Origin
Buhler, KS
Evening in Buhler on Thursday
Local time
7:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buhler, KS to Fort Dodge, KS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 41m
Distance
134.8 mi
217 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 31m
★
6 AM
2h 41m
8 AM
3h 3m
10 AM
2h 49m
12 PM
2h 47m
3 PM
2h 50m
5 PM
3h 2m
8 PM
2h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buhler, KS
Helena Jankovičová Kováčová
Fort Dodge, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Buhler, KS to Fort Dodge, KS covers 134.8 miles and takes about 2h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 50, United States Highway 50, North Buhler Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 106 miles on US 50. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.90 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
67.4 miles from Buhler, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 50 | 106 mi | 2h 2m |
| United States Highway 50 | 15.4 mi | 17m |
| North Buhler Road | 7.3 mi | 10m |
| 117 Road | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| US 400 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| East 1st Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Old Mill Lane | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 106 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buhler, KS and Fort Dodge, KS.
1
Start on Old Mill Lane
148 ft
·
12 sec
·
Old Mill Lane
2
Turn left onto East 1st Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East 1st Avenue
3
Turn left onto North Buhler Road
7.3 mi
·
10 min
·
North Buhler Road
4
Turn right onto US 50
15 mi
·
17 min
·
United States Highway 50
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50
40 mi
·
45 min
·
US 50
6
Enter roundabout onto US 50
176 ft
·
2 sec
·
US 50
7
Continue on US 50
66 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
US 50
8
Turn left onto 117 Road
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
117 Road
9
Turn sharp right onto US 400
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
US 400
10
Turn left
343 ft
·
14 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.4 miles from Buhler, KS, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 30 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.4 miles or 1h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Dodge, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Buhler, KS so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Buhler, KS
This is one driving day of about 134.8 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Buhler, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 50 for about 106 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 67.4 miles from Buhler, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 50 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 106 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 133 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East 1st Avenue
Turn left onto East 1st Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North Buhler Road
Turn left onto North Buhler Road
Navigation decision point
6
7.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
US 50 / United States Highway 50
Turn right onto US 50 / United States Highway 50
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
23 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
US 50
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
133 mi into trip
|
~2h 39m in
|
US 400
Turn sharp right onto US 400
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.90 one way
$41.80 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
47 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $22.92 | $45.83 |
| premium | $4.93 | $26.15 | $52.31 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $29.71 | $59.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.4 | 0 | $14.15 | $6.47 |
| Efficient EV | 33.7 | 0 | $11.80 | $5.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.9 | 0 | $18.87 | $8.63 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Fort Dodge, KS
Evening in Fort Dodge on Thursday
Local time
7:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
24 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 41m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
134.8 mi in 2h 41m, mostly highway — 106 mi of that is on US 50.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 106 mi on US 50.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and United States Highway 50. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 1st Avenue.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 41m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 1st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (North Buhler Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.7 miles (US 50 / United States Highway 50): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,492 ft
1,477 ft
Total Climb
1,015 ft
Total Descent
29 ft
Highest Point
2,492 ft
~125.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,015 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Buhler, KS
Full guide →Founded 1888
Arriving in Fort Dodge, KS
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 134.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 106 miles on US 50. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 1st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (North Buhler Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.7 miles (US 50 / United States Highway 50): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fort Dodge, KS before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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