Length: 471.450 miles
West Endpoint: Oklahoma State Line at Elkhart
East Endpoint: Missouri State Line in Mission Hills
Counties Served:
Morton, Stevens, Seward, Haskell, Gray, Ford, Edwards, Pawnee, Barton, Rice, McPherson, Marion, Dickinson, Morris, Lyon, Osage, Douglas, Johnson
History
In the early 1950s, a push was made to create a new US 55 between Springer, New Mexico and Kansas via what was then K-45. There were various suggestions on the alignment. The first suggestion would have followed K-45 all the way to Ellsworth, then followed US 40 and K-4 via Topeka and Atchison. This was rejected by AASHO due to the excessive use of overlapping routes. A revised route, submitted in March 1955, routed the proposed route via Lincoln Center and Mahanttan, replacing various state numbered highways. The final proposal, submitted in June 1956, had the new route following K-45 west of Larned, then turning east on US 50N to Kansas City, with a spur US route designation on the old US 50N between Larned and Garden City. The June 1956 proposal was adopted by AASHTO, but since the roadway was predominantly east-west, they adopted an even number, turning the proposed US 55 into US 56.
In an April, 1985 resolution, US 56 was routed to meet I-35 at Gardner, turning back much of the old roadway between Gardner and Olathe.
Junction Guide
| County Milepost | State Milepost | Junction |
|---|---|---|
| 56-65/0.000 | 0.000 | Oklahoma/Kansas State Line South City limits Elkhart |
| 56-65/1.444 | 1.444 | North city limits Elkhart |
| 56-65/2.366 | 2.366 | K-27 |
| 56-65/8.960 | 8.960 | Road 16 |
| 56-65/17.228 | 17.228 | West city limits Rolla |
| 56-65/17.746 | 17.746 | West Junction K-51 East city limits Rolla |
| 56-65/21.874 56-95/0.000 | 21.874 | Morton/Stevens county line |
| 56-95/4.120 | 25.994 | West junction K-25 |
| 56-95/11.433 | 33.307 | South city limits Hugoton |
| 56-95/11.755 | 33.629 | 11th/Main, Hugoton East junction K-51 |
| 56-95/12.758 | 34.632 | North city limits Hugoton |
| 56-95/13.901 | 35.775 | East Junction K-25 |
| 56-95/19.141 | 41.015 | Road U |
| 56-95/24.963 | 46.837 | South city limits Moscow |
| 56-95/25.625 | 47.499 | North city limits Moscow |
| 56-95/32.009 | 53.883 | Road 26 |
| 56-95/34.193 56-88/0.000 | 56.067 | Stevens/Seward county line |
| 56-88/0.781 56-41/0.000 | 56.848 | Seward/Haskell county line |
| 56-41/3.965 | 60.813 | Road 220 |
| 56-41/4.965 | 61.813 | West junction K-190 West city limits Satanta |
| 56-41/6.045 | 62.893 | East junction K-190 East city limits Satanta |
| 56-41/12.468 | 69.316 | US 83/US 160 West city limits Sublette |
| 56-41/14.379 | 71.227 | East City limits Sublette |
| 56-41/15.319 | 72.167 | Road 180 |
| 56-41/21.019 | 77.867 | Road UU |
| 56-41/25.219 56-35/0.000 | 82.067 | Haskell/Grey county line |
| 56-35/1.052 | 83.119 | West city limits Copeland |
