Traveling from Prairie Village to Fort Dodge covers approximately 160.9 miles across the Kansas Great Plains. You can expect the journey to take about 2 hours and 42 minutes, making it a manageable day trip that fits easily into a single day of travel. With an estimated fuel cost of $24, this route remains an affordable excursion for those exploring the state. You will primarily navigate via North Andover Road, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, and D Avenue. Because the drive is relatively short, you won't need to plan for an overnight stay, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
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
80.6 miles from Prairie Village, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Cannonball Stageline
60.2 mi
1h 8m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
53.1 mi
1h 2m
US 400
31.1 mi
37m
The Yellow Brick Road
8.3 mi
9m
East 1st Street
3.1 mi
6m
D Avenue
2.4 mi
5m
North Andover Road
1.4 mi
2m
East Kansas Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Cannonball Stageline
— 60.2 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Prairie Village, KS and Fort Dodge, KS.
1
Start on West 8th Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·West 8th Street
2
Turn right onto North Andover Road
1.4 mi·2 min·North Andover Road
3
Turn right onto US 54; US 400
53 mi·1 hr 2 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on US 54; US 400; KS 14
2.4 mi·5 min·D Avenue
5
Continue on US 54; US 400
31 mi·35 min·Cannonball Stageline
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 54; US 400
3.1 mi·6 min·East 1st Street
7
Continue on US 54; US 400
29 mi·33 min·Cannonball Stageline
8
Continue on US 54; US 400
1.3 mi·2 min·East Kansas Avenue
9
Continue on US 54; US 400
8.3 mi·9 min·The Yellow Brick Road
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 400
31 mi·37 min·US 400
11
Turn left
343 ft·14 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Planning your departure for early in the day is your best strategy to navigate the turn-heavy nature of these local roads in daylight. Given the 2-hour and 42-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to pace yourself, though you should budget for at least one stop to break up the drive. Keep your $24 fuel estimate in mind, and ensure your tank is topped off before heading out, as local roads can have more variable service station availability than major interstates. Since you are navigating via North Andover Road, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, and D Avenue, keep a close eye on your GPS to ensure you don't miss any of the frequent turns required along this 160.9-mile stretch.
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 80.6 miles from Prairie Village, KS, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.2 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 35 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.6 miles or 1h 36m 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 41m
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 Prairie Village, 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 Prairie Village, KS
This is one driving day of about 161.1 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Prairie Village, 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 Cannonball Stageline for about 60.2 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
4 of 4
4 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 161 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|North Andover Road
Turn right onto North Andover Road
Navigation decision point
6
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in|US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Turn right onto US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
129.9 mi into trip|~2h 38m in|US 400
Keep slight right at fork onto US 400
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
161 mi into trip|~3h 15m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.92 one way
$47.84 round trip
$3.77/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.25
$26.97
$53.95
premium
$4.65
$29.52
$59.04
diesel
$5.30
$33.64
$67.28
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: 56.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.3
0
$16.92
$7.73
Efficient EV
40.3
0
$14.10
$6.44
EV Truck/SUV
64.4
0
$22.55
$10.31
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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 15, 2026
Origin
Prairie Village, KS
Night
in Prairie Village on Saturday
Local time
11:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Dodge, KS
Night
in Fort Dodge on Saturday
Local time
11:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
87°F
Lake City, KS
81 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
9 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
3h 16m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Since this route features a 0% highway share, you will spend the entire 160.9-mile journey navigating local roads and secondary highways. The character of the road is defined by its frequent transitions and lack of high-speed, uninterrupted stretches. You will find yourself navigating through the heart of the Great Plains, experiencing a drive that prioritizes local connectivity over rapid transit. Be prepared for a hands-on driving experience that requires you to stay engaged with the road layout throughout the duration of the trip.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.2 mi on Cannonball Stageline.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Andover Road.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Prairie Village, KS to Fort Dodge, KS is easy. At 3h 16m with 19% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (North Andover Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 129.9 miles (US 400): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 161.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 60.2 miles on Cannonball Stageline. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 0.2 miles (North Andover Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 129.9 miles (US 400): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Fort Dodge, KS, but most travelers stay overnight.
