Kansas driving guide

Kansas is a wonderful place, with plenty of breathtaking and scenic places to admire from the comfort of your car. But familiarizing yourself with the driving rules in Kansas is essential before heading out on the open road.

Read on to discover everything you need to know when driving in Kansas, from speed limits to toll roads and much more. 

Jump to a section:

• Quick rules of the road
• Speed limits
• Toll roads
• Driving ages
• Essential equipment
• Speed violations
• Driving with children
• Gas prices
• Electric car charging
• Driving between Kansas and other states
• Driving conditions

Quick rules of the road

• Headlights must be on at all times from sunset to sunrise and when visibility is less than 1,000 feet.  
• All drivers, regardless of their age, are prohibited from sending, reading or writing a text message while operating a moving vehicle. You must give right of way to an approaching vehicle at an intersection. If you enter an intersection at the same time as another vehicle, the driver on the left should give right of way to the driver on the right.
• If you are making a left turn, or a U-turn, you must give right of way to vehicles driving through the intersection.
• When entering a public road, you should yield right of way to drivers already on the road.
• When entering a roundabout, yield to traffic coming from the left. 

Speed limits in Kansas

The speed limits in Kansas vary based on the type of road you’re driving on, including whether it’s a residential or urban area. Find out the maximum speed limits to follow below.

Toll roads in Kansas

If you want to explore different cities and counties in Kansas without paying a toll, then you’re in luck. Kansas only has one toll road – the Kansas Turnpike.

Kansas Turnpike

The Kansas Turnpike is a 236-mile-long freeway that lies entirely within the state.

From: Oklahoma border

To: Kansas City

Cost for car: $12.00 max, $0.30 min.

Cost for truck: $77.50 max, $0.35 min.

How to pay for toll road: The Kansas Turnpike accepts a range of transponders for cashless tolling, including the K-TAG, PIKEPASS, TxTag and E-ZPass. It also offers pay-by-plate and toll invoice payments, with some tolls also accepting cash and cards at the booth. Tolls will be collected for each trip upon exiting the Turnpike.

Driving ages and license requirements in Kansas

• The legal driving age in Kansas is 17 years old, but teens can apply for a learner’s permit as early as 14 years old.
• The minimum age to rent a car in Kansas is 21 years old.

For more information and tips, check out our guide to renting under the age of 25 with Hertz. 

Essential equipment to carry in your car in Kansas

In your vehicle, you should carry the following as a minimum:

• Your driver’s license
• Car insurance
• Car registration
• Rental agreement if renting your car.

It can also be helpful to keep the following items in your car in case of an emergency:

• Owner’s manual
• Map
• First aid kit
• Puncture kit
• Jump cables.

For a list of items you can’t carry in your Hertz vehicle, check your rental agreement.

Kansas speed violations, infractions and penalties

In Kansas, there is a $45 fine for speeding. But you could face a larger fine depending on the circumstances. This will be judged by a court of law.

Driving with children in Kansas

Car seat requirements in Kansas apply to all children under the age of 14. To be more specific, the law states that:

• Children under four must be seated in a forward or rear-facing car seat.
• Children under eight are required to ride in a booster seat unless they weigh more than 80lbs or are taller than 4ft 9in.
• Children under 14 – who weigh more than 80lbs or are taller than 4ft 9in must wear a seatbelt.

Gas prices in Kansas

The average gas price in Kansas is $3.37 per gallon.

Based on manufacturers’ average fuel figures:

• For a small car like a Ford Focus, that’s about $0.09 per mile.
• For a larger family car like a Nissan Pathfinder, it works out at $0.12 per mile.

Gas price figure last updated October 31st, 2022.

Electric car charging in Kansas

There are over 400 electric car charging points in Kansas. You’ll find these everywhere from parking lots and shopping malls to restaurants and hotels.

Kansas is also one of 35 states set to receive $39.5M over the next five years to help build a high-powered charging network across the state.

Driving between Kansas

With a Hertz car rental, you can drive between states. So, whether you’re traveling to Nebraska in the North, or visiting Missouri in the east, rest assured we’ll get you where you need to go. You can also take advantage of our one-way rental service, which allows you to drop off your vehicle at a different location.

Driving conditions in Kansas

In Kansas, the summers are hot, and the winters are cold, snowy and windy. If you’re visiting Kansas during the winter, then you may want to opt for an all-wheel drive or SUV, which can help keep you moving in more adverse weather conditions.