K-2 (Kansas highway)
Highway in Kansas, United States

K-2 marker
K-2
K-2 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by KDOT and the cities of Anthony and Harper
Length61.516 mi[2] (99.000 km)
ExistedJanuary 7, 1937[1]–present
Major junctions
South end US-281 east of Hardtner
Major intersections
North end K-42 west of Viola
Location
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountiesBarber, Harper, Kingman, Sumner
Highway system
  • Kansas State Highway System
← K-1→ K-3

K-2 is a 61.516-mile-long (99.000 km) state highway in the south-central portion of the U.S. state of Kansas. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with U.S. Route 281 (US-281) east of Hardtner and its northern terminus is at an intersection with K-42 west of the town of Viola. Along the way K-2 passes through the cities of Kiowa, Hazelton, Anthony and Harper. Between the latter two, it has an overlap with US-160.

Before state highways were numbered in Kansas, there were auto trails. A short section of K-2 west of Kiowa follows the former Oklahoma-Kansas-Colorado Highway. K-2 was designated on January 7, 1937, and went from US-160 north to K-42 in Norwich. Between 1961 and 1963, K-2 was extended in both directions, eastward to overlap with K-14 to US-281 and westward to overlap K-42 to US-54. On December 24, 1994, the overlaps with K-42 and K-14 were eliminated.

Route description

K-2's southern terminus is at US-281 east of Hardtner in Barber County. The highway proceeds east, just 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of Kansas-Oklahoma border, through flat rural farmland. The highway crosses Little Mule Creek before intersecting Coates Street, where it curves south. K-2 then quickly curves back east at Bare Road, then enters Kiowa as Main Street. The highway has an at-grade crossing with a BNSF Railway track. K-2 then intersects the northern terminus of the southern leg of K-8 (4th Street), before turning north onto 7th Street. K-2 begins to curve northeast at Hardtner Street and soon exits the city as it passes by a school.[3] K-2 continues northeast, parallel to the railroad track and after a short distance crosses Medicine Lodge River. The highway continues through rural farmland for another 1.6 miles (2.6 km) then crosses Lone Tree Canyon. It continues northeast along the railroad track and briefly passes through the northwest corner of Hazelton.[4] The highway passes just north of Spicer Lake before crossing over Salty Creek. K-2 then enters into Harper County.[5] The highway crosses Little Sandy Creek then curves east away from the railroad. The highway continues east through flat farmland and soon crosses Sandy Creek, then Camp Creek 2.3 miles (3.7 km) later. K-2 continues east to an intersection with 80 Avenue, which travels south to Waldron.[6]

The northern terminus of K-2 at K-42

K-2 crosses Beaver Creek, then Bluff Creek before reaching Anthony Municipal Airport. The roadway crosses over Spring Creek, and then enters Anthony as Main Street. K-2 turns north onto LL&G Avenue, at the western terminus of K-44. The highway exits the city and passes to the east of Anthony Municipal Lake.[7] The highway continues through flat rural farmland to an intersection with US-160, which it begins to overlap. The two routes continue north for about 2.3 miles (3.7 km) before entering Harper. The highway continues past the Harper Municipal Airport then turns east onto 14th Street, at the southern terminus of K-14. K-2 and US-160 continue through the city for 1.1 miles (1.8 km) then K-2 turns north and US-160 continues east. K-2 heads north for a short distance then curves northeast and exits the city.[8] The highway then crosses over a BNSF Railway track before crossing Sand Creek. It continues northeast through more farmland for 3.9 miles (6.3 km) then crosses Spring Creek. K-2 continues northeast, passing through Runnymede, before crossing over Chikaskia River and entering into Kingman County.[6] K-2 continues northeast through farmland to a junction with SE 150th Avenue, which travels north to Norwich. The highway continues to an at-grade crossing with a Kansas and Oklahoma Railway track then enters into Sumner County.[9] It then reaches its northern terminus at K-42 west of Viola.[10]

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) tracks the traffic levels on its highways, and in 2024, they determined that on average the traffic varied from 605 vehicles per day slightly northeast of Hazelton to 3895 vehicles per day slightly north of Anthony.[11] K-2 is not included in the National Highway System.[12] The National Highway System is a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility.[13] The 1.128-mile (1.815 km) section of K-2's alignment within Anthony is maintained by the city.[14] The section of K-2 in Harper from K-14 to the north city line is maintained by the city.[15]

History

Prior to the formation of the Kansas state highway system, there were auto trails, which were an informal network of marked routes that existed in the United States and Canada in the early part of the 20th century. A short section of K-2 west of Kiowa follows the former Oklahoma-Kansas-Colorado Highway.[16]

