Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Lansing, KS to Dodge City, KS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 6m
Distance
329.5 mi
530 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 54m
★
6 AM
6h 7m
8 AM
6h 32m
10 AM
6h 16m
12 PM
6h 13m
3 PM
6h 17m
5 PM
6h 31m
8 PM
5h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lansing, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Dodge City, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lansing to Dodge City is 329.5 miles and takes about 6h 6m via Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Great Plains region of Kansas, offering a straightforward drive across the state. With a recommended single day for completion, it's a practical option for those looking to cover distance efficiently. The mix of highway and surface roads means you'll experience varying driving conditions. Consider this drive if you need to get from Point A to Point B without extensive detours.
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
164.8 miles from Lansing, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 91.6 mi | 1h 34m |
| KS 156 | 51.8 mi | 1h 2m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 49.4 mi | 49m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 41.1 mi | 41m |
| East 10th Street | 31.3 mi | 36m |
| Northeast Trail Street | 24.3 mi | 29m |
| US 56 | 22.4 mi | 26m |
| South Main Street | 10.7 mi | 13m |
Longest stretch:
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
— 91.6 mi, about 1h 34m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,105 veh/hr typical · worst 1,367
Quietest
2 AM
~81 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lansing, KS and Dodge City, KS.
1
Start on US 73; K-7
11 mi
·
13 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 70 West: Topeka
Use the left lane.
3
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
40 mi
·
40 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
4
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.
5
Continue on I 70
92 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Toward I-70 West
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on I 70; US 40
49 mi
·
49 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend
8
Turn left onto KS 156
48 mi
·
56 min
·
KS 156
9
Take the ramp onto KS 156
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
KS 156
10
Turn left onto US 281
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Main Street
11
Turn right onto Railroad Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Railroad Avenue
12
Turn left onto Railroad Avenue
2.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Railroad Avenue
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 56; KS 156
19 mi
·
23 min
·
US 56; KS 156
14
Turn left onto US 56
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Broadway Street
15
Turn right onto US 56
24 mi
·
29 min
·
Northeast Trail Street
16
Turn left onto US 183
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
Niles Avenue
17
Turn right onto US 50
31 mi
·
36 min
·
East 10th Street
18
Turn left onto US 56; US 283
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
US 56; US 283
19
Continue on East Wyatt Earp Boulevard
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
East Wyatt Earp Boulevard
20
Turn right onto Central Avenue
33 ft
·
0 sec
·
Central Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to ensure you have ample daylight for the entire 329.5-mile trip. While it's doable in one day, the longest stretch without a break is 91.6 miles, so plan for at least one stop to refuel and stretch your legs. The fuel cost is estimated at $58, so be sure to factor that into your budget. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but keep an eye on the transition from highway to surface roads, as indicated by the 35% highway share, and adjust your driving accordingly.
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 164.8 miles from Lansing, 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 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.8 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dodge City, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lansing, 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 Lansing, KS
This is one driving day of about 329.5 miles and 6h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Lansing, 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
165 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 72 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 164.8 miles from Lansing, 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Sapp Brothers Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Paxico Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Eagles Landing Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Topeka Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Plaza of the Flint Hills
0.1 mi from route
Topeka Fleet Garage
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.5 mi from route
Rest Area
0.6 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1 mi from route
Rest Area
1.1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 193.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 73; K-7 / South Main Street
Depart onto US 73; K-7 / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
10.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Turn left toward I 70 West: Topeka
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 70 West: Topeka
5
11.1 mi into trip
|
~14m 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
51.2 mi into trip
|
~54m 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
193.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 19m 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
$48.66 one way
$97.32 round trip
$3.75/gal
25.4 MPG avg
115 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.14 | $53.72 | $107.44 |
| premium | $4.72 | $61.18 | $122.36 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $62.22 | $124.43 |
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
$49
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 98.9 | 1 | $34.60 | $15.82 |
| Efficient EV | 82.4 | 0 | $28.83 | $13.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 131.8 | 1 | $46.13 | $21.09 |
Gas CO2
115 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.
Origin
Lansing, KS
Evening in Lansing on Saturday
Local time
8:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 7 to 10 mph
26% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Dodge City, KS
Evening in Dodge City on Saturday
Local time
8:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
S 8 to 12 mph
3% chance
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
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
6h 6m 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,...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 56.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About 35% of this 329.5-mile drive is on highways like the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. You'll encounter a 91.6-mile stretch on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway before transitioning to other roads. The profile is mixed highway and surface, so expect to shift gears and adjust speed as you move between faster highway cruising and more rural surface road driving. This means you'll likely experience periods of open road followed by sections with more frequent intersections.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 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 US 73; K-7 / South Main Street.
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 6m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 15 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 73; K-7 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 11.1 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,492 ft
851 ft
Total Climb
1,929 ft
Total Descent
288 ft
Highest Point
2,492 ft
~329.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,641 ft
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 Lansing, KS and Dodge City, KS, road signs point toward Salina, Ellsworth and Great Bend.
Salina
51.2 mi in
|
~54m
|
via I 70
Ellsworth
193.2 mi in
|
~3h 19m
Great Bend
193.2 mi in
|
~3h 19m
About the Cities
Starting in Lansing, KS
Full guide →Founded 1959
Arriving in Dodge City, KS
Full guide →Founded 1872
Dodge City is a town of 27,000 people (2019) in the Western region of Kansas. In and around the city, there are historical sites, museums, and landmarks dedicated to Dodge City's Old West heritage.
Top landmarks
- • Sacred Heart Cathedral — former cathedral church for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City
- • Dodge City station — train station in Dodge City, Kansas, US
- • Dodge City Public Library building — building in the USA
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 6m. Total distance: 329.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 6m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). 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 $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.
Yes — we found about 23 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 Dodge City, 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 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 73; K-7 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 11.1 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40 / Kansas Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Dodge City, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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