Traveling from Anderson to Kansas City covers 184.3 miles, making for a straightforward trek through the Missouri heartland. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 54 minutes on the road, which is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip. Budget roughly $28 for fuel to complete the journey. Because the route utilizes East Jefferson Street and Highway 59 before transitioning to I-49 North, you get a mix of local and interstate driving. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout your travel. This trip is ideal if you are looking to bridge the distance between southern and central Missouri without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
92 miles from Anderson, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Anderson, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on East Street
102 ft·4 sec·East Street
2
Continue on East Jefferson Street
465 ft·22 sec·East Jefferson Street
3
Turn right onto MO 59; MO 76
0.5 mi·52 sec·South State Highway 59
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 71 Business; MO 59
4.8 mi·6 min·US 71 Business; MO 59
5
Take the ramp onto US 71 Business
0.3 mi·17 sec·US 71 Business
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Joplin
6
Merge onto I 49; US 71
2.4 mi·2 min·Corporal Bobbie J. Harper Memorial Highway
7
Continue on I 49; US 71
5.8 mi·6 min·James B. Tatum Highway
8
Continue on I 49; US 71
6.0 mi·6 min·Special Agent Tom Crowell Memorial Highway
9
Continue on I 49; US 71
9.0 mi·9 min·Purple Heart Trail
10
Continue on MO 249
6.2 mi·6 min·Governor Warren E Hearnes Memorial Highway
Exit 39B
11
Merge onto I 49 Business; MO 171
6.6 mi·7 min·Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway
12
Continue on MO 96; MO 571
452 ft·15 sec·West Central Avenue
Toward MO 96 East, MO 571 South: Carthage
13
Turn left
0.2 mi·13 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas CityUse the left lane.
14
Merge onto I 49; US 71
3.2 mi·3 min·George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
15
Continue on I 49; US 71
10 mi·11 min·Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway
16
Continue on I 49; US 71
128 mi·2 hr 21 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Toward 11th Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn straight onto East 11th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·East 11th Street
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto Oak Street
461 ft·15 sec·Oak Street
20
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 184.3-mile drive, aim to depart early to avoid local traffic congestion as you transition from the local streets to the interstate. You only need to plan for one stop along the way, giving you plenty of flexibility to stretch your legs whenever you feel ready. Since this is a sub-three-hour trip, keep your pace steady rather than rushing through the turn-heavy sections at the start. Pay close attention to your navigation as you move from Highway 59 onto I-49 North to ensure a seamless connection. Having your $28 fuel budget prepared in advance ensures you can focus on the road ahead without unnecessary stress.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 92 miles from Anderson, MO, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 136.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 40 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92 miles or 1h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kansas City, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Anderson, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Anderson, MO
This is one driving day of about 183.9 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Anderson, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 136.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 183.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|MO 59; MO 76 / South State Highway 59
Turn right onto MO 59; MO 76 / South State Highway 59
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|US 71 Business; MO 59
At end of road, turn left onto US 71 Business; MO 59
Navigation decision point
5
5.4 mi into trip|~7m in|US 71 Business
Take the ramp onto US 71 Business toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Joplin
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Joplin
8
41.7 mi into trip|~46m in
Turn left toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
7
183.2 mi into trip|~3h 22m in
Take the exit toward 11th Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 11th Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.75 one way
$57.50 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.57
$63.13
premium
$4.89
$35.39
$70.78
diesel
$5.61
$40.60
$81.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.2
0
$19.31
$8.83
Efficient EV
46
0
$16.09
$7.36
EV Truck/SUV
73.6
0
$25.75
$11.77
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026
Origin
Anderson, MO
Late night
in Anderson on Tuesday
Local time
4:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kansas City, MO
Late night
in Kansas City on Tuesday
Local time
4:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Nevada, MO
92 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
7 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 24m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
George Washington Carver National Monument
National Monument
The young child known as the "Plant Doctor" tended his secret garden while observing the day-to-day operations of a 19th century farm. Nature and nurture ultimately influenced George on his quest for...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 25.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This journey is defined by its turn-heavy local segments rather than long, monotonous highway stretches. You will start by navigating local roads like East Jefferson Street and Highway 59, which require your full attention compared to the later portions of the trip. Once you merge onto I-49 North, the driving experience shifts toward a more consistent pace. Because the highway share is 0% for the initial local sections, the road feels more intimate and engaging than a typical interstate haul. Be prepared for a winding start that gradually gives way to the more predictable flow of a major northbound artery.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 136.6 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near MO 59; MO 76 / South State Highway 59.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 24m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (MO 59; MO 76 / South State Highway 59): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 71 Business; MO 59): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (US 71 Business): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Kansas City is a major Midwestern metropolitan area that spreads across the border of Missouri and Kansas. It is a city that tends to hide itself from tourists. Reputed to have more boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any other city in the world except for Rome, it can be a beautiful city, too. It is unique in that it is split down the middle by the state line of Kansas and Missouri.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 136.6 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (MO 59; MO 76 / South State Highway 59): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 71 Business; MO 59): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (US 71 Business): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — George Washington Carver National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Kansas City, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
