How far is Fort Dodge, KS from Wathena, KS?
The driving distance from Fort Dodge, KS to Wathena, KS is about 349.5 miles (562.5 km), with a travel time of about 06h 43m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 302.9 miles (487.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 27m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 06h 43m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Human settlement in Dickinson County, Kansas, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Fort Dodge and Wathena.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Dodge and Wathena.
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1
Start on the route
104 m · 18 sec
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2
Turn right
1.7 mi · 2 min
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3
Turn sharp left onto 117 Road
3.9 mi · 7 min · 117 Road
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4
Turn right
29.3 mi · 34 min
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5
Turn left onto Niles Avenue
2707 ft · 46 sec · Niles Avenue
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6
Turn right
25.1 mi · 30 min
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7
Turn right onto East 14th Street
19.3 mi · 23 min · East 14th Street
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8
Turn right onto Railroad Avenue
2.1 mi · 5 min · Railroad Avenue
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9
At the end of the road, turn right onto Washington Street
46 m · 4 sec · Washington Street
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Railroad Avenue
2815 ft · 1 min · Railroad Avenue
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11
Turn left onto Main Street
2161 ft · 40 sec · Main Street
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12
Turn right onto 10th Street
3.8 mi · 6 min · 10th Street
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13
Turn left
47.9 mi · 56 min
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14
Take the ramp right toward I-70 East, Salina
1227 ft · 30 sec
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15
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
49.4 mi · 49 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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16
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
74.7 mi · 1 hr 15 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
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17
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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18
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
6.9 mi · 8 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
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19
Take the exit slight right toward US 75 North: Gage Boulevard, Holton
970 ft · 24 sec
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20
Keep slight left to continue on US 75 North: Holton
1.5 mi · 2 min
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21
Take the exit slight right toward US 24 East: Lawrence
3035 ft · 1 min
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22
Merge slight left
6.6 mi · 8 min
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23
Take the exit slight right
1333 ft · 40 sec
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24
Turn left onto Northeast Sherman Road
29.4 mi · 34 min · Northeast Sherman Road
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25
Continue straight
20.5 mi · 26 min
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26
Continue on Southwest 59 Highway
13.4 mi · 17 min · Southwest 59 Highway
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27
Continue on Memorial Highway
1.2 mi · 2 min · Memorial Highway
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28
Turn left onto Alabama Street
826 ft · 16 sec · Alabama Street
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29
Turn right onto Stockyards Expressway
1.5 mi · 2 min · Stockyards Expressway
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30
Continue straight
1.4 mi · 2 min
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31
Turn straight
113 m · 16 sec
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32
Turn left onto US 36 West: Kansas
1194 ft · 25 sec
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33
Merge slight left
5.3 mi · 7 min
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34
Turn left onto Saint Joseph Street
1417 ft · 44 sec · Saint Joseph Street
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35
Turn right onto South 5th Street
28 m · 4 sec · South 5th Street
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South 5th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Fort Dodge and Wathena.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Fort Dodge and Mostly Sunny near Wathena.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Fort Dodge to Wathena?
The road trip is about 349.5 miles (562.5 km) and usually takes 06h 43m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Solomon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 174.5 miles from Fort Dodge and 175 miles from Wathena.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 302.9 miles (487.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.6 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.50 one way or $92.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 109.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Fort Dodge and Mostly Sunny near Wathena.
Stop Ideas Near Solomon
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Solomon.
Newton
Hutchinson
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Fort Dodge and Wathena. Straight-line distance: 302.92 mi (487.51 km).
#1 Fort Dodge
City in and county seat of Ford County, Kansas, United States
| Population | 28,075 |
| Coordinates | 37.7319600, -99.9354100 |
| Altitude | 751 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Wathena
City in Doniphan County, Kansas, United States of America
| Population | 1,272 |
| Coordinates | 39.7591600, -94.9496900 |
| Altitude | 251 |
| Country | United States |
End: Wathena (-94.94969, 39.75916)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 562 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 38m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 44m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 59m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 49m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 59m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 21m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $46.50 | $92.99 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $52.44 | $104.88 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $57.38 | $114.77 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $65.40 | $130.80 |
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 · Jun 03, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.