude314
CountryUnited States
Start: Southwest Kingston Road (-95.695988, 38.885818)
End: (-94.73357, 38.953456)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 99 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 52m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.17 gal
8.2 L · about $8.18
Round trip
$16.37
4.34 gal · 16.4 L
Estimated CO2
19.3 kg one way
Round trip: 38.6 kg / 85 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $8.18 $16.37
Mid-grade $4.25 $9.23 $18.46
Premium $4.65 $10.10 $20.20
Diesel $5.30 $11.51 $23.02

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 · May 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Wakarusa and Lenexa. The current time is 14:14:14.

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.