How far is Clay Center, KS from Dodge City, KS?

The driving distance from Clay Center, KS to Dodge City, KS is about 206.9 miles (333 km), with a travel time of about 03h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 178.3 miles (287 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 44m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
206.92 mi
03h 22m
Flight
178.32 mi
286.98 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Clay Center.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
178.32 mi
Kilometers
286.98 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
206.92 mi
Kilometers
333.01 km
Drive Time
03h 22m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Dodge City
Tue, May 12, 10:31 PM CDT
Return by in Clay Center
Wed, May 13, 1:53 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clay Center
2026-05-12T19:09
Arrive Dodge City
Tue, May 12, 10:31 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:22 AM to 11:22 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:16 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Clay Center
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Cunningham
KS

City in Kansas, USA

From Clay Center
97.7 mi
01h 41m
To Dodge City
109.3 mi
01h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 22 mph SSW
Destination
91°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Clay Center and Dodge City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clay Center and Dodge City.

  1. 1

    Start on Southeast 210th Street

    66 m · 11 sec · Southeast 210th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Southeast Cole Creek Road

    9 mi · 16 min · Southeast Cole Creek Road

  3. 3

    Continue on Southwest 120th Street

    122 m · 8 sec · Southwest 120th Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Southeast 120th Street

    2067 ft · 41 sec · Southeast 120th Street

  5. 5

    Turn slight right onto Southeast Chelsea Road

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Southeast Chelsea Road

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

    7.3 mi · 9 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on East 7th Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · East 7th Avenue

  9. 9

    Continue on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

    61.2 mi · 1 hr 12 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on D Avenue

    2.4 mi · 5 min · D Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on Cannonball Stageline

    31.5 mi · 35 min · Cannonball Stageline

  12. 12

    Continue on East 1st Street

    3.1 mi · 7 min · East 1st Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Cannonball Stageline

    28.7 mi · 33 min · Cannonball Stageline

  14. 14

    Continue on East Kansas Avenue

    1.3 mi · 3 min · East Kansas Avenue

  15. 15

    Continue on The Yellow Brick Road

    8.3 mi · 10 min · The Yellow Brick Road

  16. 16

    Keep slight right

    33.7 mi · 41 min

  17. 17

    Turn right

    2344 ft · 57 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left onto East Wyatt Earp Boulevard

    2.1 mi · 3 min · East Wyatt Earp Boulevard

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Central Avenue

    10 m · 1 sec · Central Avenue

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Central Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Clay Center and Dodge City.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
20 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
68.5 mi · 33%
Cannonball Stageline
60.2 mi · 29%
The Yellow Brick Road
41.9 mi · 20%
Southeast Cole Creek Road
8.99 mi · 4%
Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway
3.5 mi · 2%
East 1st Street
3.12 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

Continue on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

61.2 mi · 01h 12m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 22m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.6 mi
178.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cunningham
01h 41m from Clay Center
Leave By
10:16 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Clay Center and Sunny near Dodge City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Clay Center to Dodge City?

The road trip is about 206.9 miles (333 km) and usually takes 03h 22m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Cunningham is a useful midpoint, sitting about 97.7 miles from Clay Center and 109.3 miles from Dodge City.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 178.3 miles (287 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:16 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.53 one way or $55.06 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 64.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Clay Center and Sunny near Dodge City.

Stop Ideas Near Cunningham

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Cunningham, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Cunningham.

RAIL

Hutchinson

64 mi away
North Walnut St & East 3rd Ave
RAIL

Newton

105 mi away
414 North Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Clay Center and Dodge City. Straight-line distance: 178.32 mi (286.98 km).

Clay Center

#1 Clay Center

City in Kansas

Population3,991
Coordinates37.5194600, -96.7711400
Altitude406
CountryUnited States
Dodge City

#2 Dodge City

City in and county seat of Ford County, Kansas, United States

Population27,104
Coordinates37.7528000, -100.0170800
Altitude760
CountryUnited States
Start: Southeast 210th Street (-96.771147, 37.519215)
End: Central Avenue (-100.016971, 37.752801)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 333 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.3 gal
27.64 L · about $27.53
Round trip
$55.06
14.6 gal · 55.28 L
Estimated CO2
64.9 kg one way
Round trip: 129.8 kg / 286 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $27.53 $55.06
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.05 $62.09
Premium $4.65 $33.97 $67.95
Diesel $5.30 $38.72 $77.44

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Kansas · May 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Clay Center and Dodge City. The current time is 19:09:23.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.