Origin
Fort Dodge, KS
Night in Fort Dodge on Saturday
Local time
11:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Dodge, KS to Medicine Lodge, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 10m
Distance
100.1 mi
161 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 1m
★
6 AM
2h 10m
8 AM
2h 28m
10 AM
2h 16m
12 PM
2h 15m
3 PM
2h 17m
5 PM
2h 27m
8 PM
2h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Dodge, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Medicine Lodge, KS
Vitali Adutskevich
Trip Overview
Fort Dodge to Medicine Lodge is 100.1 miles and takes about 2h 10m via US 400, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day trip primarily traversing the Great Plains region of Kansas. Expect a highway-focused drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently. Given its relatively short length and manageable duration, this route is ideal for those looking for a quick journey without significant detours or overnight stays. The direct nature of this drive makes it a practical choice for a simple transit between these two Kansas communities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50 miles from Fort Dodge, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 400 | 69.5 mi | 1h 23m |
| South 1st Avenue | 28.6 mi | 40m |
| West 5th Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West 1st Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Rancho Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Cherry Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 400
— 69.5 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Dodge, KS and Medicine Lodge, KS.
1
Start on this road
343 ft
·
18 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto US 400
70 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
US 400
3
Turn right onto Rancho Road
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Rancho Road
4
Continue on West 5th Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West 5th Street
5
Turn right onto US 281
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
6
Continue on US 281
29 mi
·
40 min
·
South 1st Avenue
7
Turn left onto West 1st Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West 1st Avenue
8
Turn right onto North Cherry Street
218 ft
·
15 sec
·
North Cherry Street
9
Turn left
154 ft
·
11 sec
10
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 10m duration, you can easily complete this drive in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and enjoy the journey. Since the longest stretch without a town is 69.5 miles, plan your fuel stops accordingly before you hit that longer segment. There are no designated stops mentioned, so pack any snacks or drinks you might need. The fuel cost is estimated at $16, which is quite reasonable for this 100.1-mile trip, so you likely won't need to worry about finding a gas station in a pinch.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50 miles from Fort Dodge, KS, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.5 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 22 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Medicine Lodge, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fort Dodge, 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 Fort Dodge, KS
This is one driving day of about 100.1 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Fort Dodge, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 400 for about 69.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 50 miles from Fort Dodge, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 400 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 69.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 100 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 400
Turn right onto US 400
Navigation decision point
4
70.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
US 281 / South Main Street
Turn right onto US 281 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
99.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 8m in
|
West 1st Avenue
Turn left onto West 1st Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
100 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m in
|
North Cherry Street
Turn right onto North Cherry Street
Navigation decision point
5
100 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.65 one way
$31.30 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.18 | $34.37 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.26 | $38.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.10 | $44.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30 | 0 | $10.51 | $4.80 |
| Efficient EV | 25 | 0 | $8.76 | $4.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40 | 0 | $14.01 | $6.41 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Medicine Lodge, KS
Night in Medicine Lodge on Saturday
Local time
11:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Sun City, KS
50 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 10m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 70% of the journey taking place on major roads like US 400. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 69.5 miles on US 400, offering a consistent pace. The drive generally maintains a steady character, moving you efficiently through the landscape. While the profile is primarily highway, be aware that the initial and final segments involve local roads like South 1st Avenue and West 5th Street, which may involve slower speeds or more turns as you enter and exit the towns.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.5 mi on US 400.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 400 and South 1st Avenue. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 400.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Fort Dodge, KS to Medicine Lodge, KS is easy. At 2h 10m with 70% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 400): Navigation decision point; at 70.7 miles (US 281 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 99.7 miles (West 1st Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 10m. Total distance: 100.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.5 miles on US 400. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 400): Navigation decision point; at 70.7 miles (US 281 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 99.7 miles (West 1st Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Medicine Lodge, KS before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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