OKRoads.com -- Kansas Highway Guides -- Interstate 35

Interstate 35 runs for 234 miles in Kansas, which is about the same as its distance in Oklahoma. It begins its journey in Kansas just north of Braman, Oklahoma. The Kansas Turnpike also begins at the state line. Tolls do not begin to add up until after Exit 4 (U.S. 81/U.S. 166) so for travelers heading north who don't want to pay toll, Exit 4 is the last toll-free exit.

In Spring 2003, a much-needed brand new toll plaza was completed at mile marker 17, which replaced the outdated toll plaza which was located underneath U.S. 160 at mile marker 19. The Kansas Turnpike uses a ticket-based toll collection system, that is, at the point of entry onto the turnpike motorists receive a ticket, and then when they exit off the turnpike or reach the eastern (northern) end west of Kansas City or the southern end at Exit 19, the toll is collected. Back to the Interstate, on the way to Wichita, one may exit at Exit 33 (U.S. 81/KS 53) or Exit 39 (U.S. 81). Exits serving Wichita are Exit 42 (I-135/235 North/U.S. 81), Exit 45 (KS 15), Exit 50 (U.S. 54/400), and Exit 53 (KS 96). Along the remaining 74 miles of Interstate 35 on the Kansas Turnpike are exits for Andover (Exit 57), KS 196/254 (Exit 71), U.S. 77 (Exit 76), KS 177 (Exit 92), and Interstate 35 North/U.S. 50 (Exit 127). Yes that is correct - there are 34 miles between the last two interchanges. (Unless you want to count the Cattle Pens exits!)

Interstate 35 has now exited off the Kansas Turnpike and has entered Emporia. If you've been on the turnpike since Exit 4, then you will be paying $4.75 at the toll booth at the exit. Following the toll plaza U.S. 50 heads straight and Interstate 35 exits left. It skirts the northern part of Emporia (pop. 26,760), a city I know quite well because my grandparents lived there when they were alive and roadtrips to Emporia were a big part of my childhood. In Emporia, there are exits for Industrial Rd. (Exit 128), KS 99 (Exit 130), Burlingame Rd. (Exit 131), and U.S. 50 West (Exit 133).

Interstate 35 is now joined with U.S. 50 and the two highways head due east. Exit 155 at U.S. 75 is known to locals as the BETO junction. The acronym is of four nearby places that Interstate 35 and U.S. 75 go through: Burlington (U.S. 75 South of I-35), Emporia (I-35 South west of U.S. 75), Topeka (U.S. 75 North of I-35), and Ottawa (I-35 North east of U.S. 75). Speaking of Ottawa (pop. 11,921), that is the next major town along Interstate 35. Following U.S. 75 the interstate begins taking a turn to the north once again but is still heading mostly east. In Ottawa, there are exits for former Business U.S. 50 (Exit 182), U.S. 59, (recently changed from a cloverleaf to a diamond-Exit 183), 15th St. (Exit 185) and KS 68 (Exit 187).

U.S. 56 joins Interstate 35 and U.S. 50 at Exit 210 in Gardner and the three highways head toward the Kansas City area. The speed limit, which has been 70 since Emporia, falls to 65 before the U.S. 169 South/KS 7 exit (Exit 215) in Olathe. After that exit, there are four different highways signed on one road (Interstate 35/U.S. 169 North, U.S. 50/56 East) for a few miles until Exits 223A-B (Interstate 435), then U.S. 50 and 169 head east on Kansas City's outer loop. U.S. 69 merges with Interstate 35 and U.S. 56 at southbound-only Exit 225B and are signed until Exit 228B, when U.S. 56 and 69 head east on the Shawnee Mission Parkway. Just three miles later, however, U.S. 69 merges back with Interstate 35 at Exit 231 (Interstate 635 North/U.S. 69 South), but this time U.S. 69 exits off just a mile later at Exits 232B-C (U.S. 69 North/18th St. Parkway). The final major exit in Kansas is at Exit 234 for U.S. 169, and then before you know it, you're in downtown Kansas City at the "Alphabet Loop," where almost all 26 letters in the alphabet are used for an exit at the interchange of Interstates 29, 35, 70, 670, and U.S. 71.

