View source for U.S. Route 56

{{Short description|US highway}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox road
|country=USA
|type=US
|route=56
|map={{maplink-road|from=U.S. Route 56.map}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=US&nbsp;56 highlighted in red
|length_mi=640.250
|established=1957<ref>{{cite map|title=Official Road Map of New Mexico|year=1957|scale=1:1,267,200|publisher=[[New Mexico Department of Transportation|New Mexico State Highway Department]]|cartography=Louis Hesch|sections=9B,8B|location=Santa Fe|url=https://gstore.unm.edu/apps/rgis/datasets/bf6b67ae-6d61-4f2b-bc7c-b74d068a0261/1957Map.original.zip|format=ZIP File|access-date=August 3, 2019|via=University of New Mexico RGIS}}</ref>
|direction_a=West
|terminus_a={{Jct|state=NM|BL|25|dab1=Springer|US|412|NM|21|noshield1=yes}} at [[Springer, New Mexico|Springer, NM]]
|junction={{plainlist|
*{{Jct|state=OK|US|287}} near [[Boise City, Oklahoma|Boise City, OK]]
*{{Jct|state=KS|US|50}} at [[Dodge City, Kansas|Dodge City, KS]]
*{{Jct|state=KS|I|135|US|81}} at [[McPherson, Kansas|McPherson, KS]]
*{{Jct|state=KS|I|335|KTA}} near [[Admire, Kansas|Admire, KS]]
*{{Jct|state=KS|US|75}} near [[Scranton, Kansas|Scranton, KS]]
*{{Jct|state=KS|US|59}} near [[Baldwin City, Kansas|Baldwin City, KS]]
*{{Jct|state=KS|I|35|US|50}} at [[Gardner, Kansas|Gardner, KS]]
*{{Jct|state=KS|I|435|US|50}} at [[Lenexa, Kansas|Lenexa, KS]]
*{{Jct|state=KS|US|69}} at [[Overland Park, Kansas|Overland Park, KS]]
*{{Jct|state=KS|I|35|US|69|US|169}} at [[Shawnee Mission, Kansas|Shawnee Mission, KS]]
}}
|direction_b=East
|terminus_b={{Jct|state=MO|US|71}} at [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City, MO]]
|states=[[New Mexico]], [[Oklahoma]], [[Kansas]], [[Missouri]]
|system1={{infobox road/browselinks/USA|state=NM}}
|system2={{infobox road/browselinks/USA|state=OK}}
|system3={{infobox road/browselinks/USA|state=KS}}
|system4={{infobox road/browselinks/USA|state=MO}}
|browse={{Us browse|previous_type=US 1926|previous_route=55|next_type=US|next_route=57|route=[[List of United States Numbered Highways|US]]}}{{nm browse|previous_type=NM|previous_route=55|route=NM|next_type=NM|next_route=56}}
{{ok browse|previous_type=SH|previous_route=55|route=OK|next_type=SH|next_route=56}}
{{ks browse|previous_type=K|previous_route=55|route=KS|next_type=K|next_route=57}}
{{mo browse|previous_type=I|previous_route=55|route=MO|next_type=I|next_route=57}}
}}

'''U.S. Route 56''' ('''US 56''') is an east–west [[United States highway]] that runs for approximately {{convert|640|mi|km}} in the [[Midwestern United States]]. US 56's western terminus is at [[Interstate 25 Business (Springer, New Mexico)|Interstate 25 Business]] (I-25 Bus.), [[U.S. Route 412 in New Mexico|US 412]] and [[New Mexico State Road 21]] (NM 21) in [[Springer, New Mexico]] and the highway's eastern terminus is at [[U.S. Route 71 in Missouri|US 71]] in [[Kansas City, Missouri]]. Much of it follows the [[Santa Fe Trail]].

==Route description==
The highway passes through [[New Mexico]], [[Oklahoma]], [[Kansas]], and [[Missouri]]. The eastbound shoulder also touches a corner of [[Texas]] at a small road junction near the New Mexico/Oklahoma border.

===New Mexico===
[[File:US 56 & 412.jpg|thumb|left|US 56 & US 412 eastbound in Springer]]
[[File:U.S. Routes 56 & 412.jpg|thumb|right|US 56 & US 412 east of Gladstone just after NM 120]]
US 56 runs concurrent with [[US 412]] for its entire length in New Mexico, and are signed as such through the state. The two routes begin in Springer and head east towards [[Abbot, New Mexico|Abbot]], where they serve as the northern terminus of [[New Mexico State Road 39|State Road 39]]. Continuing east, US 56/412 meet the southern terminus of [[New Mexico State Road 193|NM 193]] south of [[Farley, New Mexico|Farley]], the northern terminus of [[New Mexico State Road 120|NM 120]] east of [[Gladstone, New Mexico|Gladstone]], and the southern terminus of [[New Mexico State Highway 453|NM 453]]. US 56/412 intersect [[US 64]] and [[US 87]] in [[Clayton, New Mexico]], and US 64 joins with US 56/412 in their trek northeast. The three routes serve as the southern terminus of [[New Mexico State Road 406|NM 406]] as they enter the [[Kiowa National Grassland]]. The three routes then cross into Oklahoma together.

