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Trip from Dodge City, KS to Arkansas City, KS

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 18m

Distance

212.7 mi

342 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Sparse

1 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 5m ★
6 AM
4h 18m
8 AM
4h 45m
10 AM
4h 27m
12 PM
4h 25m
3 PM
4h 29m
5 PM
4h 43m
8 PM
4h 10m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Ford County, Kansas, United States

Dodge City, KS

Wikimedia Commons

city in Cowley County, Kansas, United States

Arkansas City, KS

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Dodge City, KS to Arkansas City, KS covers 212.7 miles and takes about 4h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Cannonball Stageline, East Trail Street, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 60.2 miles on Cannonball Stageline. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.25 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

106.4 miles from Dodge City, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Cannonball Stageline 60.2 mi 1h 8m
East Trail Street 41.9 mi 50m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway 38.2 mi 43m
Kansas Turnpike 37.6 mi 37m
East 160th Street South 16.1 mi 24m
I 235 6.4 mi 7m
West 1st Street 3.1 mi 6m
D Avenue 2.4 mi 5m
Longest stretch: Cannonball Stageline — 60.2 mi, about 1h 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dodge City, KS and Arkansas City, KS.

1

Start on Central Avenue

33 ft · 0 sec · Central Avenue
2

Turn left onto East Wyatt Earp Boulevard

2.0 mi · 3 min · East Wyatt Earp Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3

Turn right onto US 56; US 283

0.5 mi · 1 min · US 56; US 283
4

Turn left onto US 400

42 mi · 50 min · East Trail Street
5

Continue on US 54; US 400

1.3 mi · 2 min · West Kansas Avenue
6

Continue on US 54; US 400

29 mi · 33 min · Cannonball Stageline
7

Continue on US 54; US 400

3.1 mi · 6 min · West 1st Street
8

Continue on US 54; US 400

31 mi · 35 min · Cannonball Stageline
Use the straight lane.
9

Continue on US 54; US 400

2.4 mi · 5 min · D Avenue
10

Continue on US 54; US 400; KS 14

38 mi · 43 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
11

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 46 sec
Toward I 235 South Use the slight right lane.
12

Merge onto I 235

6.4 mi · 7 min · I 235
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 135 South, I 35: Kansas Turnpike
14

Merge onto I 135; US 81

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 135; US 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward I 35 South: Oklahoma City
16

Merge onto I 35

38 mi · 37 min · Kansas Turnpike
17

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 38 sec
Exit 4 Toward US 166, US 81: Arkansas City, South Haven Use the slight right lane.
18

At end of road, turn left onto US 166

16 mi · 24 min · East 160th Street South
19

Turn left onto South 8th Street

0.2 mi · 37 sec · South 8th Street
20

Turn right onto West Washington Avenue

0.3 mi · 44 sec · West Washington Avenue
21

Turn left onto South 4th Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · South 4th Street
22

Turn right onto West Central Avenue

0.3 mi · 49 sec · West Central Avenue
23

Turn right

120 ft · 8 sec
24

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

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 106.4 miles from Dodge City, KS, or about 2h 9m 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 47 miles or 58m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 106.4 miles or 2h 9m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 29m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arkansas City, KS than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Dodge City, 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 Dodge City, KS

This is one driving day of about 212.7 miles and 4h 18m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Dodge City, 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.

city in Kansas, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Harper, KS

106 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

Saint John, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Harper, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 106.4 miles from Dodge City, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Cannonball Stageline if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.2 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Crazy Mule Restaurant and Catering

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Greensburg, Kansas

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 45.6

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

+16207239025

Visit website

Prime On The Nine

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Dodge City, Kansas

2.1 mi

Crazy Mule Restaurant and Catering

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 45.6

Greensburg, Kansas

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

+16207239025

Visit website

Prime On The Nine

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour Moderately

Dodge City, Kansas

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+16202272736

Visit website

El Ranchito Mexican Restaurant Bar & Grill

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 167.1

Mulvane, Kansas

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+13163589273

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 151.9

Wichita, Kansas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Long Branch Lagoon

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Dodge City, Kansas

Hours: Closed

+16202258156

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 149.7 and 195.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
149.7 mi into trip | ~3h 1m in

Take the exit toward I 235 South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 235 South
5
150 mi into trip | ~3h 2m in | I 235

Merge onto I 235

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
156.4 mi into trip | ~3h 9m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 135 South, I 35: Kansas Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 135 South, I 35: Kansas Turnpike
5
156.9 mi into trip | ~3h 10m in | I 135; US 81

Merge onto I 135; US 81

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
195.4 mi into trip | ~3h 50m in

Take the exit toward US 166, US 81: Arkansas City, South Haven

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 4 Toward US 166, US 81: Arkansas City, South Have...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$33.25 one way

$66.51 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 74 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $36.51 $73.02
premium $4.89 $40.93 $81.86
diesel $5.61 $46.96 $93.92

Estimated Tolls: $1.88

Kansas Turnpike (37.6 mi) $1.88

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

$33

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$60–$85

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 74.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

1 DC fast chargers · Coverage: sparse

ChargePoint Charging Station

Wichita, Kansas

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

ChargePoint: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 63.8 0 $22.33 $10.21
Efficient EV 53.2 0 $18.61 $8.51
EV Truck/SUV 85.1 1 $29.78 $13.61

Gas CO2

74 kg

EV CO2

25 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

Dodge City, KS

Afternoon in Dodge City on Saturday

Local time

2:12 PM

CDT

Current temp

86°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arkansas City, KS

Afternoon in Arkansas City on Saturday

Local time

2:12 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

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

8 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

4h 18m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 4h 18m drive with frequent turns across 212.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Cannonball Stageline is the longest continuous segment at about 60.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 149.7 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 212.7 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 149.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 150 miles (I 235): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 156.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Dodge City, KS to Arkansas City, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Haven along the way.

Haven

195.4 mi in | ~3h 50m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 18m. Total distance: 212.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Dodge City, KS to Arkansas City, KS covers 212.7 miles and takes about 4h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Cannonball Stageline, East Trail Street, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 106.4 miles from Dodge City, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.25 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 212.7 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.

The main spots that need attention: at 149.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 150 miles (I 235): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 156.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

On the drive from Dodge City, KS to Arkansas City, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Haven along the way.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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