Origin
Madison, KS
Night in Madison on Thursday
Local time
10:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, KS to Fort Dodge, KS
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
4h 56m
Distance
236.9 mi
381 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 43m
★
6 AM
4h 56m
8 AM
5h 23m
10 AM
5h 6m
12 PM
5h 3m
3 PM
5h 7m
5 PM
5h 22m
8 PM
4h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Dodge, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Madison, KS to Fort Dodge, KS covers 236.9 miles and takes about 4h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Cannonball Stageline, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, US 54 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 60.2 miles on Cannonball Stageline. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.04 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
118.5 miles from Madison, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 31m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 56m. Total distance: 236.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Madison, KS to Fort Dodge, KS covers 236.9 miles and takes about 4h 56m, 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.
Cannonball Stageline is the longest continuous segment at about 60.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 236.9 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 61.1 miles (Boyer Road): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 61.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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
4
61.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
Boyer Road
Merge onto Boyer Road
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
61.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
80.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward US 54, US 400
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 53A
Toward US 54, US 400
5
80.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
|
US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge onto US 54; US 400 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cannonball Stageline | 60.2 mi | 1h 8m |
| Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway | 49.9 mi | 58m |
| US 54 | 40.1 mi | 49m |
| US 400 | 31.1 mi | 37m |
| KS 99 | 20.2 mi | 35m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 18.4 mi | 18m |
| The Yellow Brick Road | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| East 1st Street | 3.1 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Cannonball Stageline
— 60.2 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, KS and Fort Dodge, 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
Take the exit
197 ft
·
5 sec
8
Merge onto Boyer Road
137 ft
·
3 sec
·
Boyer Road
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
10
Merge onto I 35
18 mi
·
18 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 53A
Toward US 54, US 400
12
Merge onto US 54; US 400
50 mi
·
58 min
·
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 54; US 400; KS 14
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
D Avenue
14
Continue on US 54; US 400
31 mi
·
35 min
·
Cannonball Stageline
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 54; US 400
3.1 mi
·
6 min
·
East 1st Street
16
Continue on US 54; US 400
29 mi
·
33 min
·
Cannonball Stageline
17
Continue on US 54; US 400
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Kansas Avenue
18
Continue on US 54; US 400
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
The Yellow Brick Road
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 400
31 mi
·
37 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 118.5 miles from Madison, KS, or about 2h 31m 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 52 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.5 miles or 2h 31m 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 4m
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 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 236.9 miles and 4h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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 Cannonball Stageline for about 60.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 118.5 mi from Madison, KS · 2h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
118 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 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 118.5 miles from Madison, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Cannonball Stageline if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.2 miles.
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
$37.04 one way
$74.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
83 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $40.66 | $81.33 |
| premium | $4.89 | $45.59 | $91.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $52.30 | $104.61 |
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
$37
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 71.1 | 0 | $24.87 | $11.37 |
| Efficient EV | 59.2 | 0 | $20.73 | $9.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 94.8 | 1 | $33.17 | $15.16 |
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 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
Fort Dodge, KS
Night in Fort Dodge on Thursday
Local time
10:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Goddard, KS
118 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
8 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
4h 56m 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 Fort Dodge, KS covers 236.9 miles and takes about 4h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Cannonball Stageline, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, US 54. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 118.5 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 $37.04 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 236.9 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 61.1 miles (Boyer Road): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 61.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Madison, KS to Fort Dodge, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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