===Oklahoma===
US-56's short path through Oklahoma consists of a diagonal slice across the western part of the [[Oklahoma Panhandle]]. US-56/64/412 enter Oklahoma near the southwest corner of the Panhandle, where they also enter [[Rita Blanca National Grassland]]. They leave the grassland near [[Felt, Oklahoma|Felt]]. Three miles<ref name="odot-2007-map">{{cite map|publisher=Oklahoma Department of Transportation|title=Official State Map|edition=Centennial|year=2007|url=http://www.odot.org/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/state-maps/pdfs/2007.pdf}}</ref> (4.8&nbsp;km) southwest of [[Boise City, Oklahoma|Boise City]], [[U.S. Highway 385 (Oklahoma)|US-385]] joins the concurrency. The routes then enter Boise City, where they enter a traffic circle around the [[Cimarron County Courthouse]] that involves US-56, US-64, US-385, US-412, [[State Highway 3 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 3]], and [[SH-325 (OK)|SH-325]]. After leaving the traffic circle, US-56 overlaps US-64, US-412, and SH-3. {{convert|1.7|mi|km}} east of the courthouse, US-56 meets US-287 at an interchange. US-56/64/412/SH-3 continue northeast for {{convert|6|mi|km}},<ref name="odot-2007-map"/> where US-56 splits to travel northeast on its own.

The route parallels the [[Cimarron Valley Railroad]] for the remainder of its time in Oklahoma. [[Keyes, Oklahoma|Keyes]] is the next town on US-56, and it also serves as the northern terminus of [[SH-171 (OK)|SH-171]] where the two highways intersect. US-56 crosses into [[Texas County, Oklahoma|Texas County]] east of [[Sturgis, Oklahoma|Sturgis]]. Just before crossing the Kansas line, US-56 meets the north end of [[SH-95 (OK)|SH-95]]. US-56 then enters Kansas on the east edge of [[Elkhart, Kansas|Elkhart]].

===Kansas===
[[Image:Kansas.little town1974.0024.jpg|thumb|upright|250px|[[Scranton, Kansas]] on US 56, in 1974]]
[[File:Sftatrcgks.jpg|thumb|left|US 56 (Santa Fe Auto Tour Route) east of Council Grove, Kansas]]
US-56 enters the state at the Kansas/Oklahoma border near [[Elkhart, Kansas|Elkhart]]. It weaves its way across the state from southwest to northeast, passing through such towns as [[Dodge City, Kansas|Dodge City]], [[Great Bend, Kansas|Great Bend]], [[McPherson, Kansas|McPherson]], [[Council Grove, Kansas|Council Grove]], and [[Baldwin City, Kansas|Baldwin City]]. It joins with [[Interstate 35 in Kansas|I-35]]/[[U.S. Route 50 in Kansas|US-50]] east of [[Gardner, Kansas|Gardner]], and goes northeast with I-35 into the [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] Metro Area. It exits the state as part of [[Shawnee Mission Parkway]] in [[Mission Woods, Kansas|Mission Woods]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Mission Woods · Kansas | url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mission+Woods,+KS/@39.0320743,-94.6116599,2765m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x87c0ee4dd4b944c1:0x747c676658afd30e!8m2!3d39.0350053!4d-94.6085677!16zL20vMHQ3cmo?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDYwNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D }}</ref>

===Missouri===
{{Main|Ward Parkway}}
[[File:US Hwy 56 End.jpg|thumb|right|Eastern terminus of US 56 at US 71 in Kansas City, MO]]
For one mile (1.6&nbsp;km) in Kansas City's [[Country Club Plaza]], Route 56 follows the noted boulevard [[Ward Parkway]] along with 47th St through the Country Club Plaza.  The route ends at an intersection with [[U.S. Route 71 (Missouri)|U.S. Route 71]]. It also includes Blue Parkway and Swope Parkway at certain points.

