Spanning 290.3 miles across the Kansas Great Plains, this cross-state trek takes approximately 5 hours and 50 minutes to complete. You will navigate through local roads like East Wyatt Earp Boulevard, East Trail Street, and West Kansas Avenue rather than relying on major interstates. Because the highway share is 0%, this journey is best approached as a dedicated day trip. Budget roughly $44 for fuel to cover the distance between Dodge City and Coffeyville. It is a straightforward, single-day endeavor that lets you see a significant cross-section of the state without the rush of high-speed traffic.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
145.2 miles from Dodge City, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
68.2 mi
1h 20m
Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway
61.9 mi
1h 11m
Cannonball Stageline
60.2 mi
1h 8m
East Trail Street
41.9 mi
50m
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
23.7 mi
27m
US 169
22.8 mi
26m
West 1st Street
3.1 mi
6m
D Avenue
2.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
— 68.2 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dodge City, KS and Coffeyville, KS.
1
Start on Central Avenue
33 ft·0 sec·Central Avenue
2
Turn left onto East Wyatt Earp Boulevard
2.0 mi·3 min·East Wyatt Earp Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto US 56; US 283
0.5 mi·1 min·US 56; US 283
4
Turn left onto US 400
42 mi·50 min·East Trail Street
5
Continue on US 54; US 400
1.3 mi·2 min·West Kansas Avenue
6
Continue on US 54; US 400
29 mi·33 min·Cannonball Stageline
7
Continue on US 54; US 400
3.1 mi·6 min·West 1st Street
8
Continue on US 54; US 400
31 mi·35 min·Cannonball Stageline
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 54; US 400
2.4 mi·5 min·D Avenue
10
Continue on US 54; US 400; KS 14
61 mi·1 hr 12 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 54; US 400
0.7 mi·1 min·West 7th Avenue
12
Continue on US 54; US 77; US 400
7.0 mi·8 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
13
Continue on US 400
62 mi·1 hr 11 min·Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway
14
Enter roundabout onto US 400
157 ft·2 sec·Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
15
Continue on US 400
24 mi·27 min·Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward US 169Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto US 169
23 mi·26 min·US 169
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
18
Continue on US 166; US 169
0.4 mi·42 sec·US 166; US 169
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto East 8th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·East 8th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto South Walnut Street
381 ft·21 sec·South Walnut Street
21
Turn left onto West 7th Street
210 ft·9 sec·West 7th Street
22
Arrive at destination
West 7th Street
Trip Plan
Plan for a full day on the road to account for the 290.3-mile distance and the lower speeds associated with local routes. With only one recommended stop, you should identify a convenient point midway through your journey to stretch and refuel. Keeping your $44 fuel budget in mind, ensure you fill up before heading into less populated sections to avoid any mid-trip stress. Since this is a turn-heavy drive, prioritize leaving in the morning to maximize daylight for navigating the local street segments. Flexibility is your main advantage here, so adjust your pace to match the rhythm of these regional roads rather than rushing to a specific arrival time.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 145.2 miles from Dodge City, KS, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.2 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 64 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.2 miles or 2h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Coffeyville, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dodge City, 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 Dodge City, KS
This is one driving day of about 290.3 miles and 5h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Dodge City, 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 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway for about 68.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 289.4 — 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 Wyatt Earp Boulevard
Turn left onto East Wyatt Earp Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
242.2 mi into trip|~4h 52m in|US 400 / Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
Enter roundabout onto US 400 / Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
265.8 mi into trip|~5h 19m in
Take the exit toward US 169
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 169
6
266.2 mi into trip|~5h 20m in|US 169
Turn right onto US 169
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
289.4 mi into trip|~5h 47m in|East 8th Street
Turn right onto East 8th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.39 one way
$90.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$49.83
$99.66
premium
$4.89
$55.87
$111.73
diesel
$5.61
$64.09
$128.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.1
1
$30.48
$13.93
Efficient EV
72.6
0
$25.40
$11.61
EV Truck/SUV
116.1
1
$40.64
$18.58
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Dodge City, KS
Evening
in Dodge City on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Coffeyville, KS
Evening
in Coffeyville on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°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
31 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 50m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Since this route utilizes 0% highways, you will spend the entire 5 hours and 50 minutes navigating local thoroughfares and surface roads. This profile creates a more technical driving experience compared to the monotonous pace of an interstate cruise. You will find that the road's personality remains consistent as you traverse the Great Plains, requiring you to stay alert through various turns and transitions. Without long, uninterrupted highway stretches, the drive feels tactile and grounded in the local landscape.
Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.2 mi on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Wyatt Earp Boulevard.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 50m 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 Wyatt Earp Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 242.2 miles (US 400 / Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 265.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,492 ft734 ft
Total Climb
125 ft
Total Descent
1,883 ft
Highest Point
2,492 ft
Elevation Range
1,758 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 50m. Total distance: 290.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 68.2 miles on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Wyatt Earp Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 242.2 miles (US 400 / Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 265.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Coffeyville, KS before the return drive.
