How far is Medicine Lodge, KS from Fort Dodge, KS?

The driving distance from Medicine Lodge, KS to Fort Dodge, KS is about 101.2 miles (162.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 41m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 80.5 miles (129.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 23m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
101.16 mi
01h 41m
Flight
80.54 mi
129.61 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Medicine Lodge.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
80.54 mi
Kilometers
129.61 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
101.16 mi
Kilometers
162.8 km
Drive Time
01h 41m

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 01h 41m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fort Dodge
Sun, Apr 19, 2:01 AM CDT
Return by in Medicine Lodge
Sun, Apr 19, 3:42 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Medicine Lodge
2026-04-19T00:19
Arrive Fort Dodge
Sun, Apr 19, 2:01 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 41m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:42 AM to 11:42 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:06 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Medicine Lodge
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Haviland
KS

City in Kiowa County, Kansas, United States of America

From Medicine Lodge
50 mi
00h 50m
To Fort Dodge
51.2 mi
00h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 14 mph WSW
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 Medicine Lodge and Fort Dodge.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Medicine Lodge and Fort Dodge.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    47 m · 14 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Cherry Street

    67 m · 15 sec · North Cherry Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West 1st Avenue

    1697 ft · 1 min · West 1st Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto North Iliff Street

    28.6 mi · 41 min · North Iliff Street

  5. 5

    Continue on South Main Street

    2027 ft · 2 min · South Main Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto West 5th Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · West 5th Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Rancho Road

    568 ft · 21 sec · Rancho Road

  8. 8

    Turn left onto West 1st Street

    1191 ft · 18 sec · West 1st Street

  9. 9

    Continue on Cannonball Stageline

    28.7 mi · 33 min · Cannonball Stageline

  10. 10

    Continue on East Kansas Avenue

    1.3 mi · 3 min · East Kansas Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on The Yellow Brick Road

    8.3 mi · 10 min · The Yellow Brick Road

  12. 12

    Keep slight right

    31.1 mi · 37 min

  13. 13

    Turn left

    104 m · 15 sec

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
14 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
The Yellow Brick Road
39.4 mi · 39%
Cannonball Stageline
28.7 mi · 28%
North Iliff Street
28.6 mi · 28%
East Kansas Avenue
1.26 mi · 1%
West 5th Street
0.98 mi · 1%
South Main Street
0.38 mi
Longest Stretch

The Yellow Brick Road

Keep slight right

31.1 mi · 00h 37m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 41m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20.7 mi
80.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Haviland
00h 50m from Medicine Lodge
Leave By
3:06 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Medicine Lodge 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 Medicine Lodge to Fort Dodge?

The road trip is about 101.2 miles (162.8 km) and usually takes 01h 41m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Haviland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 50 miles from Medicine Lodge and 51.2 miles from Fort Dodge.

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

The direct path is about 80.5 miles (129.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 20.7 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:06 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.46 one way or $26.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 31.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Haviland

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

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

RAIL

Dodge City

81 mi away
Central Ave & Wyatt Earp St.
RAIL

Hutchinson

114 mi away
North Walnut St & East 3rd Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Medicine Lodge and Fort Dodge. Straight-line distance: 80.54 mi (129.61 km).

Medicine Lodge

#1 Medicine Lodge

City in Barber County, Kansas, United States

Population1,804
Coordinates37.2811300, -98.5803600
Altitude456
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: (-98.58036, 37.281222)
End: (-99.935528, 37.731981)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 163 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 31m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 15m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.57 gal
13.51 L · about $13.46
Round trip
$26.92
7.14 gal · 27.02 L
Estimated CO2
31.7 kg one way
Round trip: 63.5 kg / 140 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $13.46 $26.92
Mid-grade $4.25 $15.18 $30.37
Premium $4.65 $16.61 $33.23
Diesel $5.30 $18.94 $37.87

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 Medicine Lodge and Fort Dodge. The current time is 00:19:26.

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.