==History==
[[File:US 56 Kansas 1948.svg|thumb|150px|left|Green US-56 marker formerly used in Kansas]]
In the early 1950s, towns along what was then the K-45 corridor, connecting [[Ellsworth, Kansas]] to the [[Oklahoma]] state line at [[Elkhart, Kansas|Elkhart]], formed the '''Mid-Continent Diagonal Highway Association'''<ref>{{cite news|page=20|access-date=October 7, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60716475/|work=[[Atchison Daily Globe]]|title=Highway Assured|date=December 17, 1953}}</ref> to push for a new highway from [[Springer, New Mexico]] (on [[U.S. Route 85|US&nbsp;85]]) northeast across the [[Oklahoma Panhandle]], along K-45, and continuing to [[Manitowoc, Wisconsin]] on [[Lake Michigan]].<ref>{{cite news|page=1|work=Great Bend Daily Tribune|access-date=October 7, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60716377/|date=October 1, 1953|title=Vernon Tip Traylor...}}</ref> By mid-1954, it was being promoted as '''U.S. Route&nbsp;55''' between the [[Great Lakes]] and the [[Southwestern United States]].<ref>{{cite news|work=Great Bend Daily Tribune|page=7|access-date=October 7, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60716284/|title=New Mexico Okays US-55 Road Proposal|date=June 2, 1954}}</ref> The first submissions to the [[American Association of State Highway Officials]] (AASHO) to establish the route were made in 1954; all placed the northeast end at [[Manitowoc, Wisconsin]] (absorbing [[U.S. Route 151|US&nbsp;151]] from [[Cedar Rapids, Iowa]]{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}}), while they varied on whether the southwest end was to be at [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]] or [[Nogales, Arizona]].<ref name="ODOT discussion">[[Oklahoma Department of Transportation]], [http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/memorial/highways/pdfs/us56/action1.pdf Chronological History Documentation: US 56] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165503/http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/memorial/highways/pdfs/us56/action1.pdf |date=2016-03-03 }} (correspondence between ODOT, AASHO, and other DOTs)</ref><!--how would it have gone between Kansas and Cedar Rapids? between Springer and Albuquerque/Nogales?--> The first route considered in northeast Kansas was via [[U.S. Route 40|US&nbsp;40]] from Ellsworth to [[Topeka, Kansas|Topeka]] and [[K-4 (Kansas highway)|K-4]] and [[U.S. Route 59|US&nbsp;59]] via [[Atchison, Kansas|Atchison]] to [[St. Joseph, Missouri]].<ref>{{cite news|access-date=October 7, 2020|via=NewspaperArchive|work=Great Bend Daily Tribune|date=January 6, 1955|title=Another Effort to Reroute Proposed Federal Highway|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-jan-06-1955-2005059/}}</ref> A revised route adopted in March 1955, due to AASHO objections to the original route, which traveled [[Concurrency (road)|concurrently]] with other U.S. Highways for over half<!--either 52 or 62%?--> of its length, followed [[K-14 (Kansas highway)|K-14]], [[K-18 (Kansas highway)|K-18]], [[U.S. Route 24|US&nbsp;24]], [[K-63 (Kansas highway)|K-63]], [[K-16 (Kansas highway)|K-16]], and US&nbsp;59 via [[Lincoln, Kansas|Lincoln]] and [[Manhattan, Kansas|Manhattan]].<ref>{{cite news|access-date=October 7, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60716535/|page=3|work=Great Bend Daily Tribune|title=New US-55 Route Approved Here|date=March 20, 1955}}</ref> In July, the US 50-N Association proposed a plan that would have eliminated [[U.S. Route 50N (Kansas)|US&nbsp;50N]] by routing US&nbsp;55 along most of its length, from [[Larned, Kansas|Larned]] east to [[Baldwin Junction, Kansas|Baldwin Junction]], and then along US&nbsp;59 to [[Lawrence, Kansas|Lawrence]] and [[K-10 (Kansas highway)|K-10]] to [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]]; towns on US&nbsp;50N west of Larned, which would have been bypassed, led a successful fight against this.<ref>{{cite news|page=1|access-date=October 7, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60716650/|title=Call Meeting On Road Proposals|work=Great Bend Daily Tribune|date=July 26, 1955}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|access-date=October 7, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60716734/|title=US 50N Boosters Turn Down New Route, Name|work=Great Bend Daily Tribune|date=July 29, 1955}}</ref><!--would it have extended northeast from Kansas City?-->

However, in September of that year, the [[Kansas Highway Commission]] accepted that plan, taking US&nbsp;55 east to Kansas City.<ref>{{cite news|work=Great Bend Daily Tribune|title=Highway Boosters Here Oppose New US-55 Plan|date=September 16, 1955|access-date=October 7, 2020|via=NewspaperArchive|url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-sep-16-1955-2005054/}}</ref> On June 27, 1956, the AASHO Route Numbering Committee considered this refined plan for US&nbsp;55, between Springer, New Mexico and Kansas City, Missouri, with a short [[U.S. Route 155|US&nbsp;155]] along the remaining portion of US&nbsp;50N from Larned west to [[Garden City, Kansas|Garden City]]. The committee approved the request, but since the proposed route was more east–west than north–south, it changed it to an even number&nbsp;– US&nbsp;56&nbsp;– and the spur to [[U.S. Route 156|US&nbsp;156]].<ref name="ODOT discussion"/>

On June 26, 1958, AASHO denied the New Mexico Department of Transportation's request to extend US&nbsp;56 west from Springer to Santa Fe, which would have followed US&nbsp;85, US&nbsp;84 and US&nbsp;285.<ref name="1958 AASHTO">{{AASHTO minutes |year  = 1958A |page = 159 }}</ref>

