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

The driving distance from Fort Dodge, KS to Madison, KS is about 237.1 miles (381.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 208.9 miles (336.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 52m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CST.
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
237.03 mi
04h 56m
Flight
208.91 mi
336.21 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
208.91 mi
Kilometers
336.21 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
237.03 mi
Kilometers
381.47 km
Drive Time
04h 56m

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 04h 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Madison
Fri, Nov 6, 4:01 PM CST
Return by in Fort Dodge
Fri, Nov 6, 8:57 PM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fort Dodge
2026-11-06T11:05
Arrive Madison
Fri, Nov 6, 4:01 PM CST
Route Timing
04h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CST
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:56 AM to 12:56 PM CST

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

Leave by
7:08 AM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fort Dodge
9:00 PM CST
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
Waterloo
KS

Human settlement in United States of America

From Fort Dodge
118.3 mi
02h 28m
To Madison
118.7 mi
02h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Nov 6 6:00 AM CST
Wind
0 to 3 mph ENE
Destination
41°F
Overnight

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, Nov 6 4:00 AM CST
Wind
8 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    104 m · 18 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right

    156.1 mi · 3 hr 8 min

  3. 3

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35: Kansas Turnpike Toll, Kansas City, Oklahoma City

    137 m · 11 sec

  4. 4

    Keep slight left

    1.4 km · 2 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Kansas Turnpike

    18.4 mi · 18 min · Kansas Turnpike

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right

    1768 ft · 50 sec

  7. 7

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Boyer Road

    79 m · 6 sec · Boyer Road

  8. 8

    Take the exit left

    61 m · 6 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight right onto West Central Avenue

    4.9 mi · 9 min · West Central Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    35.2 mi · 40 min

  11. 11

    Turn left

    20.2 mi · 35 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Southwest Boulevard

    1.2 km · 1 min · Southwest Boulevard

  13. 13

    Turn right onto West Lincoln Street

    128 m · 10 sec · West Lincoln Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto 3rd Street

    22 m · 3 sec · 3rd Street

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 3rd Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
15 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Central Avenue
40.1 mi · 17%
Kansas Turnpike
18.8 mi · 8%
I 35
0.97 mi
Southwest Boulevard
0.75 mi
Boyer Road
0.09 mi
West Lincoln Street
0.08 mi
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn right

156 mi · 03h 08m

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
04h 56m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.2 mi
208.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Waterloo
02h 28m from Fort Dodge
Leave By
7:08 AM CST
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Fort Dodge and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Madison.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 237.1 miles (381.5 km) and usually takes 04h 56m 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?

Waterloo is a useful midpoint, sitting about 118.3 miles from Fort Dodge and 118.7 miles from Madison.

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

The direct path is about 208.9 miles (336.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.2 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 CST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:08 AM CST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.95 one way or $63.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 74.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Fort Dodge and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Madison.

Stop Ideas Near Waterloo

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

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

RAIL

Hutchinson

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

Newton

67 mi away
414 North Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fort Dodge and Madison. Straight-line distance: 208.91 mi (336.21 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
Madison

#2 Madison

City in Kansas, United States

Population606
Coordinates38.1355800, -96.1358300
Altitude334
CountryUnited States
Start: Fort Dodge (-99.93541, 37.73196)
End: Madison (-96.13583, 38.13558)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 381 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 44m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.36 gal
31.66 L · about $31.95
Round trip
$63.90
16.72 gal · 63.32 L
Estimated CO2
74.3 kg one way
Round trip: 148.6 kg / 328 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.82 $31.95 $63.90
Mid-grade $4.19 $35.02 $70.04
Premium $4.55 $38.07 $76.14
Diesel $5.92 $49.50 $99.00

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 · Nov 06, 2026

There is no time difference between Fort Dodge and Madison. The current time is 11:05:07.

Distance to Other Cities

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