How far is Wichita, KS from Valley Falls, KS?

The driving distance from Wichita, KS to Valley Falls, KS is about 166.5 miles (267.9 km), with a travel time of about 02h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 152.7 miles (245.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 53m 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
166.45 mi
02h 56m
Flight
152.68 mi
245.71 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Wichita.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
152.68 mi
Kilometers
245.71 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
166.45 mi
Kilometers
267.87 km
Drive Time
02h 56m

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 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Valley Falls
Mon, Jun 1, 6:50 PM CDT
Return by in Wichita
Mon, Jun 1, 9:47 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wichita
2026-06-01T15:53
Arrive Valley Falls
Mon, Jun 1, 6:50 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:57 AM to 12:57 PM CDT

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

Leave by
12:36 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Wichita
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 Wichita
83.2 mi
01h 28m
To Valley Falls
83.3 mi
01h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
91°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph E
Destination
88°F
This Afternoon

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Wichita and Valley Falls.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wichita and Valley Falls.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    13 m · 5 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right

    57 m · 16 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Market Street

    110 m · 17 sec · North Market Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto East 3rd Street North

    113 m · 20 sec · East 3rd Street North

  5. 5

    Turn right onto North Broadway Street

    2035 ft · 40 sec · North Broadway Street

  6. 6

    Continue on South Broadway Avenue

    2693 ft · 1 min · South Broadway Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn left onto East Kellogg Drive

    116 m · 11 sec · East Kellogg Drive

  8. 8

    Take the ramp straight toward US 54 East

    1202 ft · 29 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

    7.2 mi · 9 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35: Kansas Turnpike Toll, Kansas City, Oklahoma City

    137 m · 11 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    1.4 km · 2 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Kansas Turnpike

    74.7 mi · 1 hr 15 min · Kansas Turnpike

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Kansas Turnpike

    54.9 mi · 55 min · Kansas Turnpike

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I-70 West, US 40 West, KS 4 West: Topeka, Valley Falls

    1.1 km · 49 sec

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    3063 ft · 40 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    140 m · 11 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Oakland Expressway

    3.9 mi · 4 min · Oakland Expressway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right

    2923 ft · 52 sec

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right

    1333 ft · 40 sec

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Northeast Sherman Road

    20.6 mi · 24 min · Northeast Sherman Road

  21. 21

    Turn left

    2100 ft · 54 sec

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Oak Street

    901 ft · 40 sec · Oak Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Oak Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Wichita and Valley Falls.

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
23 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Kansas Turnpike
130 mi · 78%
Northeast Sherman Road
20.6 mi · 12%
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
7.23 mi · 4%
Oakland Expressway
4.66 mi · 3%
I-70 West
1.37 mi · 1%
I 35
0.97 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Kansas Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Kansas Turnpike

74.7 mi · 01h 15m

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 56m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+13.8 mi
152.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Emporia
01h 28m from Wichita
Leave By
12:36 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Wichita and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Valley Falls.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Wichita to Valley Falls?

The road trip is about 166.5 miles (267.9 km) and usually takes 02h 56m 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 83.2 miles from Wichita and 83.3 miles from Valley Falls.

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

The direct path is about 152.7 miles (245.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 13.8 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 12:36 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.14 one way or $44.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Wichita and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Valley Falls.

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 Wichita and Valley Falls. Straight-line distance: 152.68 mi (245.71 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
Photo coming soon

#2 Valley Falls

City in Kansas, United States

Population1,152
Coordinates39.3433300, -95.4602500
Altitude287
CountryUnited States
Start: Wichita (-97.33754, 37.69224)
End: Valley Falls (-95.46025, 39.34333)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 268 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.87 gal
22.23 L · about $22.14
Round trip
$44.27
11.74 gal · 44.46 L
Estimated CO2
52.2 kg one way
Round trip: 104.3 kg / 230 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.14 $44.27
Mid-grade $4.25 $24.97 $49.93
Premium $4.65 $27.32 $54.64
Diesel $5.30 $31.13 $62.27

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 · Jun 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Wichita and Valley Falls. The current time is 15:53:56.

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.