{{infobox road small
|state=OK
|type=SH 1961
|route=114
|formed=
|decommissioned={{circa|1961}}<ref name="odot-1961-map"/><ref name="odot-1962-map"/>
|location=Near [[Boise City, Oklahoma]]&nbsp;– near [[Elkhart, Kansas]]
|length_mi=
|length_ref=
}}
US&nbsp;56 originally took a different route between Boise City, Oklahoma and Elkhart, Kansas. The original route followed US&nbsp;64 east to an intersection south of [[Eva, Oklahoma|Eva]]. It then split off to the north towards Elkhart.<ref name="odot-1957-map">{{cite map|publisher=Oklahoma Department of Highways|title=Oklahoma's Highways 1957|url=http://www.odot.org/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/state-maps/pdfs/1957.pdf|access-date=January 19, 2008}}</ref> By 1961, the section north of US&nbsp;64 had been overlaid with [[Oklahoma State Highway 95|SH-95]].<ref name="odot-1961-map">{{cite map|publisher=Oklahoma Department of Highways|title=Oklahoma 1961 Road Map|url=http://www.odot.org/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/state-maps/pdfs/1961.pdf|access-date=January 19, 2008}}</ref> The following year, US&nbsp;56 was rerouted over SH-114, bringing it to its current diagonal path across the Oklahoma Panhandle.<ref name="odot-1962-map">{{cite map|publisher=Oklahoma Department of Highways|title=Oklahoma 1962|url=http://www.odot.org/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/state-maps/pdfs/1962.pdf|access-date=January 19, 2008}}</ref> The old alignment is still on the Oklahoma highway system as the north half of SH-95.{{-}}

