Origin
Madison, KS
Morning in Madison on Monday
Local time
8:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, KS to Dodge City, KS
Drive Time
4h 58m
Distance
246.9 mi
397 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 45m
★
6 AM
4h 59m
8 AM
5h 26m
10 AM
5h 8m
12 PM
5h 5m
3 PM
5h 9m
5 PM
5h 24m
8 PM
4h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, KS
Pablo López
Dodge City, KS
Tolga Ahmetler
Trip Overview
The drive from Madison, KS to Dodge City, KS covers 246.9 miles and takes about 4h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 50, US 54, KS 96 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 110.1 miles on US 50. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.50 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
123.4 miles from Madison, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 35m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 4h 58m highway drive covering 246.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 50 and US 54. The longest continuous stretch is about 110.1 miles on US 50.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 50 is the longest continuous segment at about 110.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and US 54. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near KS 58 / West Lincoln Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 246.9 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (KS 58 / West Lincoln Street): Navigation decision point; at 87.9 miles (KS 96): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 88.2 miles (KS 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 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 58 / West Lincoln Street
Turn left onto KS 58 / West Lincoln Street
Navigation decision point
7
87.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m in
|
KS 96
Take the exit onto KS 96 toward KS 96 West: Hutchinson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13
Toward KS 96 West: Hutchinson
8
88.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m in
|
KS 96
Keep slight left at fork onto KS 96 toward KS 96, Hutchinson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward KS 96, Hutchinson
8
127.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 40m in
|
KS 14; KS 96
Turn left onto KS 14; KS 96 toward US 50 West, KS 14 North, KS 96 West: Kinsley
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 50 West, KS 14 North, KS 96 West: Kin...
4
133.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 47m in
|
US 50
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Madison, KS to Dodge City, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Hutchinson along the way.
Hutchinson
88.2 mi in
|
~1h 56m
|
via KS 96
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 50 | 110.1 mi | 2h 6m |
| US 54 | 40.1 mi | 49m |
| KS 96 | 39.9 mi | 43m |
| Southwest 20th Street | 25.2 mi | 27m |
| KS 99 | 20.2 mi | 35m |
| West Illinois Avenue | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| US 56 | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| East Wyatt Earp Boulevard | 2.1 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 110.1 mi, about 2h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, KS and Dodge City, KS.
1
Start on 3rd Street
71 ft
·
8 sec
·
3rd Street
2
Turn left onto KS 58
419 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Lincoln Street
3
Turn left onto KS 249
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Boulevard
4
Turn slight right onto KS 249
366 ft
·
16 sec
·
KS 249
5
Turn left onto KS 99
20 mi
·
35 min
·
KS 99
6
Turn right onto US 54; KS 99
40 mi
·
49 min
·
US 54; KS 99
7
Continue on KS 254
25 mi
·
27 min
·
Southwest 20th Street
8
Continue on I 235; KS 96
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 235; KS 96
9
Take the exit onto KS 96
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
KS 96
Exit 13
Toward KS 96 West: Hutchinson
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto KS 96
40 mi
·
43 min
·
KS 96
Toward KS 96, Hutchinson
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto KS 14; KS 96
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
KS 14; KS 96
Toward US 50 West, KS 14 North, KS 96 West: Kinsley
Use the left lane.
12
Merge onto US 50; KS 14; KS 61; KS 96
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
West Illinois Avenue
13
Continue on US 50; KS 61
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US 50; KS 61
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50
40 mi
·
45 min
·
US 50
15
Enter roundabout onto US 50
176 ft
·
2 sec
·
US 50
16
Continue on US 50
68 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
·
US 50
17
Turn left onto US 56; US 283
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
US 56; US 283
18
Continue on East Wyatt Earp Boulevard
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
East Wyatt Earp Boulevard
19
Turn right onto Central Avenue
33 ft
·
0 sec
·
Central Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
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 123.4 miles from Madison, KS, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 110.1 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 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.4 miles or 2h 35m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dodge City, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Madison, 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 Madison, KS
This is one driving day of about 246.9 miles and 4h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Madison, 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 50 for about 110.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 123.4 mi from Madison, KS · 2h 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
123 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 123.4 miles from Madison, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 50 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 110.1 miles.
Arriving in Dodge City, KS
The final approach into Dodge City, 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 Dodge City, KS.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.50 one way
$75.00 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
86 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $41.34 | $82.68 |
| premium | $4.80 | $46.61 | $93.22 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $54.85 | $109.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74.1 | 0 | $25.92 | $11.85 |
| Efficient EV | 61.7 | 0 | $21.60 | $9.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 98.8 | 1 | $34.57 | $15.80 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Dodge City, KS
Morning in Dodge City on Monday
Local time
8:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
34 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 58m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Madison, KS to Dodge City, KS covers 246.9 miles and takes about 4h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 50, US 54, KS 96. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 123.4 miles from Madison, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.50 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 246.9 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (KS 58 / West Lincoln Street): Navigation decision point; at 87.9 miles (KS 96): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 88.2 miles (KS 96): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Madison, KS to Dodge City, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Hutchinson along the way.
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