Fairmount, KS to Fort Dodge, KS is 326.1 miles and takes about 6h 5m via Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape throughout its 326.1 miles. The drive primarily utilizes the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, making it a straightforward journey for those seeking a direct route. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll have ample time to reach your destination without feeling rushed. This is a practical option for a day trip or the start of a longer adventure.
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
163 miles from Fairmount, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 50m into the drive
.
Given the 6h 5m estimated drive time, starting your journey in Fairmount, KS, after breakfast is ideal to maximize daylight. The route has one recommended stop, so plan for a refueling and stretch break around the halfway point or when you hit the longest stretch of 91.6 miles on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $51 estimated cost suggests a straightforward fuel strategy is possible. Since this is a one-day drive, you have flexibility; however, aim to leave early to enjoy a more relaxed pace.
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 163 miles from Fairmount, KS, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.6 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 72 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 163 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Dodge, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Fairmount, 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 Fairmount, KS
This is one driving day of about 326.1 miles and 6h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Fairmount, 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 91.6 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 49.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|CR 5 / Fairmount Road
At end of road, turn left onto CR 5 / Fairmount Road
Navigation decision point
6
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|US 73; K-7 / North 139th Street
Turn right onto US 73; K-7 / North 139th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
8.7 mi into trip|~12m in
Turn left toward I 70 West: Topeka
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 70 West: Topeka
5
9.1 mi into trip|~13m in|I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
49.2 mi into trip|~53m in|I 70 / Kansas Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 / Kansas Turnpike toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.98 one way
$101.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg114 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$55.98
$111.95
premium
$4.89
$62.75
$125.51
diesel
$5.61
$72.00
$144.00
Estimated Tolls: $2.06
Kansas Turnpike
(41.1 mi)$2.06
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
$51
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 114.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
97.8
1
$34.24
$15.65
Efficient EV
81.5
0
$28.53
$13.04
EV Truck/SUV
130.4
1
$45.65
$20.87
Gas CO2
114 kg
EV CO2
38 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 18, 2026
Origin
Fairmount, KS
Evening
in Fairmount on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Dodge, KS
Evening
in Fort Dodge on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Sunny
NW 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 1:41PM CDT until April 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Dodge City KS
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 12:08PM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Hastings NE
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
7 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 5m 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,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with 35% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter the most uninterrupted driving on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, with a stretch of 91.6 miles. While much of the route follows major highways like the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, expect some sections on KS 156 that may present a different road feel. The overall character is a blend of efficient highway travel and potentially more local road segments, providing variety without being overly demanding.
35% 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: 91.6 mi on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near CR 5 / Fairmount Road.
Driving Effort4/10
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 5m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 18 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (CR 5 / Fairmount Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (US 73; K-7 / North 139th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fairmount, KS and Fort Dodge, KS, road signs point toward Salina, Ellsworth and Great Bend.
Salina
49.2 mi in|~53m|via I 70
Ellsworth
191.2 mi in|~3h 18m
Great Bend
191.2 mi in|~3h 18m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 5m. Total distance: 326.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 91.6 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.06 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.
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 Fort Dodge, 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: at 0.4 miles (CR 5 / Fairmount Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (US 73; K-7 / North 139th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fort Dodge, KS before the return drive.
