How far is Fort Dodge, KS from De Soto, KS?

The driving distance from Fort Dodge, KS to De Soto, KS is about 316.6 miles (509.5 km), with a travel time of about 05h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 282.5 miles (454.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 55m 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
316.59 mi
05h 57m
Flight
282.52 mi
454.68 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fort Dodge.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
282.52 mi
Kilometers
454.68 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
316.59 mi
Kilometers
509.5 km
Drive Time
05h 57m

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 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in De Soto
Sun, Apr 19, 8:00 AM CDT
Return by in Fort Dodge
Sun, Apr 19, 1:58 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fort Dodge
2026-04-19T02:02
Arrive De Soto
Sun, Apr 19, 8:00 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:58 AM to 1:58 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
5:04 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fort Dodge
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
Trenton
KS

Human settlement in Kansas, United States of America

From Fort Dodge
158.1 mi
02h 58m
To De Soto
158.5 mi
02h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 17 mph SW
Destination
66°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fort Dodge and De Soto.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    104 m · 18 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right

    1.7 mi · 2 min

  3. 3

    Turn sharp left onto 117 Road

    3.9 mi · 7 min · 117 Road

  4. 4

    Turn right

    29.3 mi · 34 min

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Niles Avenue

    2707 ft · 46 sec · Niles Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn right

    25.1 mi · 30 min

  7. 7

    Turn right onto East 14th Street

    19.3 mi · 23 min · East 14th Street

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Railroad Avenue

    2.1 mi · 5 min · Railroad Avenue

  9. 9

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

    46 m · 4 sec · Washington Street

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Railroad Avenue

    2815 ft · 1 min · Railroad Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Main Street

    2161 ft · 40 sec · Main Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto 10th Street

    3.8 mi · 6 min · 10th Street

  13. 13

    Turn left

    47.9 mi · 56 min

  14. 14

    Take the ramp right toward I-70 East, Salina

    1227 ft · 30 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    49.4 mi · 49 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    74.7 mi · 1 hr 15 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    14.9 mi · 17 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    1.2 km · 52 sec · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on Kansas Turnpike

    14 mi · 14 min · Kansas Turnpike

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward KS 10: Lecompton, Lawrence

    2307 ft · 1 min

  22. 22

    Turn right onto South Lawrence Trafficway

    24.1 mi · 27 min · South Lawrence Trafficway

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward Lexington Avenue

    2113 ft · 54 sec

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Lexington Avenue

    2038 ft · 51 sec · Lexington Avenue

  25. 25

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Lexington Avenue

    14 m · 1 sec · Lexington Avenue

  26. 26

    Exit the roundabout onto Lexington Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Lexington Avenue

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Ottawa Street

    2267 ft · 1 min · Ottawa Street

  28. 28

    Turn right onto West 82nd Street

    927 ft · 41 sec · West 82nd Street

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 82nd Street

Car Route Details

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

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
29 steps
18 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
90.3 mi · 29%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
50.5 mi · 16%
South Lawrence Trafficway
24.1 mi · 8%
East 14th Street
19.3 mi · 6%
Kansas Turnpike
14 mi · 4%
117 Road
3.92 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

74.7 mi · 01h 15m

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 57m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.1 mi
282.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Trenton
02h 58m from Fort Dodge
Leave By
5:04 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Fort Dodge and Sunny near De Soto.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fort Dodge to De Soto?

The road trip is about 316.6 miles (509.5 km) and usually takes 05h 57m 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?

Trenton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 158.1 miles from Fort Dodge and 158.5 miles from De Soto.

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

The direct path is about 282.5 miles (454.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.1 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 5:04 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.12 one way or $84.24 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Trenton

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

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

RAIL

Hutchinson

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

Newton

97 mi away
414 North Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fort Dodge and De Soto. Straight-line distance: 282.52 mi (454.68 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Fort Dodge

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

Population28,075
Coordinates37.7319600, -99.9354100
Altitude751
CountryUnited States
De Soto

#2 De Soto

City in Kansas, United States of America

Population6,648
Coordinates38.9791700, -94.9685800
Altitude262
CountryUnited States
Start: Fort Dodge (-99.93541, 37.73196)
End: De Soto (-94.96858, 38.97917)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 510 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.17 gal
42.29 L · about $42.12
Round trip
$84.24
22.34 gal · 84.58 L
Estimated CO2
99.3 kg one way
Round trip: 198.5 kg / 438 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $42.12 $84.24
Mid-grade $4.25 $47.51 $95.01
Premium $4.65 $51.99 $103.97
Diesel $5.30 $59.25 $118.49

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 Fort Dodge and De Soto. The current time is 02:02:48.

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.