Maize to Dodge City is 152.9 miles and takes about 2 hours 57 minutes via US 50, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Kansas, traversing the Great Plains region for its entirety. Expect a fairly straightforward journey with minimal deviations, making it a solid choice for a single-day trip. The landscape remains consistent, offering a direct path to your destination without significant changes in scenery or road type. It's a practical route for those looking to cover ground efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
76.5 miles from Maize, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 50
110.1 mi
2h 6m
KS 96
32.9 mi
36m
West Illinois Avenue
3.6 mi
4m
US 56
3.1 mi
3m
East Wyatt Earp Boulevard
2.1 mi
3m
North Maize Road
0.4 mi
<1m
KS 14
0.2 mi
<1m
East Hickory Lane
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 110.1 mi, about 2h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maize, KS and Dodge City, KS.
1
Start on North Queen Street
58 ft·2 sec·North Queen Street
2
Continue on Harvest Lane
442 ft·21 sec·Harvest Lane
3
Turn right onto North Heather Lane
225 ft·15 sec·North Heather Lane
4
Turn left onto East Hickory Lane
0.1 mi·33 sec·East Hickory Lane
5
Turn left onto North Maize Road
0.4 mi·55 sec·North Maize Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward KS 96 West, Hutchinson
7
Merge onto KS 96
33 mi·36 min·KS 96
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto KS 14; KS 96
0.2 mi·22 sec·KS 14; KS 96
Toward US 50 West, KS 14 North, KS 96 West: KinsleyUse the left lane.
9
Merge onto US 50; KS 14; KS 61; KS 96
3.6 mi·4 min·West Illinois Avenue
10
Continue on US 50; KS 61
2.1 mi·2 min·US 50; KS 61
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50
40 mi·45 min·US 50
12
Enter roundabout onto US 50
176 ft·2 sec·US 50
13
Continue on US 50
68 mi·1 hr 18 min·US 50
14
Turn left onto US 56; US 283
3.1 mi·3 min·US 56; US 283
15
Continue on East Wyatt Earp Boulevard
2.1 mi·3 min·East Wyatt Earp Boulevard
16
Turn right onto Central Avenue
33 ft·0 sec·Central Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 57 minute duration, this trip is easily completed in a single day, so you have the flexibility to depart when convenient. Consider leaving in the morning to ensure ample daylight for the entire journey. With a fuel cost estimated at $24, it's wise to fill up before you depart Maize. While there's only one recommended stop, you'll find plenty of opportunities to pull over should you need a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 110.1 miles on US 50, as services may be spaced out.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.5 miles from Maize, KS, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 110.1 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 34 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.5 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 24m
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 Maize, 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 Maize, KS
This is one driving day of about 152.9 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Maize, 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 110.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 33.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North Heather Lane
Turn right onto North Heather Lane
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Hickory Lane
Turn left onto East Hickory Lane
Navigation decision point
5
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward KS 96 West, Hutchinson
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KS 96 West, Hutchinson
5
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|KS 96
Merge onto KS 96
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
33.8 mi into trip|~39m in|KS 14; KS 96
Turn left onto KS 14; KS 96 toward US 50 West, KS 14 North, KS 96 West: Kinsley
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 50 West, KS 14 North, KS 96 West: Kin...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.90 one way
$47.81 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.25
$52.49
premium
$4.89
$29.42
$58.85
diesel
$5.61
$33.76
$67.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.9
0
$16.05
$7.34
Efficient EV
38.2
0
$13.38
$6.12
EV Truck/SUV
61.2
0
$21.41
$9.79
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Maize, KS
Night
in Maize on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dodge City, KS
Night
in Dodge City on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Saint John, KS
76 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 57m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience long stretches of open highway, including an uninterrupted segment of 110.1 miles on US 50. The primary roads guiding you include US 50, KS 96, and West Illinois Avenue. The character of the drive is consistent, minimizing the need for constant navigation adjustments and allowing for a steady pace. It's designed for efficient travel, emphasizing forward momentum across the Great Plains.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 110.1 mi on US 50.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and KS 96. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Heather Lane.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 57m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Heather Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Hickory Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 57m. Total distance: 152.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 110.1 miles on US 50. 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 (North Heather Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Hickory Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dodge City, KS before heading back.
