Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Dodge City, KS to Tecumseh, KS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 14m
Distance
279.5 mi
450 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 1m
★
6 AM
5h 15m
8 AM
5h 41m
10 AM
5h 24m
12 PM
5h 21m
3 PM
5h 25m
5 PM
5h 40m
8 PM
5h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dodge City, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Tecumseh, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Dodge City, KS to Tecumseh, KS is 279.5 miles and takes about 5h 14m via Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains, offering a straightforward drive across Kansas. With a single recommended day and a manageable duration, it's a solid choice for a day trip or the start of a longer adventure. You'll be spending about 39% of your time on highways, with the rest on surface roads.
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
139.7 miles from Dodge City, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 89.6 mi | 1h 31m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 50.5 mi | 50m |
| KS 156 | 47.9 mi | 55m |
| US 50 | 31.3 mi | 36m |
| US 56 | 28.1 mi | 33m |
| East 14th Street | 19.3 mi | 23m |
| 10th Street | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| US 40 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
— 89.6 mi, about 1h 31m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,105 veh/hr typical · worst 1,367
Quietest
2 AM
~81 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dodge City, KS and Tecumseh, 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
49 mi
·
49 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
16
Continue on I 70; US 40
75 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
18
Continue on I 70; US 40
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Use the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 40; KS 4
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 40; KS 4
Toward US 40, KS 4, I-470 South, Wichita
20
Take the exit onto US 40
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
US 40
21
Turn left onto US 40
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 40
22
Turn left onto Southeast Tecumseh Road
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Southeast Tecumseh Road
23
Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Terrace
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Southeast 3rd Terrace
24
Arrive at destination
Southeast 3rd Terrace
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 14m estimated drive time, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. Leaving Dodge City in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Tecumseh. Plan for one stop to break up the drive and refuel; the longest stretch without a major highway is manageable. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition to surface roads, as services may be less frequent than on the main highways.
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 139.7 miles from Dodge City, KS, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.6 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 61 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.7 miles or 2h 50m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tecumseh, 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 279.5 miles and 5h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 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 89.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
140 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 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 139.7 miles from Dodge City, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Sapp Brothers Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Paxico Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Eagles Landing Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Topeka Fleet Garage
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Plaza of the Flint Hills
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.5 mi from route
Rest Area
0.6 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1 mi from route
Rest Area
1.1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 276.3 — 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.
4
62 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
US 56; KS 156 / East 14th Street
Turn right onto US 56; KS 156 / East 14th Street
Navigation decision point
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
|
US 40; KS 4
Keep slight right at fork onto US 40; KS 4 toward US 40, KS 4, I-470 South, Wichita
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 40, KS 4, I-470 South, Wichita
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.47 one way
$92.94 round trip
$4.22/gal
25.4 MPG avg
98 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $50.62 | $101.24 |
| premium | $5.18 | $57.03 | $114.07 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $58.87 | $117.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83.9 | 1 | $29.35 | $13.42 |
| Efficient EV | 69.9 | 0 | $24.46 | $11.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 111.8 | 1 | $39.13 | $17.89 |
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Origin
Dodge City, KS
Afternoon in Dodge City on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
ESE 6 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 4:14AM CDT until June 1 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 2:49AM CDT until June 1 at 7:45AM CDT by NWS Wichita KS
Destination
Tecumseh, KS
Afternoon in Tecumseh on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Patchy Fog
0 mph
11% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 4:14AM CDT until June 1 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 2:49AM CDT until June 1 at 7:45AM CDT by NWS Wichita 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
3 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
5h 14m 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.
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,...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 269.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route involves 39% highway driving, with the longest stretch on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway covering 89.6 miles. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface roads, so expect a mix of faster travel and more local driving. The driving will involve navigating through rural Kansas, with varying speed limits and road conditions.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.6 mi on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Wyatt Earp Boulevard.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 279.5 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Wyatt Earp Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 62 miles (US 56; KS 156 / East 14th Street): Navigation decision point; at 83.4 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,492 ft
914 ft
Total Climb
134 ft
Total Descent
1,713 ft
Highest Point
2,492 ft
Elevation Range
1,579 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Tecumseh, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Salina along the way.
Salina
136.1 mi in
|
~2h 46m
About the Cities
Starting in Dodge City, KS
Full guide →Founded 1872
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
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 5h 14m. Total distance: 279.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 89.6 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 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.
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 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Wyatt Earp Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 62 miles (US 56; KS 156 / East 14th Street): Navigation decision point; at 83.4 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point.
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 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tecumseh, KS before the return drive.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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