| 56-35/1.636 | 83.703 | East city limits Copeland |
| 56-35/5.134 | 87.201 | K-144 |
| 56-35/11.878 | 93.945 | West city limits Montezuma |
| 56-35/12.830 | 94.897 | East city limits Montezuma |
| 56-35/18.124 | 100.191 | K-23 |
| 56-35/23.844 | 105.911 | West city limits Ensign |
| 56-35/24.952 | 107.019 | East city limits Ensign |
| 56-35/25.519 56-29/0.000 | 107.586 | Gray/Ford county line |
| 56-29/2.570 | 110.156 | 102 Road |
| 56-29/8.623 | 116.209 | West Junction US 400 (US 400 joins US 56) |
| 56-29/11.175 | 118.761 | 14th Avenue, Dodge City 110 Road |
| 56-29/12.166 | 119.752 | West junction US 283 (US 283 joins US 56/US 400) |
| 56-29/15.596 | 123.182 | East junction US 400 (US 400 leaves US 56/US 283) |
| 56-29/16.042 | 123.628 | Wyatt Earp Boulevard |
| 56-29/19.308 50-29/16.501 | 126.894 | West junction US 50 (US 56/US 283 joines US 50) |
| 50-29/18.237 | 128.630 | East junction US 283 (US 283 leaves US 50/US 56) |
| 50-29/28.037 | 138.430 | Main Street, Spearville |
| 50-29/34.311 | 144.704 | 132 Road |
| 50-29/38.461 50-24/0.000 | 148.854 | Ford/Edwards county line |
| 50-24/0.274 | 149.128 | West city limits Offerle |
| 50-24/0.789 | 149.643 | East city limits Offerle |
| 50-24/4.124 | 152.978 | 50th Avenue |
| 50-24/8.108 56-24/8.108 | 157.050 | East junction US 50 (US 56 leaves US 50) |
| 56-24/8.272 | 157.214 | South City limits Kinsley |
| 56-24/8.752 | 157.694 | 8th Street, Kinsley |
| 56-24/9.265 | 158.207 | West junction US 183 (US 183 joins US 56) |
| 56-24/9.525 | 158.467 | North city limits Kinsley |
| 56-24/16.122 56-73/0.000 | 165.064 | Edwards/Pawnee county line |
| 56-73/1.032 | 166.096 | East junction US 183 |
| 56-73/6.316 | 171.380 | West city limits Garfield |
| 56-73/7.231 | 172.295 | East city limits Garfield |
| 56-73/12.661 | 177.725 | J Road |
| 56-73/16.904 | 181.968 | South city limits Larned |
| 56-73/17.434 | 182.498 | K-19 Spur |
| 56-73/18.196 | 183.260 | West junction K-156 (K-156 joins US 56) |
| 56-73/18.847 | 183.911 | East city limits Larned |
| 56-73/26.228 56-5/0.000 | 191.292 | Pawnee/Barton county line |
| 56-5/0.092 | 191.384 | West city limits Pawnee Rock |
| 56-5/0.675 | 191.967 | East city limits Pawnee Rock |
| 56-5/12.197 | 203.489 | South city limits Great Bend |
| 56-5/13.038 | 204.330 | West Junction K-96 (K-96 joins US 56/K-156) |
| 56-5/14.815 | 207.612 | US 281 |
| 56-5/16.320 | 219.809 | East city limits Great Bend |
| 56-5/18.610 | 209.902 | East junction K-156 (K-156 leaves US 56/K-96) |
| 56-5/24.413 | 215.705 | West city limits Ellinwood |
| 56-5/25.420 | 216.712 | East City limits Ellinwood |
| 56-5/30.571 56-80/0.000 | 221.863 | Barton/Rice county line |
| 56-80/14.117 | 235.980 | West city limits Lyons |
| 56-80/15.114 | 236.977 | K-14 (K-96 leaves US 56) |
| 56-80/16.235 | 238.098 | East city limits Lyons |
