Dodge City, KS to Mission, KS is 336.1 miles and takes about 6h 13m via Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Kansas, transitioning from the Great Plains region. The majority of your drive will be on major highways, offering a straightforward trip. Given the duration and distance, it's easily manageable as a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
168 miles from Dodge City, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 18m into the drive
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Exit 418AToward I 635 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 635
4.4 mi·5 min·Harry Darby Memorial Highway
23
Continue on US 69
1.2 mi·1 min·Metcalf Avenue
Use the straight lane.
24
Take the exit
178 ft·10 sec
Toward Johnson Drive
25
Continue on Metcalf Lane
423 ft·16 sec·Metcalf Lane
26
Turn left onto Johnson Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Johnson Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Turn left onto Lamar Avenue
0.4 mi·57 sec·Lamar Avenue
Use the left lane.
28
Turn right onto West 56th Street
0.1 mi·32 sec·West 56th Street
29
Arrive at destination
West 56th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6h 13m drive, consider leaving Dodge City in the morning to allow ample daylight. With a single-day completion possible, you have flexibility in pacing your stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 90.3-mile stretch on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $53 should help you budget accordingly for the entire 336.1 miles.
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 168 miles from Dodge City, KS, or about 3h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.3 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 74 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 168 miles or 3h 18m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mission, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Dodge City, KS so your first major turns are already loaded.
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Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
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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 336.1 miles and 6h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 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 Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway for about 90.3 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 83.4 and 335.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
6
276.3 mi into trip|~5h 9m in|I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway toward I-70 East, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
7
328.8 mi into trip|~6h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 635 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 418A
Toward I 635 South
6
335.5 mi into trip|~6h 12m in|Lamar Avenue
Turn left onto Lamar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.88 one way
$111.76 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg118 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$60.87
$121.74
premium
$5.18
$68.58
$137.17
diesel
$5.35
$70.79
$141.59
Estimated Tolls: $2.59
Kansas Turnpike
(51.8 mi)$2.59
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 117.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
100.8
1
$35.29
$16.13
Efficient EV
84
0
$29.41
$13.44
EV Truck/SUV
134.4
1
$47.05
$21.51
Gas CO2
118 kg
EV CO2
39 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Dodge City, KS
Afternoon
in Dodge City on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
SE 17 mphLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 4:08PM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 9:27AM CDT until June 2 at 10:36AM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Destination
Mission, KS
Afternoon
in Mission on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
NE 9 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 4:08PM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 9:27AM CDT until June 2 at 10:36AM CDT by NWS Topeka 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 13m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The path to equality has been anything but smooth. It's taken courage and dedication by everyday people coming together for a common goal to carry the country toward true equality. Parents, teachers,...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 278.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 47% of this 336.1-mile trip on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a main road, the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, measures 90.3 miles. Expect to transition from highway driving to surface roads after about half the route. The Kansas Turnpike portion will likely involve more frequent exits and potential merging traffic as you approach more populated areas.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.3 mi on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 83.4 miles in near Washington Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 336.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 83.4 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 136.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 276.3 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,492 ft919 ft
Total Climb
232 ft
Total Descent
1,706 ft
Highest Point
2,492 ft
Elevation Range
1,573 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dodge City, KS and Mission, KS, road signs point toward Salina and Kansas City.
Salina
136.1 mi in|~2h 46m
Kansas City
276.3 mi in|~5h 9m|via I 70
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 13m. Total distance: 336.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 13m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.3 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.59 in tolls one way, starting with Kansas Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 25 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Mission, 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. There are 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 83.4 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 136.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 276.3 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Mission, KS before the return drive.