==Major intersections==
{{jcttop|exit|state_col=State|length_ref=}}
{{NMint|exit
|sspan=9
|county=Colfax
|cspan=4
|location=Springer
|lspan=2
|mile=0.000
|mspan=2
|espan=22
|road={{jct|state=NM|NM|21|dir1=west|name1=4th Street west|city1=Miami}}
|notes=Continuation beyond western terminus
}}
{{NMint
|mile=none
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=NM|BL|25|dab1=Springer|noshield1=yes|name1=Maxwell Avenue|to2=to|I|25|NM|58|city1=Las Vegas|city2=Raton|city3=Cimarron|city4=Taos Ski Valley|location5=Springer Lake}}<br>{{jct|state=NM|US|412|dir1=begins}}
|notes=Western terminus of US 56/US 412; western end of US&nbsp;412 overlap
}}
{{NMint
|location=Abbott
|mile=19.719
|road={{Jct|state=NM|NM|39|dir1=south|city1=Roy|city2=Mosquero}}
|notes=Northern terminus of NM&nbsp;39
}}
{{NMint
|location=none
|mile=31.690
|road={{Jct|state=NM|NM|193|dir1=north|city1=Farley}}
|notes=Southern terminus of NM&nbsp;193
}}
{{NMint
|county=Union
|cspan=5
|location=none
|mile=46.688
|road={{Jct|state=NM|NM|120|dir1=south|city1=Yates}}
|notes=Northern terminus of NM&nbsp;120
}}
{{NMint
|location=none
|mile=54.040
|road={{Jct|state=NM|NM|453|dir1=north|city1=Grenville}}
|notes=Southern terminus of NM&nbsp;453
}}
{{NMint
|location=Clayton
|lspan=2
|mile=82.400
|road={{Jct|state=NM|NM|402|name1=S. 1st Avenue}}
}}
{{NMint
|type=concur
|mile=82.530
|road={{Jct|state=NM|US|64|dir1=west|US|87|name2=1st Street|location1=[[Dalhart, Texas|Dalhart]]|city2=Raton}}
|notes=Western end of US 64 overlap
}}
{{NMint
|location=none
|mile=85.890
|road={{Jct|state=NM|NM|406|dir1=north|city1=Seneca}}
|notes=Southern terminus of NM&nbsp;406
}}
{{Jctplace
|river_wide=yes
|river=[[New Mexico]]–[[Oklahoma]] line
|mile=94.172
|mile2=0.00
|line=yes
|place=Mileposts reset at state line
}}
{{OKint
|sspan=6
|county=Cimarron
|cspan=5
|location=none
|mile=28.49
|road={{jct|state=OK|US|385|dir1=south|location1=[[Dalhart, Texas|Dalhart]]}}
|type=concur
|notes=Western end of US-385 overlap
}}
{{OKint
|location=Boise City
|type=concur
|mile=32.31
|road={{jct|state=OK|US|385|dir1=north|SH|3|dir2=west|name2=Cimarron Avenue north|SH|325|dir3=west|name3=Main Street west|city1=Kenton|location2=[[Denver, Colorado|Denver Co.]]}}
|notes=[[Traffic circle]] around Cimarron County courthouse; {{ccr-end|east|US-385}}; {{ccr-end|west|SH-3}}; eastern terminus of SH-325
}}
{{OKint
|location=none
|mile=34.03
|road={{jct|state=OK|US|287|location1=[[Amarillo, Texas|Amarillo]]|location2=[[Denver, Colorado|Denver CO]]|location3=[[Stratford, Texas|Stratford TX]]}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{OKint
|location=none
|mile=40.09
|road={{jct|state=OK|US|64|US|412|SH|3|dir3=east|city1=Guymon}}
|type=concur
|notes=Eastern end of US-64/US-412/SH-3 overlap
}}
{{OKint
|location=Keyes
|mile=48.54
|road={{Jct|state=OK|SH|171|dir1=south|location1=[[Kerrick, Texas|Kerrick]]}}
|notes=Northern terminus of SH-171
}}
{{OKint
|county=Texas
|location=none
|mile=71.46
|road={{Jct|state=OK|SH|95|dir1=south|city1=Guymon}}
|notes=Northern terminus of SH-95
}}
{{Jctplace
|river_wide=yes
|river=[[Oklahoma]]–[[Kansas]] line
|mile=71.68
|mile2=0.000
|line=yes
|place=Mileposts reset at state line
}}
{{KSint
|sspan=64
|county=Morton
|cspan=2
|location=Elkhart
|mile=2.366
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|27|dir1=north|city1=Richfield}}
|notes=Southern terminus of K-27
}}
{{KSint
|location=Rolla
|type=concur
|mile=17.746
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|51|dir1=west|city1=Richfield}}
|notes=Western end of K-51 overlap
}}<!-- 21.874 -->
{{KSint
|county=Stevens
|cspan=3
|location=none
|type=concur
|mile=25.994
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|25|dir1=south|location1=[[Guymon, Oklahoma|Guymon OK]]}}
|notes=Western end of K-25 overlap
}}
{{KSint
|location=Hugoton
|lspan=2
|type=concur
|mile=33.629
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|51|dir1=east|city1=Liberal}}
|notes=Eastern end of K-51 overlap
}}
{{KSint
|type=concur
|mile=35.775
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|25|dir1=north|city1=Ulysses}}
|notes=Eastern end of K-25 overlap
}}
{{Jctco|state=KS|county=Seward}}<!-- 56.848 -->
{{KSint|exit
|espan=2
|county=Haskell
|cspan=3
|location=Satanta
|lspan=2
|type=concur
|mile=61.813
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|190|dir1=west|city1=Ulysses}}
|notes=Western end of K-190 overlap
}}
{{KSint
|type=concur
|mile=62.893
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|190|dir1=east|city1=Liberal|city2=Meade}}
|notes=Eastern end of K-190 overlap
}}
{{KSint|exit
|espan=39
|location=Sublette
|mile=69.316
|road={{Jct|state=KS|US|160|US|83|city1=Liberal|city2=Garden City|city3=Meade}}
}}<!-- 82.067 -->
{{KSint
|county=Gray
|cspan=2
|location=none
|mile=87.201
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|144|dir1=west|city1=Ulysses}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of K-144
}}
{{KSint
|location=none
|mile=100.191
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|23|city1=Cimarron|city2=Meade}}
}}<!-- 107.586 -->
{{KSint
|county=Ford
|cspan=5
|location=Dodge City
|lspan=4
|type=concur
|mile=116.209
|road={{Jct|state=KS|US|400|dir1=west|city1=Garden City}}
|notes=Western end of US-400 overlap
}}
{{KSint
|type=concur
|mile=119.752
|road={{Jct|state=KS|US|283|dir1=south|city1=Minneola}}
|notes=Western end of US-283 overlap
}}
{{KSint
|type=concur
|mile=123.182
|road={{Jct|state=KS|US|400|dir1=east|city1=Greensburg}}
|notes=Eastern end of US-400 overlap
}}
{{KSint
|type=concur
|mile=126.894
|road={{Jct|state=KS|US|50|dir1=west|city1=Cimarron}}
|notes=Western end of US-50 overlap
}}
{{KSint
|location=Wright
|type=concur
|mile=128.630
|road={{Jct|state=KS|US|283|dir1=north|city1=Jetmore}}
|notes=Eastern end of US-283 overlap
}}<!-- 148.854 -->
{{KSint
|county=Edwards
|cspan=2
|location=Kinsley
|lspan=2
|type=concur
|mile=156.790
|road={{Jct|state=KS|US|50|dir1=east|city1=Hutchinson}}
|notes=Eastern end of US-50 overlap
}}
{{KSint
|type=concur
|mile=116.838
|road={{Jct|state=KS|US|183|dir1=south|city1=Greensburg}}
|notes=Western end of US-183 overlap
}}<!-- 164.963 -->
{{KSint
|county=Pawnee
|cspan=3
|location=none
|type=concur
|mile=165.995
|road={{Jct|state=KS|US|183|dir1=north|city1=La Crosse}}
|notes=Eastern end of US-183 overlap
}}
{{KSint
|location=Larned
|lspan=2
|mile=182.397
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K-Spur|19|dir1=south|city1=Belpre}}
|notes=Northern terminus of K-19 Spur
}}
{{KSint
|type=concur
|mile=183.810
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|156|dir1=west|city1=Jetmore}}
|notes=Western end of K-156 overlap; former US-156 west
}}
{{KSint
|county=Barton
|cspan=3
|location=Great Bend
|lspan=2
|type=concur
|mile=204.229
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|96|dir1=west|city1=Ness City}}
|notes=Western end of K-96 overlap
}}
{{KSint
|mile=206.006
|road={{Jct|state=KS|US|281|city1=St. John|city2=Russell}}
}}
{{KSint
|location=none
|type=concur
|mile=209.801
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|156|dir1=east|city1=Ellsworth}}
|notes=Eastern end of K-156 overlap; former US-156 east
}}<!-- 221.762 -->
{{KSint
|county=Rice
|location=Lyons
|type=concur
|mile=236.876
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|96|dir1=east|K|14|name2=Grand Avenue|city1=Ellsworth|city2=Hutchinson}}
|notes=Eastern end of K-96 overlap
