Road Trips from Kansas City, MO
Planning a quick escape from Kansas City, MO? Your options lean towards day trips with a drive score of 8 or 9, mostly on flat terrain. You've got a great mix of routes, with many destinations under four hours and featuring parks. For a slightly longer haul, there are options extending to eight hours, some even recommending an overnight stay and including national parks.
Total Routes
32
Shortest
3.1h
With Parks Nearby
21
Full-day getaway
Center, MO
3h 51m201.3 mi one way
This 3.9-hour drive on mostly surface roads gets you to Center, MO. It's a solid option if you want a longer day trip, clocking in at 201.3 miles, and it includes park access, though no specific nearby parks are listed.
Osage Beach, MO
3h 24m167.2 mi one way
At 3.4 hours and 167.2 miles, Osage Beach offers a mixed highway and surface road experience. It's a good choice for a day trip with park access, and the terrain is mostly flat, making for an easy drive.
Linn, MO
3h 29m178.5 mi one way
This 3.5-hour trip to Linn, MO, covers 178.5 miles on mostly surface roads. Like many other options, it features park access and predominantly flat terrain, fitting well within a day's excursion.
Wardsville, MO
3h 5m163.6 mi one way
Wardsville is reachable in 3.1 hours over 163.6 miles, using mainly surface roads. It boasts a high drive score of 8 and park access, with a mostly flat terrain profile, making it an efficient day trip.
Weekend trip
27 total in this range
Waynesville, MO
4h 13m197.6 mi one way
Barnhart, MO
4h 59m258.9 mi one way
Barnhart, MO, is a longer day trip at 5 hours and 258.9 miles, mainly on surface roads. It includes access to Gateway Arch National Park and offers flat terrain, though its drive score is 8.
East Prairie, MO
7h 29m397.4 mi one way
Moline Acres, MO
4h 41m243.9 mi one way
Washington, MO
4h 10m215.5 mi one way
Long-haul ideas
Browse by Mood
Center, MO
3h 51m201.3 mi one way
Waynesville, MO
4h 13m197.6 mi one way
Barnhart, MO
4h 59m258.9 mi one way
East Prairie, MO
7h 29m397.4 mi one way
Sikeston, MO
7h 8m378.8 mi one way
Sullivan, MO
4h 47m241.4 mi one way
Osage Beach, MO
3h 24m167.2 mi one way
Ferguson, MO
4h 37m240.2 mi one way
When to Go
Spring
Many routes offer park access and flat terrain, ideal for enjoying spring blooms on day trips.
Summer
The predominantly flat terrain and park access make these drives suitable for summer excursions.
Fall
Flat terrain and available parks provide good settings for fall color viewing on these drives.
Winter
With mostly flat terrain and reliable drive scores, these routes are accessible even in winter for shorter trips.
Starting Somewhere Else?
Other nearby cities with their own escape planners.
Ready to plan?
Pick any destination above for full turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost, rest stops, and weather. Or visit the Kansas City, MO city hub for all incoming and outgoing routes.