Origin
Gypsum, KS
Night in Gypsum on Tuesday
Local time
10:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gypsum, KS to Fort Dodge, KS
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 35m
Distance
171.2 mi
276 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 23m
★
6 AM
3h 36m
8 AM
4h 0m
10 AM
3h 44m
12 PM
3h 42m
3 PM
3h 45m
5 PM
3h 59m
8 PM
3h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gypsum, KS
Jimmy Nilsson Masth
Fort Dodge, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Gypsum, KS to Fort Dodge, KS covers 171.2 miles and takes about 3h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Main Street, East 10th Street, Northeast Trail Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 47.1 miles on South Main Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.77 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
85.6 miles from Gypsum, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Gypsum, KS to Fort Dodge, KS covers 171.2 miles and takes about 3h 35m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Main Street is the longest continuous segment at about 47.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near KS 4 / Maple Street.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Gypsum, KS to Fort Dodge, KS is easy. At 3h 35m with 30% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (KS 4 / Maple Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.4 miles (KS 4 / East McPherson Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles (KS 4 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
KS 4 / Maple Street
Turn left onto KS 4 / Maple Street
Navigation decision point
4
21.4 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
KS 4 / East McPherson Street
Turn right onto KS 4 / East McPherson Street
Navigation decision point
4
21.9 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
KS 4 / South Main Street
Turn left onto KS 4 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
69 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
169.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 33m in
|
US 400
Turn sharp right onto US 400
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Main Street | 47.1 mi | 54m |
| East 10th Street | 29.3 mi | 34m |
| Northeast Trail Street | 24.3 mi | 29m |
| US 56 | 19.3 mi | 23m |
| KS 156 | 19.1 mi | 23m |
| South Old Highway 81 | 10.7 mi | 14m |
| Maple Street | 10.4 mi | 14m |
| 117 Road | 3.9 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
South Main Street
— 47.1 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gypsum, KS and Fort Dodge, KS.
1
Start on West 5th Street
126 ft
·
10 sec
·
West 5th Street
2
Turn left onto KS 4
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Maple Street
3
Turn left onto KS 4
11 mi
·
14 min
·
South Old Highway 81
4
Continue on US 81 Business; KS 4
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
South Cole Street
5
Turn right onto KS 4
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
East McPherson Street
6
Turn left onto KS 4
47 mi
·
54 min
·
South Main Street
7
Turn right
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
8
Turn straight onto KS 156
15 mi
·
17 min
·
KS 156
9
Take the ramp onto KS 156
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
KS 156
10
Turn left onto US 281
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Main Street
11
Turn right onto Railroad Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Railroad Avenue
12
Turn left onto Railroad Avenue
2.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Railroad Avenue
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 56; KS 156
19 mi
·
23 min
·
US 56; KS 156
14
Turn left onto US 56
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Broadway Street
15
Turn right onto US 56
24 mi
·
29 min
·
Northeast Trail Street
16
Turn left onto US 183
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
Niles Avenue
17
Turn right onto US 50
29 mi
·
34 min
·
East 10th Street
18
Turn left onto 117 Road
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
117 Road
19
Turn sharp right onto US 400
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
US 400
20
Turn left
343 ft
·
14 sec
21
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 85.6 miles from Gypsum, KS, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.1 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 80 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.6 miles or 1h 46m 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 56m
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 Gypsum, 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 Gypsum, KS
This is one driving day of about 171.2 miles and 3h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Gypsum, 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 South Main Street for about 47.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 85.6 mi from Gypsum, KS · 1h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 85.6 miles from Gypsum, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fort Dodge, KS
The final approach into Fort Dodge, KS usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Fort Dodge, KS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.77 one way
$53.53 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $29.39 | $58.77 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.95 | $65.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.80 | $75.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.4 | 0 | $17.98 | $8.22 |
| Efficient EV | 42.8 | 0 | $14.98 | $6.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.5 | 0 | $23.97 | $10.96 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Fort Dodge, KS
Night in Fort Dodge on Tuesday
Local time
10:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Lincoln, KS
86 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
18 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
3h 35m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Gypsum, KS to Fort Dodge, KS covers 171.2 miles and takes about 3h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Main Street, East 10th Street, Northeast Trail Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 85.6 miles from Gypsum, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.77 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Gypsum, KS to Fort Dodge, KS is easy. At 3h 35m with 30% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (KS 4 / Maple Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.4 miles (KS 4 / East McPherson Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles (KS 4 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Gypsum, KS to Fort Dodge, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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