}}<!-- 252.473 -->
{{KSint
|county=McPherson
|cspan=3
|location=McPherson
|lspan=3
|mile=265.669
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|153|dir1=south|city1=Hutchinson}}
|notes=Northern terminus of K-153; former [[U.S. Route 81 in Kansas|US-81]]
}}
{{KSint
|type=concur
|mile=266.667
|road={{Jct|state=KS|US-Bus|81|dab1=McPherson|dir1=south|city1=Newton|city2=Hutchinson|location3=[[McPherson Opera House|Opera House]]}}
|notes=Western end of US-81 Bus. overlap
}}
{{KSint
|type=concur
|mile=269.185
|road={{Jct|state=KS|US-Bus|81|dab1=McPherson|dir1=ends|I|135|US|81|city1=Salina|city2=Wichita}}
|notes=Eastern end of US-81 Bus. overlap; I-135 exit 60
}} <!-- 282.811 -->
{{KSint
|county=Marion
|cspan=5
|location=none
|type=concur
|mile=285.158
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|15|dir1=south|city1=Newton}}
|notes=Western end of K-15 overlap
}}
{{KSint
|location=Lehigh
|mile=286.642
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|168|dir1=north|city1=Lehigh}}
|notes=Southern terminus of K-168
}}
{{KSint
|location=Hillsboro
|type=concur
|mile=291.156
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|15|dir1=north|city1=Abilene}}
|notes=Eastern end of K-15 overlap
}}
{{KSint
|location=Marion
|mile=301.399
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|256|dir1=south|city1=Marion}}
|notes=Northern terminus of K-256
}}
{{KSint
|location=none
|type=concur
|mile=305.390
|road={{Jct|state=KS|US|77|dir1=south|K|150|dir2=east|city1=Emporia|city2=El Dorado}}
|notes=Western end of US-77 overlap; western terminus of K-150; roundabout
}}<!-- 322.740 -->
{{KSint
|county=Dickinson
|cspan=2
|location=Herington
|lspan=2
|type=incomplete
|mile=324.997
|road={{Jct|state=KS|US-Bus|56|dab1=Herington|dir1=east|city1=Herington}}
|notes=Western terminus of US-56 Bus.; no access to US-56 Bus. from US-56 westbound
}}
{{KSint
|type=concur
|mile=327.060
|road={{Jct|state=KS|US|77|dir1=north|US-Bus|56|dab2=Herington|dir2=west|city1=Herington|city2=Junction City}}
|notes=Eastern end of US-77 overlap; eastern terminus of US-56 Bus.
}}<!-- 327.140 -->
{{KSint
|county=Morris
|cspan=2
|location=none
|mile=337.304
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|149|dir1=north|city1=White City}}
|notes=Southern terminus of K-149
}}
{{KSint
|location=Council Grove
|mile=351.155
|mile2=351.323
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|177|city1=Cottonwood Falls|city2=Manhattan}}
}}<!-- 358.662 -->
{{KSint
|county=Lyon
|cspan=3
|location=Admire
|mile=372.731
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|99|city1=Emporia|city2=Alma}}
}}
{{KSint
|location=none
|type=toll
|mile=376.162
|road={{Jct|state=KS|I|335|KTA||city1=Emporia|city2=Topeka}}
|notes=Kansas Tpke. exit 147
}}
{{KSint
|location=Miller
|mile=378.469
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|78|dir1=south|city1=Miller}}
|notes=Northern terminus of K-78
}}<!-- 380.796 -->
{{KSint
|county=Osage
|cspan=3
|location=none
|type=concur
|mile=386.959
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|31|dir1=south|road|229th Street|city1=Osage City}}
|notes=[[Interchange (road)#Directional T interchange (Y-interchange)|Wye intersection]]; western end of K-31 overlap
}}
{{KSint
|location=Burlingame
|type=concur
|mile=393.732
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|31|dir1=north|city1=Harveyville}}
|notes=Eastern end of K-31 overlap
}}
{{KSint
|location=none
|mile=383.775
|road={{Jct|state=KS|US|75|city1=Lyndon|city2=Topeka}}
}}<!-- 413.645 -->
{{KSint
|county=Douglas
|cspan=2
|location=Baldwin City
|mile=426.126
|road={{Jct|state=KS|US|59|city1=Lawrence|city2=Ottawa}}
}}
{{KSint
|location=none
|mile=436.919
|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|33|dir1=south|city1=Wellsville}}
|notes=Northern terminus of K-33
}}<!-- 437.919 -->
{{KSint
|county=Johnson
|cspan=19
|location=Gardner
|lspan=2
|mile=
|road=[[New Century AirCenter]]
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{KSint
|type=concur
|mile=448.458
|road={{Jct|state=KS|I|35|dir1=south|US|50|dir2=west|city1=Wichita}}
|notes=Western end of I-35/US-50 overlap; I-35 exit 210
}}
{{KSint|exit
|location=Olathe
|lspan=5
|exit=214
|mile=451.688
|road=Lone Elm Road / 159th Street
|notes=Exit numbers follow I-35
}}
{{KSint|exit
|exit=215
|mile=453.208
|road={{jct|state=KS|US|169|dir1=south|K|7|city1=Paola}}
|type=concur
|notes={{ccr-end|West|US-169}}
}}
{{KSint|exit
|exit=217
|mile=454.468
|road=Old Highway 56
|type=incomplete
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
}}
{{KSint|exit
|exit=218
|mile=455.668
|road=Santa Fe Street
}}
{{KSint|exit
|exit=220
|mile=457.998
|road=119th Street
}}
{{KSint|exit
|location=Lenexa
|lspan=3
|exit=222A
|mile=460.198
|mspan=2
|road={{jct|state=KS|I|435|US|50|dir2=east}}
|type=concur
|notes={{ccr-end|East|US-50}}; I-435 exit&nbsp;83
}}
{{KSint|exit
|exit=222B
|mile=none
|road={{jct|state=KS|I|435|dir1=west|to2=to|K|10}}
|notes=I-435 exit 83
}}
{{KSint|exit
|exit=224
|mile=461.658
|road=95th Street
|notes=Diverging diamond interchange<ref>{{cite web|last1=Carney|first1=Candi|title=The construction is over! Drivers have access to the I-35 and 95th Street interchange|url=http://www.kshb.com/news/region-kansas/johnson-county/the-construction-is-over-drivers-will-soon-have-access-to-the-i-35-and-95th-street-interchange|publisher=KSHB|date=August 16, 2016 |access-date=18 August 2016}}</ref>
}}
{{KSint|exit
|location1=Lenexa
|location2=Overland Park
|exit=225A
|mile=462.908
|mspan=2
|road=87th Street Parkway
}}
{{KSint|exit
|location1=Overland Park
|location2=Lenexa
|type=incomplete
|exit=225C
|mile=none
|road=75th Street
|notes=Eastbound exit only
}}
{{KSint|exit
|location=Lenexa
|exit=225B
|mile=463.398
|road={{jct|state=KS|US|69|dir1=south|name1=Overland Parkway}}
|type=concur
|notes={{ccr-end|West|US-69}}; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
}}
{{KSint|exit
|location1=Overland Park
|location2=Merriam
|exit=227
|type=incomplete
|mile=464.788
|road=75th Street
|notes=No eastbound exit
}}
{{KSint|exit
|location=Merriam
|lspan=2
|exit=228A
|mile=465.828
|road=67th Street
}}
{{KSint|exit
|espan=2
|type=concur
|mile=466.348
|road={{Jct|state=KS|I|35|dir1=north|location1=[[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]]}}
|notes=Eastern end of I-35 overlap; I-35 exit&nbsp;228B
}}
{{KSint
|location1=Overland Park
|location2=Shawnee
|type=concur
|mile=467.710
|road={{jct|state=KS|US|69|I|635|to2=to|dir1=north|name1=Metcalf Avenue}}
|notes=Eastern end of US-69 overlap; interchange
}}
{{KSint|exit
|location1=Mission
|location2=Fairway
|type=incomplete
|mile=
|road=Roe Avenue / Johnson Drive
|notes=Interchange; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
}}
{{KSint|exit
|location1=Westwood
|location2=Mission Woods
|type=concur
|mile=471.201
|road={{Jct|state=KS|US|169|dir1=north|name1=Rainbow Boulevard}}
|notes=Eastern end of US-169 overlap
}}
{{Jctint|exit
|espan=2
|river_wide=yes
|river=[[Kansas]]–[[Missouri]] line
|mile=471.450
|mile2=0.000
|line=yes
|road=[[State Line Road]]
|notes=Mileposts reset; no state maintenance inside Missouri
}}
{{MOint
|sspan=1
|county=Jackson
|location=Kansas City
|mile=2.948
|road={{Jct|state=MO|US|71|name1=Bruce R. Watkins Drive}}
|notes=Interchange; eastern terminus; road continues as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
}}
{{jctbtm|col=8|keys=concur,incomplete,toll}}

