The drive from Fort Dodge, KS to Fort Scott, KS covers 300.6 miles and takes about 6h 1m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 400, US 54, West 1st Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 156.1 miles on US 400.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.00 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
150.3 miles from Fort Dodge, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 1m. Total distance: 300.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 1m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 1m highway drive covering 300.6 miles, with most of the trip on US 400 and US 54. The longest continuous stretch is about 156.1 miles on US 400.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 400 is the longest continuous segment at about 156.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 400 and US 54. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 400.
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 11 significant decision points across 300.6 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 0.1 miles (US 400): Lane positioning matters here; at 156.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 156.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 400
Turn right onto US 400
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
156.1 mi into trip|~3h 8m in
Take the exit toward I 35: Kansas Turnpike Toll, Kansas City, Oklahoma City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35: Kansas Turnpike Toll, Kansas City,...
4
156.2 mi into trip|~3h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
175.9 mi into trip|~3h 29m in|Boyer Road
At end of road, turn right onto Boyer Road
Navigation decision point
4
175.9 mi into trip|~3h 29m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fort Dodge, KS and Fort Scott, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City and Oklahoma City.
Kansas City
156.1 mi in|~3h 8m
Oklahoma City
156.1 mi in|~3h 8m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 400
156.1 mi
3h 8m
US 54
79.8 mi
1h 33m
West 1st Street
36.5 mi
41m
Kansas Turnpike
18.4 mi
18m
West Central Avenue
4.9 mi
9m
East Street
2.2 mi
3m
North National Avenue
1 mi
2m
East Madison Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 400
— 156.1 mi, about 3h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Dodge, KS and Fort Scott, KS.
1
Start on this road
343 ft·18 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto US 400
156 mi·3 hr 8 min·US 400
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the exit
448 ft·10 sec
Toward I 35: Kansas Turnpike Toll, Kansas City, Oklahoma City
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
5
Merge onto I 35
18 mi·18 min·Kansas Turnpike
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
7
At end of road, turn right onto Boyer Road
260 ft·5 sec·Boyer Road
8
Take the exit
200 ft·5 sec
9
Merge onto KS 254
4.9 mi·9 min·West Central Avenue
10
Continue on US 54
65 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 54
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 54
14 mi·16 min·US 54
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Continue on US 54
0.9 mi·2 min·US 54
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13
Continue on US 54
417 ft·10 sec·East Madison Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on US 54
2.2 mi·3 min·East Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Continue on US 54
37 mi·41 min·West 1st Street
16
Turn right
317 ft·18 sec
17
Turn left onto North National Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·North National Avenue
18
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
280 ft·12 sec·West 2nd Street
19
Arrive at destination
West 2nd Street
Trip Plan
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 150.3 miles from Fort Dodge, KS, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.1 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 66 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.3 miles or 3h 1m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Scott, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fort Dodge, 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 Fort Dodge, KS
This is one driving day of about 300.6 miles and 6h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Fort Dodge, 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 400 for about 156.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 150.3 mi from Fort Dodge, KS
· 3h 1m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.00 one way
$93.99 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$51.60
$103.20
premium
$4.89
$57.85
$115.70
diesel
$5.61
$66.37
$132.74
Estimated Tolls: $0.92
Kansas Turnpike
(18.4 mi)$0.92
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
$47
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.2
1
$31.56
$14.43
Efficient EV
75.2
0
$26.30
$12.02
EV Truck/SUV
120.2
1
$42.08
$19.24
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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 17, 2026
Origin
Fort Dodge, KS
Morning
in Fort Dodge on Saturday
Local time
8:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Scott, KS
Morning
in Fort Scott on Saturday
Local time
8:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
82°F
Andover, KS
150 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
13 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 1m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Fort Dodge, KS to Fort Scott, KS covers 300.6 miles and takes about 6h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 400, US 54, West 1st Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 150.3 miles from Fort Dodge, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $47.00 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 11 significant decision points across 300.6 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 400): Lane positioning matters here; at 156.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 156.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between Fort Dodge, KS and Fort Scott, KS, road signs point toward Kansas City and Oklahoma City.
