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Travel and Time

Cities Near Lawrence

Cities near Lawrence, Kansas: 10 notable destinations within day-trip and weekend range, including Olathe, Topeka, Shawnee. Compare distance, drive time and flight time, with day-trip and getaway ideas.

The closest notable city to Lawrence, Kansas is Olathe, about 23 mi (37 km) away — roughly 45 min by road. Below, 10 nearby cities are ranked by distance, with real drive and flight estimates and whether each works best as a day trip or an overnight getaway.

CityDistanceDriveFlightBest for
Olathe23 mi / 37 km45 minDrive/railDay trip
Topeka24 mi / 39 km47 minDrive/railDay trip
Shawnee28 mi / 45 km54 minDrive/railDay trip
Kansas City36 mi / 58 km1 hr 5 minDrive/railDay trip
Independence45 mi / 72 km1 hr 20 minDrive/railDay trip
Lee's Summit46 mi / 74 km1 hr 23 minDrive/railDay trip
Blue Springs51 mi / 83 km1 hr 32 minDrive/railDay trip
Saint Joseph59 mi / 95 km1 hr 46 minDrive/railDay trip
Manhattan73 mi / 118 km1 hr 42 minDrive/railDay trip / overnight
Joplin136 mi / 219 km3 hr 10 minDrive/railWeekend getaway

Day trips from Lawrence

Within about 100 miles and easy to visit in a day: Olathe, Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas City, Independence. These are close enough to go and return without an overnight stay.

Weekend getaways from Lawrence

Far enough for a change of scene but still an easy hop: Joplin. Worth an overnight or a full weekend.

Getting around

Nearby cities are usually quickest by car or train; for the longer hops a regional flight can save time. Tap any city above for its full distance, driving-time and flight-time breakdown, or plan a specific route with the tools below.

Distance calculatorFlight time calculator

Frequently asked questions

Notable cities near Lawrence include Olathe, Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas City, Independence. The closest is Olathe, about 23 miles (37 km) away. The table above lists each with its distance, drive time and best use.

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