==Related routes==
===Herington business loop===
{{infobox road small
|state=KS
|type=US-Bus
|route=56
|formed=October 13, 1979<ref name="1979 AASHTO">{{AASHTO minutes |year  = 1979A |page = 508 }}</ref>
|location=[[Herington, Kansas]]
}}
'''U.S. Route&nbsp;56 Business''' ('''US-56 Bus.''') is a short business loop through [[Herington, Kansas]]. US-56 begins at US-56 and US-77 south of Herington. At this intersection, there is no access to eastbound US-56 or northbound US-77 from US-56 Bus. and no access to US-56 Bus. from westbound US-56 or southbound US-77. US-56 Bus. heads north through flat lands with scattered trees for {{convert|1.1|mi|km}} then enters [[Herington, Kansas|Herington]]. The highway continues for roughly {{convert|0.55|mi|km}} then curves east and becomes Trapp Street. US-56 Bus. then crosses Lime Creek as it continues through the city. After roughly {{convert|0.85|mi|km}} the highway exits the city and reaches its eastern terminus at US-56 and US-77.

US-56 Bus. and US-77 Bus. was approved through Herington in a meeting on October 13, 1979. US-77 Bus. was approved to be decommissioned in a meeting on June 9, 1991, leaving just US-56 Bus..<ref name="1991 AASHTO">{{AASHTO minutes |year  = 1991A }}</ref>

