Leawood, KS to Fort Dodge, KS is 328.6 miles and takes about 6 hours 17 minutes via US 50 and I 435, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape throughout. With 98% of the drive on highways, it's a straightforward point-to-point route. Given its duration and highway focus, it's well-suited for a single-day drive, allowing you to reach your destination with time to spare.
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
164.3 miles from Leawood, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 50
312.9 mi
5h 53m
I 435
6.8 mi
7m
117 Road
3.9 mi
7m
US 400
1.7 mi
2m
State Line Road
1.3 mi
2m
Lee Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
West 95th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
West 90th Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 312.9 mi, about 5h 53m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~761 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,009
Quietest
2 AM
~68 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Leawood, KS and Fort Dodge, KS.
1
Start on West 90th Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·West 90th Street
2
Turn right onto Lee Boulevard
0.7 mi·1 min·Lee Boulevard
3
Turn left onto West 95th Street
0.4 mi·53 sec·West 95th Street
4
Turn right onto State Line Road
1.3 mi·2 min·State Line Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·33 sec
6
Merge onto I 435; US 50
6.8 mi·7 min·I 435; US 50
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 50
0.5 mi·58 sec·US 50
Exit 83Toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita, Des MoinesUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50
95 mi·1 hr 38 min·US 50
Toward I 35 South, US 50 West, US 56 West, US 169 South: WichitaUse the slight left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Toward US 50: Emporia, Newton
10
Enter roundabout
433 ft·5 sec
11
Continue
0.2 mi·11 sec
12
Enter roundabout onto US 50
33 ft·0 sec·US 50
13
Continue on US 50
43 mi·50 min·US 50
Use the straight lane.
14
Enter roundabout onto US 50
197 ft·8 sec·US 50
Toward US 50 West: Newton
15
Continue on US 50
25 mi·30 min·US 50
Toward US 50 West: Newton
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50
3.2 mi·3 min·US 50
Toward I 135 South, US 81 South, US 50 West: Wichita
17
Take the exit onto US 50
40 mi·47 min·US 50
Toward US 50, KS 15: HutchinsonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50
40 mi·45 min·US 50
19
Enter roundabout onto US 50
176 ft·2 sec·US 50
20
Continue on US 50
66 mi·1 hr 16 min·US 50
21
Turn left onto 117 Road
3.9 mi·7 min·117 Road
22
Turn sharp right onto US 400
1.7 mi·2 min·US 400
23
Turn left
343 ft·14 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Leawood. This allows ample time for the drive and any brief stops you might need without feeling rushed. The route is predominantly highway, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, especially before embarking on the 312.9-mile stretch on US 50. While the total drive is manageable in one day, you have flexibility; if you prefer a more relaxed pace, you could stop midway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services might be more spaced out on certain highway segments.
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 164.3 miles from Leawood, KS, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 312.9 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 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.3 miles or 3h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 6m
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 Leawood, 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 Leawood, KS
This is one driving day of about 328.6 miles and 6h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Leawood, 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 US 50 for about 312.9 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 177 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.7 mi into trip|~6m in|I 435; US 50
Merge onto I 435; US 50
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
9.5 mi into trip|~14m in|US 50
Take the exit onto US 50 toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 83
Toward I 35, US 50 West, US 56, US 169: Wichita...
8
10 mi into trip|~15m in|US 50
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50 toward I 35 South, US 50 West, US 56 West, US 169 South: Wichita
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35 South, US 50 West, US 56 West, US 1...
6
173.7 mi into trip|~3h 15m in|US 50
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50 toward I 135 South, US 81 South, US 50 West: Wichita
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 135 South, US 81 South, US 50 West: Wi...
7
177 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|US 50
Take the exit onto US 50 toward US 50, KS 15: Hutchinson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 50, KS 15: Hutchinson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.81 one way
$109.63 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$59.57
$119.15
premium
$5.26
$68.04
$136.07
diesel
$6.18
$79.94
$159.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.6
1
$34.50
$15.77
Efficient EV
82.2
0
$28.75
$13.14
EV Truck/SUV
131.4
1
$46.00
$21.03
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Leawood, KS
Late night
in Leawood on Monday
Local time
5:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
S 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Fort Dodge, KS
Late night
in Fort Dodge on Monday
Local time
5:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Mostly Clear
S 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
62°F
Peabody, KS
164 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
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 17m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect nearly all highway driving for this 328.6-mile trip. The vast majority of your travel, 98%, will be on major roadways like US 50 and I 435. You'll experience a long stretch of 312.9 miles primarily on US 50, which means extended periods of consistent cruising. After the extensive highway portion, you'll transition to surface roads like 117 Road for the final miles into Fort Dodge.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 312.9 mi on US 50.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and I 435. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 435; US 50.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 328.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 435; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles (US 50): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10 miles (US 50): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,464 ft876 ft
Total Climb
1,733 ft
Total Descent
212 ft
Highest Point
2,464 ft
~327.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,588 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Leawood, KS to Fort Dodge, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Newton along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 17m. Total distance: 328.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 17m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 312.9 miles on US 50. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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 route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. 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. There are 8 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 435; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles (US 50): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10 miles (US 50): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.6 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.
