Drivers say they fear this highway the most among Kansas routes. Improvements are underway
An east-west highway in Kansas that runs from Missouri to the Oklahoma border made a recent list of the most-feared routes in America, according to a survey of 3,000 drivers.
In the survey, commissioned by Gunther Mitsubishi and conducted by QuestionPro, drivers in all 50 states were asked to name the route in their home state they most dread being stranded on.
The portion of U.S. 54 that passes through the Sunflower State made the rankings, taking the No. 35 spot. The Kansas highway ranked just behind Colorado’s Route 550, known as the Million Dollar Highway, which offers jaw-dropping views of the San Juan Mountains, but lacks guardrails in some spots.
Kansas highway makes the list of ‘Most Feared Road Trips in America’ | Opinion
Most-feared routes in the US
The survey ranks these roads as the 10 “most-feared routes” in the U.S. The top five generally pass through vast, desolate swaths of land with few services and possibly dangerous weather hazards, including lava flows or 120-degree heat.
New Mexico: U.S. Route 285
California: Death Valley Road (SR-190)
Texas: U.S. Route 90
Hawaii: Saddle Road (Hawaii Route 200)
Nevada: U.S. Route 50 “The Loneliest Road in America”
Kentucky: Mountain Parkway
South Dakota: U.S. Route 14A (Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway)
Alaska: Dalton Highway (AK-11)
New York: State Route 17
Mississippi: U.S. Route 49
Kansas’ U.S. 54
U.S. 54 bridges southwest Kansas and Wichita.
The route enters Kansas from Oklahoma, passing through Seward County and the border town of Liberal before it arches in a northeasterly direction.
Because U.S. 54 joins U.S. 400 in Kiowa County, some Kansans know it by that name. In Wichita, it’s called Kellogg, named after Milo Bailey Kellogg. In life, the American Civil War veteran fought for the Union and was the city’s first postmaster.
In recent years, a coalition of city and county leaders in southwest Kansas have pressured state lawmakers to widen parts of U.S. 54 that are only two lanes. Economic development in the region has put more commercial trucks on the road and more people are commuting, straining the road’s already limited capacity.
What’s being done to improve U.S. 54/400?
Efforts have been made in recent years to modernize and improve U.S. 54.
In March 2020, work began on a $27.6 million project to expand U.S. 54 from a two-lane to four-lane divided and limited access highway east of Liberal, according to a Kansas Department of Transportation news release. Work on the project continued into 2022, and most recently, state officials sought public feedback about possibly reconfiguring a major intersection in Liberal, according to reporting by the Liberal Leader and Times.
In 2021, Gov. Laura Kelly announced 24 infrastructure projects totaling more than $776 million. Five projects to improve various portions of U.S. 54 were included in that push and mainly involved adding or extending existing passing lanes.
For commuters in the Wichita area, efforts to improve U.S. 54 are continuing there, as well, including a recent resurfacing project along a 9-mile stretch of the highway, according to KSNW.
What can you see and do while in Kansas while driving on U.S. 54?
According to Kansas Tourism, Route 54 is one of the best ways to see the state’s southern tier.
The Flint Hills of Kansas make up the largest tract of tallgrass left on the continent. It could make a great place for a picnic to see the sunset.
Also accessible from U.S. 54 is El Dorado State Park, the largest state park in Kansas. You can go wildlife-spotting in this 4,000-acre area, which sits on the upper edge of El Dorado Lake.
