Dodge City, KS to Frontenac, KS is 322.3 miles and takes about 6h 29m via Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, and Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip stays within Kansas, traversing the Great Plains region for its entirety. Expect a drive primarily on surface roads, offering a straightforward path between these two points. It's a practical option if you're looking for a direct route across the state without extensive highway time.
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
161.2 miles from Dodge City, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
70.6 mi
1h 22m
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
US 69
7.7 mi
11m
West 1st Street
3.1 mi
6m
D Avenue
2.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
— 70.6 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dodge City, KS and Frontenac, 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
71 mi·1 hr 22 min·Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto US 69; US 160
7.7 mi·11 min·US 69; US 160
17
Turn left onto US 69; US 160
1.0 mi·1 min·Parkview Drive
18
Turn right onto West McKay Street
0.9 mi·2 min·West McKay Street
19
Turn left onto North Crawford Street
213 ft·9 sec·North Crawford Street
20
Arrive at destination
North Crawford Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour drive time, starting your trip from Dodge City in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, plan for a mid-drive break around the 3-hour mark. The fuel cost is estimated at $51, so ensure your tank is full before departing to avoid unnecessary stops. Pay attention to the transition from highway to surface roads to maintain your expected travel time. The longest stretch without a major highway segment is 70.6 miles, so be prepared for steady surface road conditions.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 161.2 miles from Dodge City, KS, or about 3h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.6 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 71 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161.2 miles or 3h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Frontenac, 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 322.3 miles and 6h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 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 Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway for about 70.6 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 322.3 — 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.
3
2.5 mi into trip|~4m in|US 400 / East Trail Street
Turn left onto US 400 / East Trail Street
Navigation decision point
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
4
320.4 mi into trip|~6h 25m in|US 69; US 160 / Parkview Drive
Turn left onto US 69; US 160 / Parkview Drive
Navigation decision point
4
322.3 mi into trip|~6h 29m in|North Crawford Street
Turn left onto North Crawford Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.76 one way
$107.53 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$58.43
$116.87
premium
$5.26
$66.73
$133.46
diesel
$6.18
$78.41
$156.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.7
1
$33.84
$15.47
Efficient EV
80.6
0
$28.20
$12.89
EV Truck/SUV
128.9
1
$45.12
$20.63
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Dodge City, KS
Afternoon
in Dodge City on Saturday
Local time
12:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
29°F
Widespread Frost
SW 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 1:31AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 10:30PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS
Destination
Frontenac, KS
Afternoon
in Frontenac on Saturday
Local time
12:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
37°F
Clear
N 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 1:31AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 10:30PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS
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
8 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
6h 29m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only 30% on highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 70.6 miles on the Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway before transitioning to other main roads. The majority of your drive will likely feel like rural cruising, with fewer exits and more open stretches. Expect a consistent pace as you navigate through various towns and countrysides.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.6 mi on Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 29m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 7 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Wyatt Earp Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (US 400 / East Trail Street): Navigation decision point; at 242.2 miles (US 400 / Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Dodge City is a town of 27,000 people (2019) in the Western region of Kansas. In and around the city, there are historical sites, museums, and landmarks dedicated to Dodge City's Old West heritage.
Top landmarks
•Sacred Heart Cathedral — former cathedral church for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City
•Dodge City station — train station in Dodge City, Kansas, US
•Dodge City Public Library building — building in the USA
The longest stretch is about 70.6 miles on Clayton J. Connell 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Frontenac, KS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 2.5 miles (US 400 / East Trail Street): Navigation decision point; at 242.2 miles (US 400 / Clayton J. Connell Memorial Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Frontenac, KS before the return drive.
