How far is Wichita, KS from Hill City, KS?

The driving distance from Wichita, KS to Hill City, KS is about 237.7 miles (382.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 178 miles (286.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 29m 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
237.66 mi
04h 14m
Flight
177.97 mi
286.42 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Wichita.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
177.97 mi
Kilometers
286.42 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
237.66 mi
Kilometers
382.48 km
Drive Time
04h 14m

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 04h 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hill City
Fri, Apr 17, 11:09 PM CDT
Return by in Wichita
Sat, Apr 18, 3:23 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wichita
2026-04-17T18:54
Arrive Hill City
Fri, Apr 17, 11:09 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:15 AM to 12:15 PM CDT

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

Leave by
8:30 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Wichita
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
Ellsworth
KS

City in Kansas

From Wichita
118.7 mi
02h 07m
To Hill City
118.9 mi
02h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Friday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 21 mph S
Destination
64°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Wichita and Hill City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wichita and Hill City.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    109 m · 28 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East Central Avenue

    557 ft · 20 sec · East Central Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North Broadway Street

    1 mi · 2 min · North Broadway Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto East 13th Street North

    1.4 km · 2 min · East 13th Street North

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight left

    1260 ft · 34 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    22.3 mi · 24 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    2.1 mi · 2 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    63.2 mi · 1 hr 3 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 70 West: Hays

    1185 ft · 42 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    122.4 mi · 2 hr 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 40 Business: WaKeeney, Hill City

    1027 ft · 25 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right

    3.5 mi · 5 min

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    21.2 mi · 32 min

  14. 14

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    1156 ft · 38 sec · West Main Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto North Pomeroy Avenue

    19 m · 3 sec · North Pomeroy Avenue

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Pomeroy Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Wichita and Hill City.

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
16 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
122 mi · 52%
East 13th Street North
88.7 mi · 37%
US 40 Business
21.4 mi · 9%
North Broadway Street
1.01 mi
I 70 West
0.22 mi
West Main Street
0.22 mi
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

122 mi · 02h 02m

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
04h 14m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+59.7 mi
178 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ellsworth
02h 07m from Wichita
Leave By
8:30 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Wichita and Mostly Sunny near Hill City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Wichita to Hill City?

The road trip is about 237.7 miles (382.5 km) and usually takes 04h 14m 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?

Ellsworth is a useful midpoint, sitting about 118.7 miles from Wichita and 118.9 miles from Hill City.

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

The direct path is about 178 miles (286.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 59.7 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 8:30 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.64 one way or $63.28 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 74.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Wichita and Mostly Sunny near Hill City.

Stop Ideas Near Ellsworth

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

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

RAIL

Hutchinson

79 mi away
North Walnut St & East 3rd Ave
RAIL

Newton

108 mi away
414 North Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wichita and Hill City. Straight-line distance: 177.97 mi (286.42 km).

Wichita

#1 Wichita

The largest city in Kansas and the center of the Wichita metropolitan area.

Population391,731
Coordinates37.6922400, -97.3375400
Altitude396
CountryUnited States
Hill City

#2 Hill City

City in Kansas, United States

Population1,354
Coordinates39.3647300, -99.8420600
Altitude666
CountryUnited States
Start: Wichita (-97.33754, 37.69224)
End: Hill City (-99.84206, 39.36473)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 382 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.39 gal
31.75 L · about $31.64
Round trip
$63.28
16.78 gal · 63.5 L
Estimated CO2
74.6 kg one way
Round trip: 149.1 kg / 329 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $31.64 $63.28
Mid-grade $4.25 $35.68 $71.37
Premium $4.65 $39.05 $78.09
Diesel $5.30 $44.50 $89.00

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Wichita and Hill City. The current time is 18:54:20.

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.