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Trip from Park, KS to Fort Dodge, KS

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 46m

Distance

120.4 mi

194 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 35m ★
6 AM
2h 46m
8 AM
3h 8m
10 AM
2h 54m
12 PM
2h 51m
3 PM
2h 55m
5 PM
3h 7m
8 PM
2h 40m

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

Downtown Park, KS, KS

Park, KS

Egor Komarov

city and the county seat of, Webster County, Iowa, United States

Fort Dodge, KS

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Park, KS to Fort Dodge, KS covers 120.4 miles and takes about 2h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Pennsylvania Avenue, South 1st Street, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.4 miles on North Pennsylvania Avenue. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.82 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

60.2 miles from Park, KS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 46m. Total distance: 120.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (3%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 46m drive with frequent turns across 120.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Pennsylvania Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 51.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 4th Street.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Park, KS to Fort Dodge, KS is easy. At 2h 46m with 3% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Old Highway 40): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | 4th Street

Turn right onto 4th Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Main Street

Turn left onto Main Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | Old Highway 40

Turn right onto Old Highway 40

Navigation decision point

5
28.8 mi into trip | ~31m in | US 40 Business

Take the exit onto US 40 Business toward US 283, US 40 Business: WaKeeney, Ness City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 283, US 40 Business: WaKeeney, Ness C...
5
118.6 mi into trip | ~2h 43m in | US 400

Turn sharp right onto US 400

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

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 Park, KS to Fort Dodge, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Ness City along the way.

Ness City

28.8 mi in | ~31m | via US 40 Business

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Pennsylvania Avenue 51.4 mi 1h 14m
South 1st Street 38.2 mi 56m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 26.9 mi 26m
US 400 1.7 mi 2m
KS 211 1.1 mi 2m
US 40 Business 0.2 mi <1m
Main Street 0.2 mi <1m
4th Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: North Pennsylvania Avenue — 51.4 mi, about 1h 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Park, KS and Fort Dodge, KS.

1

Start on Cottonwood Street

255 ft · 12 sec · Cottonwood Street
2

Turn right onto 4th Street

0.2 mi · 44 sec · 4th Street
3

Turn left onto Main Street

0.2 mi · 43 sec · Main Street
4

Turn right onto Old Highway 40

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Old Highway 40
5

Continue on KS 211

0.3 mi · 31 sec · KS 211
6

Turn left onto KS 211

0.8 mi · 1 min · KS 211
7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 24 sec
8

Merge onto I 70; US 40

27 mi · 26 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
9

Take the exit onto US 40 Business

0.2 mi · 23 sec · US 40 Business
Toward US 283, US 40 Business: WaKeeney, Ness City
10

Turn right onto US 283

38 mi · 56 min · South 1st Street
11

Continue on US 283

51 mi · 1 hr 14 min · North Pennsylvania Avenue
12

Turn sharp right onto US 400

1.7 mi · 2 min · US 400
13

Turn left

343 ft · 14 sec
14

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 60.2 miles from Park, KS, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.4 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 26 miles or 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 60.2 miles or 1h 18m 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 14m

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 Park, 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 Park, KS

This is one driving day of about 120.4 miles and 2h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Park, 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 North Pennsylvania Avenue for about 51.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 60.2 mi from Park, KS · 1h 18m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ness City, KS

60 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

WaKeeney, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ness City, KS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 60.2 miles from Park, 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

$18.82 one way

$37.65 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $20.67 $41.33
premium $4.89 $23.17 $46.34
diesel $5.61 $26.58 $53.17

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 42.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 36.1 0 $12.64 $5.78
Efficient EV 30.1 0 $10.54 $4.82
EV Truck/SUV 48.2 0 $16.86 $7.71

Gas CO2

42 kg

EV CO2

14 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Park, KS

Evening in Park on Thursday

Local time

6:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

86°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fort Dodge, KS

Evening in Fort Dodge on Thursday

Local time

6:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

82°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

4 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

2h 46m 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 Park, KS to Fort Dodge, KS covers 120.4 miles and takes about 2h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Pennsylvania Avenue, South 1st Street, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60.2 miles from Park, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.82 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 Park, KS to Fort Dodge, KS is easy. At 2h 46m with 3% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Old Highway 40): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Park, KS to Fort Dodge, KS, road signs begin pointing toward Ness City along the way.

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Return Trip

Fort Dodge, KS to Park, KS

Plan the drive back the other way.

120.4 mi 2h 46m

Explore more options from Park, KS or browse trips ending in Fort Dodge, KS.

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