How far is Wakarusa, KS from Dodge City, KS?

The driving distance from Wakarusa, KS to Dodge City, KS is about 281.2 miles (452.5 km), with a travel time of about 05h 19m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 246.9 miles (397.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 38m 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
281.19 mi
05h 19m
Flight
246.95 mi
397.43 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Wakarusa.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
246.95 mi
Kilometers
397.43 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
281.19 mi
Kilometers
452.53 km
Drive Time
05h 19m

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 19m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Dodge City
Sun, Oct 11, 5:04 AM CDT
Return by in Wakarusa
Sun, Oct 11, 10:24 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wakarusa
2026-10-10T23:45
Arrive Dodge City
Sun, Oct 11, 5:04 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 19m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:19 AM to 1:19 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
6:22 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Wakarusa
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 Wakarusa
140.4 mi
02h 39m
To Dodge City
140.8 mi
02h 39m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
90°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Oct 10 7:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph S
Destination
63°F
Overnight

Clear

Starts
Sat, Oct 10 3:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Wakarusa and Dodge City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wakarusa and Dodge City.

  1. 1

    Start on Southwest Kingston Road

    9 m · 3 sec · Southwest Kingston Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Southwest 3rd Street

    55 m · 11 sec · Southwest 3rd Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Southwest Jordan Road

    1591 ft · 1 min · Southwest Jordan Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Southwest 97th Street

    2738 ft · 2 min · Southwest 97th Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Southwest Topeka Boulevard

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Southwest Topeka Boulevard

  6. 6

    Turn left

    1196 ft · 29 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    10.9 mi · 12 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Wanamaker Road, Huntoon Street

    1298 ft · 32 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight right

    50 m · 5 sec

  10. 10

    Turn straight onto Southwest Wanamaker Road

    1.3 km · 2 min · Southwest Wanamaker Road

  11. 11

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 70 West: Salina

    1255 ft · 42 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    81.1 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    49.4 mi · 49 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  14. 14

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

    931 ft · 28 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left

    47.9 mi · 56 min

  16. 16

    Take the ramp slight right

    3.8 mi · 6 min

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Main Street

    2161 ft · 39 sec · Main Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Railroad Avenue

    2965 ft · 1 min · Railroad Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Railroad Avenue

    2.1 mi · 5 min · Railroad Avenue

  20. 20

    At the end of the road, turn left

    19.3 mi · 23 min

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Broadway Street

    1.2 km · 52 sec · Broadway Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Northeast Trail Street

    24.3 mi · 29 min · Northeast Trail Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Niles Avenue

    2707 ft · 48 sec · Niles Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn right onto East 10th Street

    31.3 mi · 36 min · East 10th Street

  25. 25

    Turn left

    3.1 mi · 4 min

  26. 26

    Continue on East Wyatt Earp Boulevard

    2.1 mi · 3 min · East Wyatt Earp Boulevard

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Central Avenue

    10 m · 1 sec · Central Avenue

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Central Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Wakarusa and Dodge City.

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
28 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
81.1 mi · 29%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
49.4 mi · 18%
East 10th Street
31.3 mi · 11%
Northeast Trail Street
24.3 mi · 9%
Southwest Topeka Boulevard
11.9 mi · 4%
KS 156
4 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Merge slight left onto Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

81.1 mi · 01h 21m

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 19m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.3 mi
246.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Glendale
02h 39m from Wakarusa
Leave By
6:22 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Wakarusa and Clear near Dodge City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Wakarusa to Dodge City?

The road trip is about 281.2 miles (452.5 km) and usually takes 05h 19m 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 140.4 miles from Wakarusa and 140.8 miles from Dodge City.

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

The direct path is about 246.9 miles (397.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.3 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 6:22 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.11 one way or $80.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Wakarusa and Clear near Dodge City.

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 Wakarusa and Dodge City. Straight-line distance: 246.95 mi (397.43 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Wakarusa

Census-designated place in Shawnee County, Kansas

Population2,174
Coordinates38.8858400, -95.6958200
Altitude290
CountryUnited States
Dodge City

#2 Dodge City

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

Population27,104
Coordinates37.7528000, -100.0170800
Altitude760
CountryUnited States
Start: Wakarusa (-95.69582, 38.88584)
End: Dodge City (-100.01708, 37.7528)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 453 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 01m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 37m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 01m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.92 gal
37.56 L · about $40.11
Round trip
$80.21
19.84 gal · 75.12 L
Estimated CO2
88.2 kg one way
Round trip: 176.3 kg / 389 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.04 $40.11 $80.21
Mid-grade $4.41 $43.70 $87.40
Premium $4.76 $47.18 $94.36
Diesel $5.97 $59.23 $118.46

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 · Oct 10, 2026

There is no time difference between Wakarusa and Dodge City. The current time is 23:45:30.

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.