Fort Dodge, KS to Horton, KS is 320.9 miles and takes about 6h 4m via Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape for its entire length. You'll primarily be on major highways, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. With an estimated fuel cost of around $51, it's an economical option for crossing Kansas. Plan for a direct transit between these two points in Kansas.
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
160.4 miles from Fort Dodge, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 12m into the drive
.
Toward US 75 North: HoltonUse the slight left lane.
21
Turn straight onto US 75
6.9 mi·7 min·244th Lane
22
Continue on US 75
7.0 mi·8 min·Q Road
23
Turn right onto KS 20
10 mi·15 min·110th Street
24
Continue on KS 20
0.7 mi·1 min·West 15th Street
25
Turn right onto US 159
0.5 mi·1 min·1st Avenue East
26
Arrive at destination
US 159
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 4m estimated drive time, departing in the morning from Fort Dodge, KS, allows ample time to reach Horton, KS, before evening. With only one recommended stop, you can choose a point that best suits your needs for a break or fuel. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 81.6-mile segment on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, as services might be less frequent. The mixed highway and surface road profile means you'll need to adjust your driving style as you transition between road types.
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 160.4 miles from Fort Dodge, KS, or about 3h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.6 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 160.4 miles or 3h 12m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Horton, 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 320.9 miles and 6h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 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 81.6 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 267.1 — 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
5
266.9 mi into trip|~4h 59m in|US 75
Take the exit onto US 75 toward US 75 North: Gage Boulevard, Holton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 75 North: Gage Boulevard, Holton
7
267.1 mi into trip|~5h in|US 75
Keep slight left at fork onto US 75 toward US 75 North: Holton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 75 North: Holton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.53 one way
$107.06 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$58.18
$116.36
premium
$5.26
$66.44
$132.88
diesel
$6.18
$78.06
$156.13
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: 112.3 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
96.3
1
$33.69
$15.40
Efficient EV
80.2
0
$28.08
$12.84
EV Truck/SUV
128.4
1
$44.93
$20.54
Gas CO2
112 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
Fort Dodge, KS
Late night
in Fort Dodge on Sunday
Local time
5:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
29°F
Widespread Frost
SW 2 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
Horton, KS
Late night
in Horton on Sunday
Local time
5:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
31°F
Widespread Frost
N 2 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
2 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 4m 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,...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 265.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features 41% highway driving, with the longest continuous stretch covering 81.6 miles on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. You'll experience a mix of highway cruising and surface roads throughout the 320.9-mile route. Expect to transition from the faster pace of the highway to more rural cruising as you navigate KS 156. The relatively low highway percentage suggests you'll encounter more varied speed limits and intersections on the latter half of the drive.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.6 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 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 4m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 17 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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 ft981 ft
Total Climb
510 ft
Total Descent
1,888 ft
Highest Point
2,464 ft
Elevation Range
1,483 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 Horton, KS, road signs point toward Salina and Holton.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 81.6 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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 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 Horton, 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 19 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 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 Horton, KS before the return drive.
