Overbrook, KS to Fort Dodge, KS is 293.4 miles and takes about 5h 32m via Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway and KS 156, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape for the entire drive. The route mixes highway cruising with surface road travel, so expect a varied driving experience. With only one recommended stop and a manageable distance, it’s a straightforward trip for a single day, perfect for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
146.7 miles from Overbrook, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 33m into the drive
.
Given the 5.5-hour estimated duration, departing in the morning is recommended to ensure you have ample daylight. Plan for one stop to break up the 293.4 miles, perhaps around the halfway point or where the highway transitions to surface roads. The fuel cost is estimated at $46, so ensure your tank is full before leaving Overbrook, as services can be spaced out. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when you're on the longer surface road sections between towns.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 146.7 miles from Overbrook, KS, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.1 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 65 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.7 miles or 2h 33m 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 27m
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 Overbrook, 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 Overbrook, KS
This is one driving day of about 293.4 miles and 5h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Overbrook, 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 81.1 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 158.5 — 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|Maple Street
Turn left onto Maple Street
Navigation decision point
5
26.6 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the exit toward Wanamaker Road, Huntoon Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Wanamaker Road, Huntoon Street
5
26.9 mi into trip|~31m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
28 mi into trip|~34m in|I 70; US 40; US 75; KS 4 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Merge onto I 70; US 40; US 75; KS 4 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
158.5 mi into trip|~2h 44m 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
$45.87 one way
$91.74 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$50.36
$100.73
premium
$4.89
$56.46
$112.92
diesel
$5.61
$64.78
$129.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88
1
$30.81
$14.08
Efficient EV
73.4
0
$25.67
$11.74
EV Truck/SUV
117.4
1
$41.08
$18.78
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Overbrook, KS
Late night
in Overbrook on Tuesday
Local time
5:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
SE 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 20 at 1:30AM CDT until April 20 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 20 at 12:07AM CDT until April 20 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Hastings NE
Destination
Fort Dodge, KS
Late night
in Fort Dodge on Tuesday
Local time
5:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Clear
SSW 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 20 at 1:30AM CDT until April 20 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Topeka KS
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 20 at 12:07AM CDT until April 20 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Hastings NE
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
5h 32m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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,...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 20.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with highways accounting for 31% of the route. You'll encounter an 81.1-mile stretch on the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, offering a period of consistent cruising. The profile is mixed highway and surface, meaning you’ll transition from faster-paced highway driving to slower speeds on surface roads. This mix means you'll notice a change in traffic flow and speed limits as you move between road types.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.1 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 Maple Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 32m drive. You will face about 19 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Maple Street): Navigation decision point; at 26.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Overbrook, KS and Fort Dodge, KS, road signs point toward Ellsworth and Great Bend.
Ellsworth
158.5 mi in|~2h 44m
Great Bend
158.5 mi in|~2h 44m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 32m. Total distance: 293.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 81.1 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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.
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 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Maple Street): Navigation decision point; at 26.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.1 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.