| 56-80/18.567 | 240.430 | 19th Road |
| 56-80/25.697 | 247.560 | 26th Road (ex-K-46), Little River |
| 56-80/30.711 56-59/0.000 | 252.574 | Rice/McPherson county line |
| 56-59/3.991 | 256.565 | 4th Avenue |
| 56-59/13.196 | 265.770 | K-153, West city limits McPherson |
| 56-59/13.530 | 266.104 | Augustus Street, McPherson |
| 56-59/14.050 | 266.624 | Walnut Street, McPherson |
| 56-59/14.194 | 266.768 | US 81B |
| 56-59/15.191 | 267.765 | Maxwell Street |
| 56-59/16.631 | 269.205 | East city limits McPherson |
| 56-59/16.712 | 269.286 | I-135 |
| 56-59/17.208 | 269.782 | 17th Avenue |
| 56-59/21.308 | 273.882 | 21st Avenue Main Street, Galva |
| 56-59/27.329 | 279.903 | 27th Avenue (ex K-86) Main Street, Canton |
| 56-59/30.338 56-57/0.000 | 282.912 | McPherson/Marion County line |
| 56-57/2.347 | 285.259 | West junction K-15 |
| 56-57/3.831 | 286.743 | K-168 |
| 56-57/8.345 | 291.257 | East junction K-15 |
| 56-57/18.588 | 301.500 | K-256 |
| 56-57/22.579 | 305.491 | US 77/K-150 (US 77 joins US 56) |
| 56-57/31.497 | 314.409 | South city limits Lincolnville |
| 56-57/32.026 | 314.938 | North city limits Lincolnville |
| 56-57/38.828 | 321.740 | 360th Road |
| 56-57/39.828 56-21/0.000 | 322.740 | Marion/Dickinson county line |
| 56-21/2.257 | 324.997 | South junction US 56B |
| 56-21/4.320 | 327.060 | North Junction US 56B/US 77 |
| 56-21/4.400 56-64/0.000 | 327.140 | Dickinson/Morris county line |
| 56-64/4.063 | 331.203 | 2800 Road |
| 56-64/10.164 | 337.304 | K-149 |
| 56-64/13.164 | 340.304 | 1900 Road |
| 56-64/22.922 | 350.062 | West City limits Council Grove |
| 56-64/23.472 | 350.612 | Jefferson Street |
| 56-64/24.015 | 351.155 | West Junction K-177 |
| 56-64/24.183 | 351.323 | East Junction K-177 |
| 56-64/24.549 | 351.689 | 5th Street |
| 56-64/24.941 | 352.081 | East city limits Council Grove |
| 56-64/30.523 | 357.663 | 200 Road |
| 56-64/31.522 56-56/0.000 | 358.662 | Morris/Lyon county line |
| 56-56/4.000 | 362.662 | Road E |
| 56-56/10.060 | 368.722 | Road L, Allen |
| 56-56/14.069 | 372.731 | K-99 |
| 56-56/17.824 | 376.486 | I-335/KTA |
| 56-56/19.807 | 378.469 | K-78 |
| 56-56/22.134 56-70/0.000 | 380.796 | Lyon/Osage county line |
| 56-70/6.163 | 386.959 | South junction K-31 |
| 56-70/12.432 | 393.228 | South city limits Burlingame |
| 56-70/12.936 | 393.732 | North Junction K-31 |
| 56-70/13.447 | 394.243 | East City limits Burlingame |
| 56-70/19.407 | 400.203 | South city limits Scranton |
| 56-70/20.405 | 401.201 | East city limits Scranton |
| 56-70/22.979 | 403.775 | US 75 |
| 56-70/29.706 | 410.502 | West city limits Overbrook |
| 56-70/30.023 | 410.819 | East city limits Overbrook |
| 56-70/32.849 56-23/0.000 | 413.645 | Osage/Douglas county line |
| 56-23/9.000 | 421.645 | E 900 Road |
| 56-23/12.481 | 426.126 | US 59 |
