How far is Elwood, KS from Fort Dodge, KS?

The driving distance from Elwood, KS to Fort Dodge, KS is about 345.4 miles (555.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 306.5 miles (493.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 24m 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
345.38 mi
05h 42m
Flight
306.51 mi
493.28 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elwood.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
306.51 mi
Kilometers
493.28 km
Flight Time
00h 36m

Driving Distance

Road route
345.38 mi
Kilometers
555.84 km
Drive Time
05h 42m

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 05h 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fort Dodge
Sun, Apr 19, 5:54 AM CDT
Return by in Elwood
Sun, Apr 19, 11:37 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elwood
2026-04-19T00:12
Arrive Fort Dodge
Sun, Apr 19, 5:54 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:42 AM to 1:42 PM CDT

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

Leave by
5:36 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elwood
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
Solomon
KS

Human settlement in Dickinson County, Kansas, United States of America

From Elwood
172.5 mi
02h 51m
To Fort Dodge
172.9 mi
02h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph WNW
Destination
77°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 17 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Elwood and Fort Dodge.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elwood and Fort Dodge.

  1. 1

    Start on North 3rd Street

    24 m · 3 sec · North 3rd Street

  2. 2

    Keep slight right to continue on South 3rd Street

    42 m · 13 sec · South 3rd Street

  3. 3

    Turn sharp left onto Walnut Street

    1091 ft · 49 sec · Walnut Street

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn right onto First Street

    1458 ft · 54 sec · First Street

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Roseport Road

    61 m · 4 sec · Roseport Road

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    1217 ft · 28 sec

  7. 7

    Take the ramp right

    1390 ft · 34 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Highway 36

    2771 ft · 46 sec · Highway 36

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 229 North, US 59 North, MO 759: Central Business District

    1191 ft · 31 sec

  10. 10

    At the end of the road, turn left

    2.7 mi · 4 min

  11. 11

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Alabama Street

    591 ft · 10 sec · Alabama Street

  12. 12

    Take the ramp right

    48 m · 5 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Memorial Highway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Southwest 59 Highway

    13.3 mi · 17 min · Southwest 59 Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Southwest 59 Highway

    3.4 mi · 5 min · Southwest 59 Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on Amelia Earhart Bridge

    2730 ft · 1 min · Amelia Earhart Bridge

  17. 17

    Continue on Utah Avenue

    784 ft · 24 sec · Utah Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on Skyway Highway

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Skyway Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on US 59 Highway

    15 mi · 18 min · US 59 Highway

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    29.3 mi · 34 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  22. 22

    Continue straight

    6.1 mi · 8 min

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right

    1515 ft · 52 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight left

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  25. 25

    Keep slight right to continue on I 70 West, US 40 West, US 75 South, KS 4 West: Salina

    1395 ft · 26 sec

  26. 26

    Merge slight left onto Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    82.8 mi · 1 hr 24 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  27. 27

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    49.4 mi · 49 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  28. 28

    Take the exit slight right toward KS 156, Ellsworth, Great Bend

    931 ft · 28 sec

  29. 29

    Turn left

    47.9 mi · 56 min

  30. 30

    Take the ramp slight right

    3.8 mi · 6 min

  31. 31

    Turn left onto Main Street

    2161 ft · 39 sec · Main Street

  32. 32

    Turn right onto Railroad Avenue

    2965 ft · 1 min · Railroad Avenue

  33. 33

    Turn left onto Railroad Avenue

    2.1 mi · 5 min · Railroad Avenue

  34. 34

    At the end of the road, turn left

    19.3 mi · 23 min

  35. 35

    Turn left onto Broadway Street

    1.2 km · 52 sec · Broadway Street

  36. 36

    Turn right onto Northeast Trail Street

    24.3 mi · 29 min · Northeast Trail Street

  37. 37

    Turn left onto Niles Avenue

    2707 ft · 48 sec · Niles Avenue

  38. 38

    Turn right onto East 10th Street

    29.3 mi · 34 min · East 10th Street

  39. 39

    Turn left onto 117 Road

    3.9 mi · 7 min · 117 Road

  40. 40

    Turn sharp right

    1.7 mi · 2 min

  41. 41

    Turn left

    104 m · 15 sec

  42. 42

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Elwood and Fort Dodge.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
42 steps
17 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
4 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
82.8 mi · 24%
US 59 Highway
53.4 mi · 15%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
49.4 mi · 14%
East 10th Street
29.3 mi · 8%
Northeast Trail Street
24.3 mi · 7%
Southwest 59 Highway
16.7 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Merge slight left onto Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

82.8 mi · 01h 24m

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
05h 42m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.9 mi
306.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Solomon
02h 51m from Elwood
Leave By
5:36 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Elwood and Sunny near Fort Dodge.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Elwood to Fort Dodge?

The road trip is about 345.4 miles (555.8 km) and usually takes 05h 42m 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?

Solomon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 172.5 miles from Elwood and 172.9 miles from Fort Dodge.

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

The direct path is about 306.5 miles (493.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.9 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 5:36 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $45.97 one way or $91.94 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 108.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Elwood and Sunny near Fort Dodge.

Stop Ideas Near Solomon

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Solomon, 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 Solomon.

RAIL

Newton

97 mi away
414 North Main St.
RAIL

Hutchinson

108 mi away
North Walnut St & East 3rd Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elwood and Fort Dodge. Straight-line distance: 306.51 mi (493.28 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Elwood

City in Doniphan County, Kansas, United States

Population1,176
Coordinates39.7555500, -94.8724700
Altitude248
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Fort Dodge

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

Population28,075
Coordinates37.7319600, -99.9354100
Altitude751
CountryUnited States
Start: North 3rd Street (-94.872427, 39.755551)
End: (-99.935528, 37.731981)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 556 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 54m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.19 gal
46.13 L · about $45.97
Round trip
$91.94
24.38 gal · 92.26 L
Estimated CO2
108.3 kg one way
Round trip: 216.7 kg / 478 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $45.97 $91.94
Mid-grade $4.25 $51.84 $103.69
Premium $4.65 $56.73 $113.46
Diesel $5.30 $64.66 $129.31

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 · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Elwood and Fort Dodge. The current time is 00:12:44.

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.