Kansas Hwy 54/400; Wichita to Liberal

[Golden_Gopher]

Guys:

How is this road?

Been told full of trucks!

What is your recommendation traveling West?

[allen8106]

I've done that route about 5 or 6 times in the last 3 years. There's nothing wrong with it other than boring and lots of small towns that slow you down a bit.

[RLS7201]

fanrgs wrote:

RLS7201 wrote:
Would you be the 5er that had a flat tire some where west of Tucumcari, NM, that I stopped to help?

. Nope, never had a flat in New Mexico. Several other places, including Alaska and Canada, but not in NM.

Thanks. The 5er that I stopped to help had just encountered the black ice in KS.

Richard

[fanrgs]

RLS7201 wrote:
Would you be the 5er that had a flat tire some where west of Tucumcari, NM, that I stopped to help?

. Nope, never had a flat in New Mexico. Several other places, including Alaska and Canada, but not in NM.

[RLS7201]

fanrgs wrote:
We have used those highways and US 50 with our fifth wheel without a problem except once in December. That time a sleet storm hit Wichita and the roads were covered with a thin layer of ice. I had to keep the truck at 45 mph just to stay on the crown of the two-lane road. Any slower and I began sliding toward the shoulder. Worst white-knuckle drive I have ever experienced!

Would you be the 5er that had a flat tire some where west of Tucumcari, NM, that I stopped to help?

[brooks379]

That way.... 54/400 is ok I have driven it maybe 100 times...If your coming from Kansas City a much better way to go is I 70/ KS TURNPIKE west to highway 156 s/w to hwy 56 west at Great Bend to Dodge City 283 south at Ddoge to Mineola, KS where you pick up 54 about 45 miles east of Liberal. I drove a semi out of liberal for 25 years and have been on every road in KS...That is the smoothest, less traffic way to go with a lot less truck traffic, a lot less of all kinds of traffic especially once you exit off I70 .

[fanrgs]

We have used those highways and US 50 with our fifth wheel without a problem except once in December. That time a sleet storm hit Wichita and the roads were covered with a thin layer of ice. I had to keep the truck at 45 mph just to stay on the crown of the two-lane road. Any slower and I began sliding toward the shoulder. Worst white-knuckle drive I have ever experienced!

[janstey58]

No issues on I35/54 junction. Good signage.

[RLS7201]

Marcela wrote:
Stay off the I35 54 interchange. That's a circus!

It,s marked clearly, follow the signs.

[tinkerer]

I drive this road every year when we migrate to Arizona. A good share of it is 2 lane. I cruise at 65 and let the cars pass me on their own. A lot of trucks drive 65 on that road but sometimes a big rig wants to pass, in Texas there are huge paved shoulders where you can slow down and pull to the right and let them by. They appreciated it. Biggest problem we had was idiots driving cars trying to pass when there is oncoming traffic. With my trailer I am 67 ft long and they don't allow enough time to get by you. So watch for these idiots and be ready to take evasive action. I had to do that a couple of times.;)

[Marcela]

Stay off the I35 54 interchange. That's a circus!

[RLS7201]

Yes it's a 2 lane truck route with passing lanes. It's a good drive if you don't want to run over 65MPH. Relax and let the trucks find a way around you.
We normally leave KC on I35 to Emporia, KS, then US 50 to just west of Hutchinson, KS, then KS 61 to Pratt, which puts us on US 54 to I40. Straightest shot from KC to Liberal.

Richard