| 56-23/16.973 | 430.618 | West city limits Baldwin City |
| 56-23/17.953 | 431.598 | East city limits Baldwin City |
| 56-23/23.274 | 436.919 | K-33 |
| 56-23/24.274 56-46/0.000 | 437.919 | Douglas/Johnson county line |
| 56-46/2.000 | 439.919 | Edgerton Road, Edgerton |
| 56-46/3.020 | 440.939 | 199th Street, Edgerton |
| 56-46/7.190 | 445.109 | West city limits Gardner |
| 56-46/8.040 | 445.959 | Center Street, Gardner |
| 56-46/8.283 | 446.202 | Sycamore Street, Gardner |
| 56-46/9.214 | 447.133 | East city limits Gardner |
| 56-46/10.539 35-46/8.872 | 448.458 | South junction I-35 (US 56 joins I-35/US 50) |
| 35-46/12.110 | 451.696 | South City Limits Olathe |
| 35-46/13.623 | 453.209 | US 169 South/K-7/151st Street (US 169 joins I-35/US 50/US 56) |
| 35-46/19.041 | 458.627 | Olathe/Lenexa City limits |
| 35-46/20.620 | 460.206 | I-435 (US 50 leaves I-35/US 56/US 169) |
| 35-46/23.825 | 463.411 | US 69 South (US 69 joines I-35/US 56/US 169) |
| 35-46/24.566 | 464.152 | Lenexa/Overland Park City Limits |
| 35-46/25.207 | 464.793 | Overland Park/Merriam City Limits 75th Street |
| 35-46/26.754 56-46/28.421 | 466.340 | Shawnee Mission Parkway (US 56/US 69/US 169 leaves I-35) |
| 56-46/29.286 | 467.205 | Lowell Avenue Merriam/Overland Park city limits |
| 56-46/29.791 | 467.710 | Metcalf Avenue (US 69 leaves US 56/US 169) |
| 56-46/30.293 | 468.212 | Lamar Avenue Overland Park/Mission city limits |
| 56-46/30.803 | 468.722 | Nall Avenue |
| 56-46/31.513 | 469.432 | Roe Avenue |
| 56-46/31.659 | 469.578 | Mission/Fairway city limits |
| 56-46/32.463 | 470.382 | Mission Road |
| 56-46/33.060 | 470.979 | Fairway/Westwood city limits |
| 56-46/33.157 | 471.076 | Westwood/Mission Hills city limits |
| 56-46/33.282 | 471.201 | Rainbow Boulevard (US 169 leaves US 56) |
| 56-46/33.531 | 471.450 | Missouri state line |
AADT (2019)
| Location | Count | Truck % |
|---|---|---|
| In Elkhart | 2,470 | 11.9% |
| Elkhart to K-27 | 1,770 | 20.6% |
| K-27 to Road 16 | 910 | 29.1% |
| Road 16 to Rolla | 1,040 | 23.6% |
| In Rolla | 1,350 | 31.9% |
| Rolla to West Junction K-25 | 1,460 | 31.5% |
| West junction K-25 to Hugoton | 1,830 | 29.5% |
| West city limits Hugoton to 11th/Main | 4,750 | 12.3% |
| 11th/Main to north city limits Hugoton | 4,330 | 23.4% |
| Hugoton to east junction K-25 | 2,330 | 43.1% |
| East Junction K-25 to Road U | 1,610 | 26.4% |
| Road U to Moscow | 1,390 | 35.3% |
| In Moscow | 2,030 | 42.9% |
| Moscow to Road 26 | 1,380 | 37.0% |
| Road 26, Stevens County to Road 220, Haskell County | 1,600 | 27.5% |
| Road 220 to Satanta | 1,790 | 17.8% |
| In Satanta | 2,600 | 20.8% |
| Satanta to Sublette | 2,190 | 18.5% |
| In Sublette | 3,470 | 18.3% |
| Sublette to Road 180 | 2,780 | 21.9% |
| Road 180 to Road UU | 2,130 | 26.1% |
| Road UU to Haskell/Grey county line | 1,760 | 31.8% |
| Haskell/Grey county line to Copeland | 1,950 | 29.3% |
