Getting here

Lawrence construction

Orange dashed lines indicate detours. Full map

Road construction projects by the City of Lawrence and KU will alter travel to and around campus May 20-Aug. 19, 2013. The projects are

  • Iowa Street, which is also U.S. 59, will be limited to one lane north and south from Harvard Road south to Irving Hill Road.
  • 15th Street, which is Bob Billings Parkway west of Iowa Street, will be closed from Engel Road west to Crestline Drive.

Drivers may use Exit 204 off Interstate 70, on the east side of Lawrence, and come south on U.S. 59/24, which becomes Vermont Street south of the Kaw River Bridge. Several routes to the east side of campus are readily available off Massachusetts Street, one block east of Vermont Street.

Drivers can use Wakarusa Drive, Kasold Drive, Tennessee Street or Kentucky Street as north-south routes and Sixth, 19th or 23rd streets for east-west access through Lawrence.

Detours on and around campus will be clearly marked. Bus routes to and around campus, especially on its east side, also will be affected.

Campus construction

Orange dashed lines indicate detours. Full map

Road construction projects by the City of Lawrence and KU will alter travel to and around campus May 20-Aug. 19, 2013. On campus, the projects are

  • Jayhawk Boulevard will be closed from Sunflower Road west to West Campus Road. Sidewalks adjoining Jayhawk Boulevard will be closed from Poplar Lane, west of Strong Hall, to West Campus Road.
  • Parking Lot 54, west of Murphy Hall at Irving Hill Road and Naismith Drive, is closed for reconstruction.

Several routes to the east side of campus are readily available off Massachusetts Street, Tennessee Street and Kentucky Street.

Entrances to the Mississippi Street Parking Garage near the Kansas Union are at 13th Street and Oread Avenue and at Mississippi Street south of 12th Street.

The entrance to the Allen Fieldhouse Parking Garage is just west of Naismith Drive and Irving Hill Road. Naismith Drive can be accessed off 19th or 23rd Street.

Detours on and around campus will be clearly marked. Bus routes to and around campus, especially on its east side, also will be affected.

Getting here is easy - Lawrence is located on I-70 just 45 minutes' drive from the Kansas City International Airport (I-435 South to I-70 West; also see Airport shuttles). I-70 exit 202 is the most direct route to the KU Campus.


Google directions won't include construction detours, but the directions below do.

Directions to Lawrence from the Kansas City Airport

As you exit the airport, follow the signs to Topeka, which will direct you to:

  1. Turn left onto the 29 N / 435W ramp to St Joseph/Topeka. Continue for 3.5 miles.
  2. Take exit 17 to 435 S toward Topeka for 19 miles.
  3. Take exit 12 to 70W / Kansas Turnpike toward Topeka for 25 miles.
  4. Take exit 202 “West Lawrence” and pay the toll (about $1.75)
  5. After the toll booth, you’ll be driving south on McDonald Drive. Stay in the left lane to merge onto Iowa Street.
  6. In about .75 miles, turn left onto University Drive. Turn right on Engel Road.
  7. Continue straight through W 15th Street. Turn right into the second parking lot and proceed around to the parking lot furthest to the northwest (adjacent to the KU Visitor Center)

Directions to Lawrence from the West (I-70)

  1. Take exit 202 “West Lawrence” and pay the toll
  2. After the toll booth, you’ll be driving south on McDonald Drive. Stay in the left lane to merge onto Iowa Street.
  3. In about .75 miles, turn left onto University Drive. Turn right on Engel Road.
  4. Continue straight through W 15th Street. Bypass the first parking lot on your right and turn right into the second parking lot and proceed around to the parking lot furthest to the northwest (adjacent to the KU Visitor Center)

Directions to Lawrence from the East (KS Highway 10)

  1. Take Kansas Highway 10 (K10) west into Lawrence. Continue through Lawrence for about 3.25 miles.
  2. Turn right on Naismith Drive. Continue for about 1 mile.
  3. Turn left on Irving Hill Road.
  4. Turn right on Engel Road and bypass the first two parking entrances on your left. Turn left into the next parking lot. Proceed all the way to the back and veer right. Enter the gates into the parking lot #400 (adjacent to the KU Visitor Center).

Directions to Lawrence from the South (US Highway 59)

  1. Take US Highway 59 north into Lawrence. Continue through Lawrence for about 2 miles.
  2. Turn left on 19th Street. Take an immediate right on Constant Avenue.
  3. Turn right on Irving Hill Road.
  4. Turn left on Engel Road and bypass the first two parking entrances on your left. Turn left into the next parking lot. Proceed all the way to the back and veer right. Enter the gates into the parking lot #400 (adjacent to the KU Visitor Center).

Tips for getting around in Lawrence

  • Numbered streets run east-west with 6th Street in the north and 31st Street in the south.
  • State streets run north-south roughly in the order they joined the union (east first).
  • West of Iowa St., 15th Street is Bob Billings Parkway, and 23rd Street is Clinton Parkway
Map of Kansas Map of Lawrence

Resources


The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.