Dodge City, KS to Concordia, KS is 210.8 miles and takes about 4h 6m via I 135 and KS 156, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive will take you across Kansas, moving from the Great Plains region into another part of the Great Plains. With a recommended one-day trip, you'll spend most of your time on highways, making for a relatively straightforward transit. This route is best suited for travelers who prioritize reaching their destination efficiently while still enjoying a brief glimpse of the Kansas landscape.
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
105.4 miles from Dodge City, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 135
48.7 mi
52m
KS 156
47.9 mi
55m
US 50
31.3 mi
36m
US 56
28.1 mi
33m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
25.3 mi
25m
East 14th Street
19.3 mi
23m
10th Street
3.8 mi
5m
Railroad Avenue
2.6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 135
— 48.7 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dodge City, KS and Concordia, KS.
1
Start on Central Avenue
33 ft·0 sec·Central Avenue
2
Turn left onto East Wyatt Earp Boulevard
2.1 mi·3 min·East Wyatt Earp Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 56; US 283
3.1 mi·3 min·US 56; US 283
4
Turn right onto US 50; US 56; US 283
31 mi·36 min·US 50; US 56; US 283
5
Turn left onto US 183
0.5 mi·45 sec·Niles Avenue
6
Turn right onto US 56; US 183
25 mi·30 min·US 56; US 183
7
Turn right onto US 56; KS 156
19 mi·23 min·East 14th Street
8
Turn right onto Railroad Avenue
2.1 mi·5 min·Railroad Avenue
9
At end of road, turn right onto Washington Street
150 ft·4 sec·Washington Street
10
Keep slight left at fork onto Railroad Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Railroad Avenue
11
Turn left onto US 281
0.4 mi·40 sec·Main Street
12
Turn right onto US 56; KS 96; KS 156
3.8 mi·5 min·10th Street
13
Turn left onto KS 156
48 mi·55 min·KS 156
14
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I-70 East, Salina
15
Merge onto I 70; US 40
25 mi·25 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·39 sec
Toward US 81 North: Concordia
17
Merge onto I 135; US 81
49 mi·52 min·I 135; US 81
18
Turn left onto East 7th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·East 7th Street
19
Turn right onto State Street
194 ft·10 sec·State Street
20
Turn right
119 ft·8 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 4h 6m duration, leaving Dodge City in the morning should get you to Concordia with plenty of daylight remaining. You'll only need one stop to break up the 210.8 miles, so plan that around when you feel you need a stretch or to refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 48.7-mile stretch on I 135, as services might be less frequent. Your estimated fuel cost is around $33, so factor that into your budget.
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 105.4 miles from Dodge City, KS, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.7 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 46 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.4 miles or 2h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Concordia, 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 210.8 miles and 4h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 I 135 for about 48.7 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 210.8 — 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.
5
83.4 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|Washington Street
At end of road, turn right onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
5
136.1 mi into trip|~2h 46m in
Take the ramp toward I-70 East, Salina
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 East, Salina
5
210.7 mi into trip|~4h 6m in|State Street
Turn right onto State Street
Navigation decision point
5
210.8 mi into trip|~4h 6m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.96 one way
$65.91 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$36.18
$72.37
premium
$4.89
$40.57
$81.13
diesel
$5.61
$46.54
$93.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.2
0
$22.13
$10.12
Efficient EV
52.7
0
$18.45
$8.43
EV Truck/SUV
84.3
1
$29.51
$13.49
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Dodge City, KS
Late night
in Dodge City on Tuesday
Local time
4:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Concordia, KS
Late night
in Concordia on Tuesday
Local time
4:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Ellsworth, KS
105 mi in
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
2 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
4h 6m 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?
You'll be on highways for about 74% of this 210.8-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 48.7 miles on I 135. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface roads for portions of the route. The prevalence of highway driving suggests a generally open road feel, with fewer exits for significant periods.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.7 mi on I 135.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 135 and KS 156. 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 4h 6m drive. You will face about 17 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 83.4 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 136.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Dodge City, KS to Concordia, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.
Salina
136.1 mi in|~2h 46m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 6m. Total distance: 210.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 48.7 miles on I 135. 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.
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 Wyatt Earp Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 83.4 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 136.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Concordia, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