| Copeland to K-144 | 2,570 | 20.6% |
| K-144 to Montezuma | 3,140 | 32.0% |
| In Montezuma | 4,250 | 23.6% |
| Montezuma to K-23 | 2,670 | 36.0% |
| K-23 to Ensign | 2,730 | 34.9% |
| In Ensign | 3,390 | 27.4% |
| Ensign to 102 Road, Ford County | 2,830 | 32.7% |
| 102 Road to West junction US 400 | 2,820 | 37.8% |
| West Junction US 400 to 14th Ave/110 Road | 3,850 | 31.2% |
| 14th Ave/110 Road to west junction US 283 | 3,080 | 37.3% |
| West junction US 283 to MP 122 | 3,480 | 41.3% |
| MP 122 to east junction US 400 | 5,870 | 24.5% |
| East junction US 400 to Wyatt Earp Boulevard | 9,380 | 16.3% |
| Wyatt Earp Boulevard to west junction US 50 | 4,160 | 33.9% |
| US 50 from west junction US 56/US 283 to east junction US 283 | 7,050 | 28.7% |
| US 50 from east junction US 283 to Spearville | 2,000 | 22.0% |
| US 50 from Spearville to 132 Road | 4,730 | 30.4% |
| US 50 from 132 Road to Offerle | 4,530 | 31.6% |
| US 50 in Offerle | 5,410 | 28.2% |
| US 50 from Offerle to 50th Avenue | 4,420 | 32.1% |
| US 50 from 50th Avenue to east junction US 50/US 56 | 4,850 | 30.3% |
| East junction US 50 to 8th Street, Kinsley | 2,480 | 26.4% |
| 8th Street to west junction US 183, Kinsley | 2,910 | 26.5% |
| West junction US 183 to north city limits Kinsley | 3,500 | 21.4% |
| Kinsley to Edwards/Pawnee county line | 2,820 | 26.4% |
| Edwards/Pawnee county line to east junction US 183 | 2,500 | 26.8% |
| East junction US 183 to Garfield | 2,000 | 30.0% |
| In Garfield | 2,450 | 24.1% |
| Garfield to J Road | 2,222 | 34.2% |
| J Road to Larned | 2,560 | 2.2% |
| South city limits Larned to K-19 Spur | 3,430 | 16.9% |
| K-19 Spur to K-156 | 4,750 | 9.7% |
| K-156 to east city limits Larned | 5,340 | 18.2% |
| Larned to MP 185 | 4,930 | 19.5% |
| MP 185 to Pawnee Rock | 4,800 | 21.5% |
| In Pawnee Rock | 5,440 | 18.9% |
| Pawnee Rock to MP 198 | 4,850 | 21.9% |
| MP 198 to MP 202 | 5,250 | 19.0% |
| MP 202 to Great Bend | 4,850 | 19.0% |
| WCL Great Bend to West Junction K-96 | 10,200 | 11.6% |
| West Junction K-96 to US 281 | 16,900 | 9.2% |
| US 281 to East city limits Great Bend | 12,500 | 14.2% |
| Great Bend to east junction K-156 | 8,420 | 20.8% |
| East junction K-156 to Ellinwood | 4,571 | 18.4% |
| in Ellinwood | 5,110 | 16.7% |
| Ellinwood to Chase | 3,190 | 26.8% |
| Chase to Lyons | 4,130 | 21.9% |
| West city limits Lyons to K-14 | 5,960 | 14.4% |
| K-14 to east city limits Lyons | 4,390 | 21.1% |
| Lyons to 19th Road | 2,650 | 24.7% |
| 19th Road to Little River | 2,570 | 24.5% |
| Little River to 4th Avenue, McPherson County | 2,680 | 28.7% |
| 4th Avenue to K-153 | 4,410 | 17.9% |
| K-153 to Augustus Street | 5,060 | 17.7% |
| Augustus Street to Walnut Street | 5,690 | 15.6% |
| Walnut Street to US 81B | 6,150 | 14.6% |
| US 81B to Maxwell Street | 8,910 | 9.9% |
