First I agree with both Will and Bluerosy, Both methods can be made to work and work well.
Start by making sure the lid does not allow air to escape. Replace it or simply cover it with some plastic or something(anything) Both UTH and lites heat air, hot air raises drying out the cage. They can be measured by watching how fast the water bowl dries out. The evaporation that effects the water bowl effects the snake the same way and that is not good.

ALso Bluerosy mentioned a dimmer switch. If you go that route, buy a fan controller. Its also a dimmer, that has much much more control and allows a far better control. A normal dimmer, starts by wasting 20% of the capability of the heater, before you even lower it. Fan controllers do not.
About burning, that is caused from extremely poor husbandry. Its far more common with large massed species like boas and pythons. This occurs when the ambient temps are too low and there is a small hotspot that's very hot. The animal senses its body is COLD, not cool, and does not move off the heat. Therefore burning one or more areas. Kingsnakes under cool better then boas, and have less mass, so its not as common a problem. If you stay within the temps recommended, High fifties to 100F there should be no problems with burning. Kingsnakes are experts with regional heating. That is only heating up the part of the body that requires heat. Truth is, average room temps are great for ambient temps with kings, 68F to 78F in the summer, with a part of the cage, 1/4 or so, no higher then 100F. Best wishes

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