Traveling from Billings to Kansas City covers 182.2 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 38 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a relatively short trip through the Missouri Midwest, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate a mix of local streets like Northwest Jefferson Avenue and Northeast Elm Street before transitioning onto I-44 East. Budgeting approximately $27 for fuel should keep you covered for the duration of the trip. Whether you are heading north for business or a weekend getaway, this route provides a straightforward connection between these two Missouri locations.
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
91.1 miles from Billings, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Kansas Expressway
87.3 mi
1h 43m
MO 7
73.9 mi
1h 24m
Northeast Elm Street
8.9 mi
13m
Congressman Mel Hancock Freeway
7.2 mi
7m
MO MM
3.9 mi
6m
East 11th Street
0.3 mi
1m
Oak Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Northwest Jefferson Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
North Kansas Expressway
— 87.3 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Billings, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on this road
140 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto MO 14
199 ft·5 sec·Northwest Jefferson Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 60; MO 413
8.9 mi·13 min·Northeast Elm Street
4
Turn left onto MO MM
3.9 mi·6 min·MO MM
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 44 East: Springfield
6
Merge onto I 44
7.2 mi·7 min·Congressman Mel Hancock Freeway
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13: BolivarUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
187 ft·5 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13 North: BolivarUse the left lane.
9
Continue on MO 13
87 mi·1 hr 43 min·North Kansas Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on MO 7
36 mi·39 min·MO 7
11
Take the exit onto MO 7
38 mi·45 min·MO 7
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Toward 11th Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto East 11th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·East 11th Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto Oak Street
461 ft·15 sec·Oak Street
15
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
Trip Plan
Since the trip is just under four hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With only one recommended stop, you can easily manage the drive in a single push, though taking a break halfway will help you stay refreshed for the city traffic you will encounter upon arrival in Kansas City. Be sure to check your vehicle's fuel levels before leaving Billings, as the $27 estimate is based on typical conditions and could fluctuate. Pay close attention to signage when transitioning from local streets like Northeast Elm Street onto the interstate to avoid unnecessary detours. Embracing the shorter duration allows you to arrive in Kansas City with plenty of energy left for your plans.
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 91.1 miles from Billings, MO, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.3 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 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.1 miles or 1h 52m 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 58m
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 Billings, 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 Billings, MO
This is one driving day of about 182.2 miles and 3h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Billings, 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 North Kansas Expressway for about 87.3 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 181.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MO 14 / Northwest Jefferson Avenue
Turn right onto MO 14 / Northwest Jefferson Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
20.2 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the exit toward MO 13: Bolivar
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
9
20.3 mi into trip|~28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 77
Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
7
143.6 mi into trip|~2h 51m in|MO 7
Take the exit onto MO 7 toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
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.
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kan...
7
181.5 mi into trip|~3h 36m 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
$28.48 one way
$56.97 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.28
$62.55
premium
$4.89
$35.06
$70.13
diesel
$5.61
$40.23
$80.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.7
0
$19.13
$8.75
Efficient EV
45.6
0
$15.94
$7.29
EV Truck/SUV
72.9
0
$25.51
$11.66
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Billings, MO
Night
in Billings on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kansas City, MO
Night
in Kansas City on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
80°F
Warsaw, MO
91 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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 38m 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.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...
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 as you navigate away from Billings, which makes for a more engaged experience than a standard highway cruise. While the route eventually utilizes I-44 East, the drive is defined by its local road segments rather than long, monotonous stretches of interstate. You won't find a high percentage of highway travel here, as the journey prioritizes local connectivity over high-speed transit. Because there is no single long, uninterrupted stretch, the drive requires you to stay alert and ready for frequent transitions. It is a practical, functional route that keeps you focused on the road ahead.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.3 mi on North Kansas Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Kansas Expressway and MO 7. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO 14 / Northwest Jefferson Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 182.2 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (MO 14 / Northwest Jefferson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 20.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 38m. Total distance: 182.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.3 miles on North Kansas Expressway. 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Kansas City, MO 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 14 / Northwest Jefferson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 20.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Kansas City, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
