Origin
Kansas City, KS
Evening in Kansas City on Saturday
Local time
8:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kansas City, KS to Fort Dodge, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 11m
Distance
332.5 mi
535 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$52
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 59m
★
6 AM
6h 12m
8 AM
6h 37m
10 AM
6h 21m
12 PM
6h 18m
3 PM
6h 22m
5 PM
6h 36m
8 PM
6h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Dodge, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Kansas City, KS to Fort Dodge, KS is 332.5 miles and takes about 6h 11m via Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway and US 69, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Kansas. Given its manageable duration and single day recommendation, this route is ideal for those looking for a direct transfer between these two points. You'll primarily use major highways, making it a practical choice for a quick journey.
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
166.2 miles from Kansas City, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 91.6 mi | 1h 34m |
| US 69 | 54.3 mi | 56m |
| KS 156 | 51.8 mi | 1h 2m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 49.4 mi | 49m |
| East 10th Street | 29.3 mi | 34m |
| Northeast Trail Street | 24.3 mi | 29m |
| US 56 | 19.3 mi | 23m |
| 117 Road | 3.9 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
— 91.6 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, KS and Fort Dodge, KS.
1
Start on this road
149 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Armstrong Avenue
282 ft
·
14 sec
·
Armstrong Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 69
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
North 7th Street Trafficway
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp onto US 69
54 mi
·
56 min
·
US 69
Toward I 70 West, US 24 West, US 40 West, US 69 South: Topeka
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Toward I-70 West, US 40 West: Topeka, Salina
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 70
92 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Toward I-70 West
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on I 70; US 40
49 mi
·
49 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend
9
Turn left onto KS 156
48 mi
·
56 min
·
KS 156
10
Take the ramp onto KS 156
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
KS 156
11
Turn left onto US 281
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Main Street
12
Turn right onto Railroad Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Railroad Avenue
13
Turn left onto Railroad Avenue
2.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Railroad Avenue
14
At end of road, turn left onto US 56; KS 156
19 mi
·
23 min
·
US 56; KS 156
15
Turn left onto US 56
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Broadway Street
16
Turn right onto US 56
24 mi
·
29 min
·
Northeast Trail Street
17
Turn left onto US 183
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
Niles Avenue
18
Turn right onto US 50
29 mi
·
34 min
·
East 10th Street
19
Turn left onto 117 Road
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
117 Road
20
Turn sharp right onto US 400
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
US 400
21
Turn left
343 ft
·
14 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, consider leaving Kansas City in the morning to give yourself ample time. With only one stop recommended and a relatively short duration, you can afford to be flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 91.6-mile stretch on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, as services might be more spread out in that section. The $52 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices before you depart.
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 166.2 miles from Kansas City, KS, or about 2h 52m 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 73 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 166.2 miles or 2h 52m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Dodge, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kansas 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 Kansas City, KS
This is one driving day of about 332.5 miles and 6h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Kansas 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 91.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
166 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 73 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 166.2 miles from Kansas 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 91.6 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 197.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Armstrong Avenue
Turn right onto Armstrong Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway
Turn right onto US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 69
Take the ramp onto US 69 toward I 70 West, US 24 West, US 40 West, US 69 South: Topeka
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70 West, US 24 West, US 40 West, US 69...
8
55.6 mi into trip
|
~59m 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
5
197.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 24m in
Take the exit toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.98 one way
$103.97 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
116 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $57.07 | $114.15 |
| premium | $4.89 | $63.99 | $127.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $73.41 | $146.82 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.05
Kansas Turnpike
(0.9 mi)
$0.05
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
$52
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 99.8 | 1 | $34.91 | $15.96 |
| Efficient EV | 83.1 | 0 | $29.09 | $13.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 133 | 1 | $46.55 | $21.28 |
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 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.
Destination
Fort Dodge, KS
Evening in Fort Dodge on Saturday
Local time
8:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
13 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 11m 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,...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 57.3
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 is a mixed drive, with 38% of it on highways. Expect to spend a significant portion of your time on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 91.6 miles. The road will likely transition from interstate-style driving to US highways and state routes as you progress westward. This blend means you'll experience both faster travel and potentially more local road conditions, so be prepared for varying speed limits and traffic patterns.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 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 early in the drive near Armstrong Avenue.
Driving Effort
4/10
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 11m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 16 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Armstrong Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (US 69): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between Kansas City, KS and Fort Dodge, KS, road signs point toward Salina, Ellsworth and Great Bend.
Salina
55.6 mi in
|
~59m
|
via I 70
Ellsworth
197.6 mi in
|
~3h 24m
Great Bend
197.6 mi in
|
~3h 24m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 11m. Total distance: 332.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 11m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
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 $0.05 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: near the start (Armstrong Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (US 69): Lane positioning matters here. 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 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.4 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.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Fort Dodge, KS
More trips to Fort Dodge, KS
Explore more options from Kansas City, KS or browse trips ending in Fort Dodge, KS.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KS road trips.