Fort Dodge, KS to Eudora, KS is 308.2 miles and takes about 5h 49m via Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway and KS 156, with a fuel budget near $54 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route spans the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Kansas. With a significant portion on major highways, you'll cover ground efficiently. The remaining miles on surface roads provide a change of pace. Consider this trip if you're looking for a direct, single-day transit across the state with minimal logistical planning.
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
154.1 miles from Fort Dodge, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 6m into the drive
.
For this 5h 49m drive, leaving Fort Dodge in the morning will allow you to arrive in Eudora with plenty of daylight. The route is manageable in a single day, so you can be flexible with your stop for the single recommended break. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $54, and services can be spread out on the surface road sections. Pay attention to the change in speed limits and road conditions when you transition off the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway onto KS 156.
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 154.1 miles from Fort Dodge, KS, or about 3h 6m 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 68 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.1 miles or 3h 6m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eudora, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Fort Dodge, 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 Fort Dodge, KS
This is one driving day of about 308.2 miles and 5h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Fort Dodge, 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 1.8 and 289.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.8 mi into trip|~2m in|117 Road
Turn sharp left onto 117 Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
82 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|Washington Street
At end of road, turn right onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
5
134.6 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
274.9 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
6
289.6 mi into trip|~5h 24m in
Take the exit toward KS 10: Lecompton, Lawrence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 197
Toward KS 10: Lecompton, Lawrence
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.24 one way
$102.48 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$55.82
$111.63
premium
$5.18
$62.89
$125.78
diesel
$5.35
$64.92
$129.83
Estimated Tolls: $0.70
Kansas Turnpike
(14 mi)$0.70
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
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 107.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.5
1
$32.36
$14.79
Efficient EV
77.1
0
$26.97
$12.33
EV Truck/SUV
123.3
1
$43.15
$19.72
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 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 2, 2026
Origin
Fort Dodge, KS
Afternoon
in Fort Dodge on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ESE 13 to 16 mph68% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 10:17AM CDT until June 3 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Destination
Eudora, KS
Afternoon
in Eudora on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
E 7 to 10 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 10:17AM CDT until June 3 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
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
1 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
5h 49m 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,...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 265.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a 38% highway share, meaning you'll transition from interstate cruising to surface roads. The longest stretch on highway is 90.3 miles along the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. Expect to encounter more frequent exits and potential for merging traffic as you approach your destination. You'll experience a mix of efficient highway travel and more relaxed rural cruising as the route progresses.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 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?
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 1.8 miles in near 117 Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 49m drive. You will face about 19 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (117 Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 82 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 134.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,464 ft840 ft
Total Climb
332 ft
Total Descent
1,955 ft
Highest Point
2,464 ft
Elevation Range
1,624 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fort Dodge, KS and Eudora, KS, road signs point toward Salina, Kansas City and Lawrence.
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 $0.70 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 21 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 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (117 Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 82 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 134.6 miles: 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 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Eudora, KS before the return drive.