	"Welcome to Kansas" sign as Interstate 35 enters the Sunflower State. The final free exit is in four miles. (Top photo taken 5/19/03, bottom photo taken 8/8/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 4 - U.S. 166/U.S. 81 - Arkansas City/South Haven. (Top photo taken 9/28/02, bottom photo taken 8/8/04)
	Interstate 35 and Kansas Turnpike shields just north of Exit 4. (Photo taken 9/28/02)
	Interstate 35 North approaching the Southern Terminal toll plaza - 2 miles. (Photo taken 8/8/04)
	Interstate 35 North approaching the Southern Terminal toll plaza - 1 mile. (Photo taken 8/8/04)
	Interstate 35 North approaching the Southern Terminal toll plaza - 1/2 mile. (Photo taken 8/8/04)
	Interstate 35 North near the toll plaza. K-Tag is the Kansas electronic toll payment system, much like PikePass in Oklahoma and EZPass in the northeast. (Photo taken 8/8/04)
	Interstate 35 North at the Southern Terminal toll plaza. The toll plaza was completed in May 2003 and is much nicer than the old, crowded one, which sat underneath U.S. 160 two miles ahead. (Photo taken 8/8/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 19 - U.S. 160 - Wellington/Winfield. (Photo taken 8/8/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 33 - U.S. 81/K-53 - Mulvane. U.S. 81, is actually located half a mile west of this interchange, but is signed on each sign between here and Exit 42 (Interstate 135 & Interstate 235). (Top photo taken 9/28/02, bottom photo taken 8/8/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 39 - U.S. 81 - Haysville/Derby. (Top photo taken 9/28/02, bottom photo taken 8/8/04)
	Interstate 35 North approaching Interstates 135, 235, and U.S. 81 (Exit 42) - 2 miles. (Top photo taken 9/28/02, bottom photo taken 8/8/04)
	Interstate 35 North approaching Exit 42 - 1 mile. (Top photo taken 9/28/02, bottom photo taken 8/8/04)
	Interstate 35 North approaching Exit 42 - 1/2 mile. (Top photo taken 9/28/02, bottom photo taken 8/8/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 42 - Interstate 135/ Interstate 235/U.S. 81 - Wichita/Salina. Three highways are signed at this exit, but only one of them begins here! U.S. 81 merges with Interstate 135 at Exit 1B, and Interstate 235 begins at I-135's Exit 1C. (Top photo taken 9/28/02, bottom photo taken 8/8/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 45 - KS 15 in Wichita. (Photo taken 9/28/02)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 50 - U.S. 54/400 in Wichita. (Photo taken 9/28/02)
	View at the end of the ramp at Exit 50. (Photo taken 9/28/02)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 57 - Andover. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 71 - K-254/K-196 - El Dorado. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 76 - U.S. 77 - El Dorado North/Nick Badwey Plaza. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 92 - K-177 - Cassoday. This is the final exit for 35 miles. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at the Cattle Pens. This appears to be abandoned now, as there appears to no longer be any cattle here. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North approaching Exit 127 - Interstate 35/U.S. 50 - 2 miles. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North approaching Exit 127 - 1 mile. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North approaching Exit 127 - 1/2 mile. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 127 - Interstate 35/ U.S. 50 - Emporia/Kansas City. The mainline Kansas Turnpike becomes Interstate 335. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	The Emporia toll plaza on Interstate 35 North. It is one of few original toll booths remaining on the turnpike. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 127A - U.S. 50 West/K-57 North - Newton. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 127B - U.S. 50 East/K-57 South - Emporia. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 127C - Interstate 35 South/Interstate 335/Kansas Turnpike - Topeka/Wichita. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 128 - Industrial Road. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 130 - K-99 - Merchant St. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 131 - Burlingame Road. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 133 - U.S. 50 West - 6th Ave. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 135 - County Road R1. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 138 - County Road U. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 141 - K-130 - Neosho Rapids/Hartford. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 148 - K-131 - Lebo. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 155 - U.S. 75 - Lyndon/Burlington. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 160 - K-31 North - Melvern. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 162 - K-31 South - Waverly. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 170 - Williamsburg/ Ponoma. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 176 - Homewood. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 182 - Eisenhower Road. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 183 - U.S. 59 - Garnett/Lawrence. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 185 - 15th Street. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 187 - K-68 - Ottawa/Louisburg. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 193 - Tennessee Road. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 198 - K-33 - Wellsville. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 202 - Edgerton. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 207 - Gardner Road. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 210 - U.S. 56 West - Gardner. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 215 - U.S. 169 South/K-7 - Paola. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Mileage sign on Interstate 35 North, 5 1/2 miles south of Interstate 435. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 218 - Santa Fe. (Top photo taken 7/1/03, bottom photo taken 8/9/04)