| Maxwell Street to East city limits McPherson | 10,400 | 8.4% |
| East city limits McPherson to I-135 | 11,800 | 7.5% |
| I-135 to 17th Avenue | 10,500 | 10.4% |
| 17th Avenue to Galva | 5,410 | 18.9% |
| Galva to Canton | 3,600 | 35.3% |
| Canton to K-15 | 2,890 | 46.0% |
| West junction K-15 to K-168 | 4,050 | 31.6% |
| K-168 to east junction K-15 | 4,010 | 31.0% |
| East junction K-15 to K-256 | 2,800 | 46.1% |
| K-256 to US 77/K-150 | 2,180 | 54.1% |
| US 77/K-150 to Lincolnville | 1,970 | 23.4% |
| Lincolnville to 360th Road | 2,090 | 19.9% |
| 360th Road to South junction US 56B | 2,370 | 17.1% |
| South junction US 56B to north junction US 56B/US 77 | 1,750 | 23.1% |
| US 56B/US 77 to 2800 Road | 21,000 | 33.9% |
| 2800 Road to K-149 | 925 | 10.3% |
| K-149 to 1900 Road | 980 | 20.4% |
| 1900 Road to Council Grove | 1,360 | 16.2% |
| West city limits Council Grove to Jefferson Street | 2,050 | 4.8% |
| Jefferson Street to west junction K-177 | 3,790 | 6.3% |
| US 56/K-177 concurrency | 6,960 | 4.7% |
| East junction K-177 to 5th Street | 6,360 | 3.9% |
| 5th Street to east city limits Council Grove | 4,740 | 5.2% |
| Council Grove to 200 Road | 1,940 | 10.1% |
| 200 Road, Morris County to Road E, Lyon County | 1,450 | 12.4% |
| Road E to K-99 | 980 | 27.0% |
| K-99 to I-335/KTA | 970 | 19.1% |
| I-335/KTA to K-78 | 605 | 36.4% |
| K-78 to South junction K-31 | 825 | 17.5% |
| South junction K-31 to Burlingame | 1,620 | 7.4% |
| SCL Burlingame to North junction K-31 | 1,960 | 5.1% |
| North junction K-31 to ECL Bulingame | 1,800 | 11.7% |
| Burlingame to Scranton | 1,240 | 14.9% |
| In Scranton | 1,560 | 12.2% |
| Scranton to US 75 | 2,280 | 8.1% |
| US 75 to Overbrook | 3,980 | 4.8% |
| Overbrook to E 900 Road, Douglas County | 2,254 | 7.8% |
| E 900 Road to US 59 | 3,380 | 6.1% |
| US 59 to Baldwin City | 6,140 | 3.3% |
| In Baldwin City | 7,620 | 2.8% |
| Baldwin City to K-33 | 5,270 | 4.2% |
| K-33 to Edgerton | 5,410 | 4.9% |
| Edgerton to Gardner | 4,550 | 4.4% |
| West city limits Gardner to Center Street | 10,700 | 3.8% |
| Center Street to Sycamore Street | 15,500 | 4.1% |
| Sycamore Street to east city limits Gardner | 19,700 | 4.4% |
| East city limits Gardner to I-35 | 25,700 | 3.5% |
| I-35 from US 56 to US 169 | 52,800 | 22.7% |
| I-35 from US 169 to Santa Fe, Olathe | 87,700 | 16.0% |
| I-35 from Santa Fe, Olathe to I-435 | 116,000 | 12.1% |
| I-35 from I-435 to US 69 South | 102,000 | 13.0% |
| I-35 from US 69 South to Shawnee Mission Parkway | 142,000 | 9.4% |
| I-35/SMP to Lowell Avenue | 38,500 | 2.5% |
| Lowell Avenue to Metcalf Avenue | 37,400 | 2.6% |
| Metcalf Avenue to Roe Avenue | 24,100 | 4.2% |
| Roe Avenue to Mission Road | 29,700 | 3.6% |
| Mission Road to Rainbow Boulevard | 28,800 | 3.5% |
| Rainbow Boulevard to Missouri state line | 26,400 | 2.9% |