;Major intersections
{{Jcttop|state=KS|county=Dickinson|length_ref=}}
{{KSint
|location=none
|type=incomplete
|mile=0.00
|road={{jct|state=KS|US|56|US|77|dir1=west|dir2=south}}
|notes=Western terminus; no access to US-56 east/ US-77 north from US-56 Bus. west; no access to US-56 Bus. from US-56 west/ US-77 south
}}
{{KSint
|location=Herington
|mile=2.5
|mspan=2
|road={{jct|state=KS|US|56|US|77|dir1=west|city1=Junction City|city2=Lincolnville}}
|notes=Eastern terminus
}}
{{KSint
|location=none
|mile=none
|road={{jct|state=KS|US|56|dir1=east|city1=Council Grove}}
|notes=Continuation beyond eastern terminus
}}
{{jctbtm|keys=incomplete}}

===Temporary route===
{{infobox road small
|state=OK
|type=US 1961-Temp
|route=56
|formed=July 11, 1956<ref name="ODOT discussion"/>
|decommissioned={{circa|1961}}<ref name="odot-1961-map"/><ref name="odot-1962-map"/>
|location=Near [[Boise City, Oklahoma]]&nbsp;– [[Elkhart, Kansas]]
|length_mi=42.9
|length_ref=<ref name="ODOT discussion"/>
}}
'''U.S. Route&nbsp;56 Temporary''' ('''US-56 Temp.''') was a {{convert|42.9|mi|km|-long|adj=mid}} temporary route of US&nbsp;56 in Oklahoma. It began on modern US-56 northeast of [[Boise City, Oklahoma]] and followed US&nbsp;64 and [[Oklahoma State Highway 3|SH 3]] east to [[Oklahoma State Highway 95|SH 95]]. It then traveled north along SH 95 to Elkhart, Kansas. The route was approved on July 11, 1956, along existing highways, when the current routing of US-56 was being constructed.<ref name="ODOT discussion"/> By 1962, US&nbsp;56 was rerouted over [[Oklahoma State Highway 114|SH 114]], bringing it to its current diagonal path across the Oklahoma Panhandle.<ref name="odot-1961-map"/><ref name="odot-1962-map"/>

;Major intersections
{{Jcttop|state=OK|length_ref=<ref name="ODOT discussion"/>}}
{{OKint
|county=Cimarron
|location=none
|type=trans
|mile=0.00
|road={{jct|state=OK|US 1961|56|nolink1=y|US 1961|64|SH 1961|3|dir3=west|SH 1961|114|dir4=east}}
|notes=Transitioned to US&nbsp;56 west; west end of US&nbsp;64/SH-3 overlap; western terminus of SH-114
}}
{{OKint
|county=Texas
|cspan=2
|type=concur
|location=none
|mile=27
|road={{jct|state=OK|US 1961|64|SH 1961|3|dir2=east|SH 1961|95|dir3=south}}
|notes=East end of US&nbsp;64/SH-3 overlap; west end of SH-95 overlap
}}
{{OKint
|location=none
|mile=41
|road={{jct|state=OK|SH 1961|114|dir1=west}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of SH-114
}}
{{jctint
|river=[[Oklahoma]]–[[Kansas]] line
|mile=42.9
|type=trans
|road={{jct|state=OK|SH 1961|95|dir1=ends}}<br>{{jct|state=KS|US 1961|56|dir1=east|nolink1=y|K|27|dir2=north}}
|notes=Transitioned to US&nbsp;56 east; eastern end of SH-95 overlap; northern terminus of SH-95; southern terminus of K-27
}}
{{jctbtm|keys=concur,trans}}

==See also==
* [[K-156 (Kansas highway)]]
* [[U.S. Route 156]]

==References==
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://usends.com/56.html Endpoints of U.S. Highway 56]
* Kansas Highway Maps: [http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/MapsState.asp Current] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507230256/http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/MapsState.asp |date=May 7, 2016 }}, [http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/HistoricStateMaps.asp Historic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219115640/http://ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/HistoricStateMaps.asp |date=December 19, 2010 }}, KDOT

{{US Highways}}

{{start srbox}}
{{nm browse|previous_type=NM|previous_route=55|route=[[List of state roads in New Mexico|NM]]|next_type=NM|next_route=56}}
{{ok browse|previous_type=SH|previous_route=55|route=[[List of Oklahoma numbered highways|OK]]|next_type=SH|next_route=56}}
{{ks browse|previous_type=KS|previous_route=55|route=[[List of Kansas numbered highways|KS]]|next_type=KS|next_route=57}}
{{mo browse|previous_type=I|previous_route=55|route=[[Missouri State Highway System|MO]]|next_type=I|next_route=57}}
{{S-end}}

[[Category:U.S. Route 56| ]]
[[Category:United States Numbered Highway System|56]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in Kansas|56]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in Missouri|56]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in Oklahoma|56]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in New Mexico|56]]
[[Category:Transportation in Colfax County, New Mexico]]
[[Category:Transportation in Union County, New Mexico]]
[[Category:Transportation in Cimarron County, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Transportation in Texas County, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Transportation in Morton County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Stevens County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Seward County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Haskell County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Gray County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Ford County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Edwards County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Pawnee County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Barton County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Rice County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Transportation in McPherson County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Marion County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Dickinson County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Morris County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Lyon County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Osage County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Douglas County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Johnson County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Jackson County, Missouri]]