	Mileage sign on Interstate 35 North, three miles to the south of Interstate 435. (Top photo taken 7/1/03, bottom photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 220 - 119th Street. (Top photo taken 7/1/03, bottom photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North approaching Exits 222A-B - Interstate 435 - 2 miles. (Top photo taken 7/1/03, bottom photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North mileage sign around mile marker 221. Interstate 435 is one mile ahead, from three different perspectives. (Top photo taken 11/30/02, middle photo taken 7/1/03, bottom photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North approaching Exit 222A - Interstate 435 East - 1/2 mile. (Top photo taken 11/30/02, middle photo taken 7/1/03, bottom photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 222A - Interstate 435 East. Interstate 435 is Kansas City's outer beltway, covering 83 miles while bypassing the center of the metropolitan area. (Top photo taken 11/30/02, middle photo taken 7/1/03, bottom photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 222B - Interstate 435 West. The tallest ramp is carrying Interstate 435 West traffic to Interstate 35 South. (Top photo taken 11/30/02, middle photo taken 7/1/03, bottom photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 224 - 95th Street in Overland Park. (Top photo taken 11/30/02, bottom photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 225A - 87th St. Parkway. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 South at Exit 225B - U.S. 69 South-Overland Parkway. (Photo taken 11/30/02)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 227 - 75th Street. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 South at Exit 227 - 75th Street. (Photo taken 11/30/02)
	Another view of Interstate 35 South at Exit 227, seen exactly seven months later. (Photo taken 6/30/03)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 228A - 67th Street. Sorry about the semi in the photo. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 South at Exit 228A - 67th Street. (Photo taken 6/30/03)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 228B - U.S. 56/ U.S. 69 - Shawnee Mission Parkway. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 South at Exit 228B - U.S. 56 East - Shawnee Mission Parkway. U.S. 56 ends less than ten miles to the east of this interchange at U.S. 71 in Kansas City, MO. (Photo taken 6/30/03)
	Mileage sign on Interstate 35 North, 1 3/4 miles south of Interstate 635. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 229 - Johnson Drive. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 South at Exit 229 - Johnson Drive in Merriam. (Photo taken 11/30/02)
	Another view of Interstate 35 South at Exit 229, seen seven months later. (Photo taken 6/30/03)
	Mileage sign on Interstate 35 North, one mile south of Interstate 635. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 230 - Antioch Road. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 South at Exit 230 - Antioch Road. (Photo taken 6/30/03)
	Interstate 35 North approaching Exit 231A - Interstate 635 North - 1/4 mile. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 231A - Interstate 635 North. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 North approaching Exit 232A - Lamar Ave. - 3/4 mile. The collector/ distributor lane to the left has an exit to Interstate 635 North here as well. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 South at Exit 231B - U.S. 69 South - Metcalf Ave. (Photo taken 6/30/03)
	Interstate 35 South at Exit 231A - Interstate 635. It's difficult to tell that there is even an exit here, considering that the sign for the exit is about 1/100 the size of the advance signage for U.S. 69 South! (Photo taken 6/30/03)
	Interstate 35 South approaching Exits 231A-B - 1/4 mile. (Photo taken 6/30/03)
	Interstate 35 South approaching Exits 231A-B - 3/8 mile. (Photo taken 6/30/03)
	Interstate 35 South approaching Exits 231A-B - 3/4 mile. (Photo taken 6/30/03)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 232A - Lamar Avenue. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 South at Exit 232A - Lamar Avenue. (Photo taken 6/30/03)
	Mileage sign on Interstate 35 South, 1 mile to the north of Interstate 635/U.S. 69. (Photo taken 6/30/03)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 232B - U.S. 69 North - 18th St. Expressway/Roe Ave. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 South at Exit 232B - U.S. 69 North - 18th St. Expwy./Roe Ave. (Photo taken 6/30/03)
	Mileage sign on Interstate 35 South, 1 3/4 miles to the north of Interstate 635/U.S. 69. (Photo taken 6/30/03)
	Interstate 35 North at Exit 233A - Southwest Blvd./Mission Rd. The remainder of Interstate 35 in Kansas was under construction at this time. (Photo taken 8/9/04)
	Interstate 35 South at Exit 233A - Southwest Blvd./Mission Rd. (Photo taken 6/30/03)
	Interstate 35 South at Exit 233B - 37th Street. (Photo taken 6/30/03)
	Interstate 35 South at Exit 234 - U.S. 169 - 7th St. Trafficway/Rainbow Blvd. (Photo taken 6/30/03)
	"Welcome to Kansas" sign on Interstate 35 South, located just south of Exit 235. (Photo taken 6/30/03)
	Interstate 35 South at Exit 235 - Cambridge Circle. (Photo taken 6/30/03)