How far is Valley Falls, KS from Fort Dodge, KS?

The driving distance from Valley Falls, KS to Fort Dodge, KS is about 297.1 miles (478.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 266.2 miles (428.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 34m 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
297.08 mi
04h 47m
Flight
266.21 mi
428.43 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Valley Falls.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
266.21 mi
Kilometers
428.43 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
297.08 mi
Kilometers
478.11 km
Drive Time
04h 47m

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 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fort Dodge
Mon, Jun 1, 6:27 PM CDT
Return by in Valley Falls
Mon, Jun 1, 11:14 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Valley Falls
2026-06-01T13:40
Arrive Fort Dodge
Mon, Jun 1, 6:27 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:47 AM to 12:47 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
7:26 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Valley Falls
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
Glendale
KS

Unincorporated community in Saline County, Kansas

From Valley Falls
148.6 mi
02h 23m
To Fort Dodge
148.5 mi
02h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
Monday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NE
Destination
98°F
Monday

Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 16 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Valley Falls and Fort Dodge.

  1. 1

    Start on Oak Street

    901 ft · 47 sec · Oak Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Phoebe Street

    780 ft · 19 sec · Phoebe Street

  3. 3

    Continue on 9th Street

    1321 ft · 38 sec · 9th Street

  4. 4

    Turn right

    20.5 mi · 23 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    6.1 mi · 8 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right

    1515 ft · 52 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

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

    1395 ft · 26 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

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

  11. 11

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    49.4 mi · 49 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  12. 12

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

    931 ft · 28 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left

    47.9 mi · 56 min

  14. 14

    Take the ramp slight right

    3.8 mi · 6 min

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Main Street

    2161 ft · 39 sec · Main Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Railroad Avenue

    2965 ft · 1 min · Railroad Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Railroad Avenue

    2.1 mi · 5 min · Railroad Avenue

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn left

    19.3 mi · 23 min

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Broadway Street

    1.2 km · 52 sec · Broadway Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Northeast Trail Street

    24.3 mi · 29 min · Northeast Trail Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Niles Avenue

    2707 ft · 48 sec · Niles Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn right onto East 10th Street

    29.3 mi · 34 min · East 10th Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto 117 Road

    3.9 mi · 7 min · 117 Road

  24. 24

    Turn sharp right

    1.7 mi · 2 min

  25. 25

    Turn left

    104 m · 15 sec

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
26 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
82.8 mi · 28%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
49.4 mi · 17%
East 10th Street
29.3 mi · 10%
Northeast Trail Street
24.3 mi · 8%
9th Street
9.3 mi · 3%
KS 156
4 mi · 1%
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
04h 47m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+30.9 mi
266.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Glendale
02h 23m from Valley Falls
Leave By
7:26 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Valley Falls and Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Fort Dodge.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Valley Falls to Fort Dodge?

The road trip is about 297.1 miles (478.1 km) and usually takes 04h 47m 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?

Glendale is a useful midpoint, sitting about 148.6 miles from Valley Falls and 148.5 miles from Fort Dodge.

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

The direct path is about 266.2 miles (428.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.9 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 7:26 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.52 one way or $79.04 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 93.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Valley Falls and Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Fort Dodge.

Stop Ideas Near Glendale

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

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

RAIL

Hutchinson

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

Newton

105 mi away
414 North Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Valley Falls and Fort Dodge. Straight-line distance: 266.21 mi (428.43 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Valley Falls

City in Kansas, United States

Population1,152
Coordinates39.3433300, -95.4602500
Altitude287
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: Oak Street (-95.45994, 39.343331)
End: (-99.935528, 37.731981)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 478 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.48 gal
39.68 L · about $39.52
Round trip
$79.04
20.96 gal · 79.36 L
Estimated CO2
93.1 kg one way
Round trip: 186.3 kg / 411 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $39.52 $79.04
Mid-grade $4.25 $44.57 $89.14
Premium $4.65 $48.77 $97.55
Diesel $5.30 $55.59 $111.17

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 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Valley Falls and Fort Dodge. The current time is 13:40:02.

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.