K-2 was originally designated in 1927, from Norton west to the Colorado border.[17] Then between 1930 and 1931, K-2 became part of US-36 when it was extended west into Colorado.[18][19] The current K-2 was designated on January 7, 1937, and went from US-160 in Harper to K-42 in Norwich.[1] Until 1950, K-2 turned northward onto current SE 150th Avenue south of Norwich and ended at K-42 in Norwich. Then in a January 1, 1950 resolution, the turn was eliminated and it continued northeastward to end at K-42 east of Norwich.[20] Between 1961 and 1963, K-2 was extended in both directions, eastward to overlap with K-14 to US-281 and westward to overlap K-42 to US-54.[21][22] In mid May 1967, the SHC approved a bid of $88,694 (equivalent to $634,873 in 2024 dollars)[23] to rebuild the junction with K-42 east of Norwich.[24] Then in two separate December 24, 1994 resolutions, the concurrency with K-42 became K-42 only, and the concurrency with K-14 became K-2 only.[25][26]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[2]kmDestinationsNotes
BarberKiowa Township0.0000.000 US-281 – Alva Okla., Medicine LodgeSouthern terminus
Kiowa4.5117.260
 K-8 south (4th Street) – Cherokee OK		Northern terminus of K-8; serves Kiowa District Hospital
HarperAnthony33.66654.180


 K-44 east (Main Street) to K-49 / K-179		Western terminus of K-44
Township 539.70063.891
 US-160 west – Attica, Medicine Lodge		Southern end of US-160 concurrency
Harper42.71568.743
 K-14 north – Kingman		Southern terminus of K-14
43.82770.533
 US-160 east (14th Street east) – Wellington		Northern end of US-160 concurrency
Kingman
 No major junctions
SumnerEden Township61.51699.000 K-42 – Norwich, WichitaNorthern terminus; K-42 east is former K-2 north
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ a b Kansas State Highway Commission (January 7, 1937). "OnBase 20.8.5.1000". Topeka: Kansas State Highway Commission. Archived from the original on July 17, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Staff (2016). "Pavement Management Information System". Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  3. ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (March 2023). City of Kiowa (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. KDOT City Maps. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  4. ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (March 2023). City of Hazelton (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. KDOT City Maps. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  5. ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (September 1, 2009). Barber County (Map). [c. 1: 211,200]. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Bureau of Transportation Planning (June 2010). Harper County (Map). [c. 1: 211,200]. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  7. ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (March 2023). City of Anthony (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. KDOT City Maps. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  8. ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (March 2023). City of Harper (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. KDOT City Maps. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  9. ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (November 2011). Kingman County (Map). [c. 1: 211,200]. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  10. ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (May 2010). Sumner County (Map). [c. 1: 211,200]. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  11. ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (2025). Traffic Flow Map Kansas State Highway System (Map). [c. 1:1,584,000]. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  12. ^ Federal Highway Administration (May 8, 2019). National Highway System: Kansas (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:3,900,000]. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  13. ^ Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike; Adderly, Kevin (September 26, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  14. ^ Kansas Department of Transportation (October 24, 2005). "Resolution Designating City Connecting Links in State Highway System". Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  15. ^ Kansas Department of Transportation (July 10, 2006). "Resolution Designating City Connecting Links in State Highway System". Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  16. ^ Rand McNally and Company (1924). "Kansas" (Map). AutoTrails Map, Southern Nebraska, Eastern Colorado, Kansas, Northeastern New Mexico, Northern Oklahoma. 1:1,600,000. Chicago: Rand McNally and Company. OCLC 2078375. Retrieved June 15, 2020 – via Rumsey Collection.
  17. ^ Rand McNally and Company (1927). "Kansas" (Map). Rand McNally Auto Road Atlas of the United States and Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritime Provinces of Canada, with a Brief Description of the National Parks and Monuments. 1:1,600,000. Chicago: Rand McNally and Company. pp. 54–55. OCLC 2078375 – via Rumsey Collection.
  18. ^ Rand McNally and Company (1930). "Kansas" (Map). Rand McNally Junior Auto Road Map of Kansas. Chicago: Rand McNally and Company. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  19. ^ Clason Map Company (1931). "Kansas" (Map). Clason's Road Map of Kansas. 1:1,600,000. Denver: Clason Map Company – via Rumsey Collection.
  20. ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (January 7, 1950). "Resolution for Relocation and Redesignation of Road in Kingman and Sumner Counties". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved October 1, 2019.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map) (1961 ed.). Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. 1961. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  22. ^ Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map) (1963-1964 ed.). Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. 1963–1964. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  23. ^ Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
  24. ^ "2 Counties Get Road Work". The Wichita Beacon. Wichita, Kansas. May 17, 1967. p. 9. Retrieved March 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Kansas Department of Transportation (December 21, 1994). "Resolution to Withdraw the K-2 Route Designation from segments of Highway in Sedgewick and Sumner Counties". Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  26. ^ Kansas Department of Transportation (December 21, 1994). "Resolution to Withdraw the K-14 Route Designation from segments of Highway in Barber and Harper Counties". Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on July 17, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
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  • Kansas Department of Transportation State Map Archived May 7, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
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