This 399.8-mile journey from Atwood, KS, to Kansas City, KS, is estimated to take about 5 hours and 57 minutes of driving time. With a fuel cost of approximately $61, this route is best tackled as a single-day trip, though you'll want to start early. The drive primarily uses local roads, indicated by its 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you won't be on major highways for any significant portion. You'll be traveling within the Great Plains region for the entirety of this trip, experiencing a consistent, open landscape. This is a practical drive that requires your attention due to the frequent turns.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
200 miles from Atwood, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
221.8 mi
3h 41m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
90.3 mi
1h 32m
Kansas Turnpike
54.7 mi
56m
South Railroad Avenue
30.6 mi
54m
South 7th Street Trafficway
1.5 mi
3m
I 70
0.3 mi
<1m
State Street
0.2 mi
<1m
US 69
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 221.8 mi, about 3h 41m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~835 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,078
Quietest
2 AM
~72 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atwood, KS and Kansas City, KS.
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
0.3 mi·24 sec·I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69 North: Saint Louis
12
Take the exit onto US 69
0.2 mi·20 sec·US 69
Exit 422AToward US 69 North, US 169 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto US 69
1.5 mi·3 min·South 7th Street Trafficway
Toward US 69 NorthUse the left lane.
14
Turn left onto Armstrong Avenue
282 ft·17 sec·Armstrong Avenue
15
Turn left
149 ft·10 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the nearly 6-hour driving duration, an early morning departure from Atwood, KS, is your best bet to reach Kansas City, KS, within daylight. Plan for at least one stop to break up the drive and refuel, especially since the total fuel cost is estimated at $61. Pay close attention to road signs as you'll be on local roads for the majority of this 399.8-mile trip, which is characterized by frequent turns. The 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile means staying aware of your navigation is key to a smooth arrival.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 200 miles from Atwood, KS, or about 3h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 221.8 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 88 miles or 1h 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 200 miles or 3h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kansas City, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Atwood, KS 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Atwood, KS
This is one driving day of about 400.1 miles and 7h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Atwood, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 221.8 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 0.3 and 398.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|KS 25 / South Railroad Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto KS 25 / South Railroad Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
342.5 mi into trip|~6h 9m in|I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway toward I-70 East, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
6
398 mi into trip|~7h 7m in|I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69 toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69 North: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69...
9
398.3 mi into trip|~7h 7m in|US 69
Take the exit onto US 69 toward US 69 North, US 169 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 422A
Toward US 69 North, US 169 South
5
398.5 mi into trip|~7h 7m in|US 69 / South 7th Street Trafficway
Turn left onto US 69 / South 7th Street Trafficway toward US 69 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 69 North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.09 one way
$118.17 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg140 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$65.23
$130.46
premium
$4.72
$74.29
$148.57
diesel
$4.80
$75.55
$151.09
Estimated Tolls: $2.74
Kansas Turnpike
(54.7 mi)$2.74
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$59
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 140 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
120
1
$42.01
$19.20
Efficient EV
100
1
$35.01
$16.00
EV Truck/SUV
160
2
$56.01
$25.61
Gas CO2
140 kg
EV CO2
47 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Atwood, KS
Evening
in Atwood on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Kansas City, KS
Evening
in Kansas City on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 8 mph28% chanceLive forecast
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
3 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
7h 12m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The path to equality has been anything but smooth. It's taken courage and dedication by everyday people coming together for a common goal to carry the country toward true equality. Parents, teachers,...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 344.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'Turn-heavy local drive' for this 399.8-mile route, with a 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating through towns and along local roads for the entire duration, rather than cruising on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch of driving is not specified, but the profile suggests a need for constant engagement as you'll be making frequent adjustments. The roads will likely present a varied experience as you transition between different local networks, demanding your focus throughout the 5 hours and 57 minutes of travel time.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 221.8 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near KS 25 / South Railroad Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 400.1 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (KS 25 / South Railroad Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 342.5 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 398 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,157 ft834 ft
Total Climb
359 ft
Total Descent
2,349 ft
Highest Point
3,157 ft
~28.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,323 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Kansas City is a city in the state of Kansas, in the United States of America, and a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. Kansas City, Kansas, is often referred to as KCK, and Kansas City, Missouri, as KCMO. The two Kansas Cities form the core of the wider Kansas City metropolitan area.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 12m. Total distance: 400.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 12m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 221.8 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.74 in tolls one way, starting with Kansas Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 37 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Kansas City, KS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 37 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (KS 25 / South Railroad Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 342.5 miles (I 70 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 398 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kansas City, KS before the return drive.
