Black Jack, MO to Kansas City, MO is 242.4 miles and takes about 4h 41m via I 70, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive across Missouri, moving from the Midwest region of the state to its western edge. It's a route best suited for those prioritizing efficient travel over extensive sightseeing. Given the relatively short duration and focused highway profile, this trip is easily accomplished within a single day, making it ideal for a quick transition between these two Missouri cities.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
121.2 miles from Black Jack, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
215.4 mi
4h 4m
Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
8.6 mi
10m
George Brett Super Highway
6.8 mi
9m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.6 mi
6m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Old Halls Ferry Road
0.8 mi
1m
Mehl Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Dunn Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 215.4 mi, about 4h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Black Jack, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on Parker Road
392 ft·9 sec·Parker Road
2
Continue on Old Halls Ferry Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Old Halls Ferry Road
3
Turn right onto Mehl Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Mehl Avenue
4
Turn right onto Netherton Drive
394 ft·18 sec·Netherton Drive
5
Turn left onto MO AC
0.2 mi·19 sec·New Halls Ferry Road
Use the left / right lanes.
6
Turn sharp right onto Dunn Road
0.4 mi·53 sec·Dunn Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 270 West
8
Merge onto I 270
8.6 mi·10 min·Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Exit 20AToward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
10
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·42 sec·this road
Exit 20A-BToward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas CityUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·41 sec
Exit 20BToward I 70 West: Kansas CityUse the slight right lane.
Exit 2LToward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South: Topeka, WichitaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 2PToward 13th Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
19
Continue on East 13th Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·East 13th Street
20
Turn right onto Oak Street
454 ft·13 sec·Oak Street
21
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
Trip Plan
For this one-day drive, consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. With a total duration under 5 hours, you won't need to split the journey, offering flexibility for when you start. The longest stretch without a major change is 215.4 miles on I 70, so plan for a fuel stop before you embark or midway if needed, keeping your estimated fuel cost around $38. Watch for the transition points between the highway segments, as these can sometimes involve minor adjustments in speed or lane usage.
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 121.2 miles from Black Jack, MO, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 215.4 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 53 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.2 miles or 2h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 49m
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 Black Jack, 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 Black Jack, MO
This is one driving day of about 242.4 miles and 4h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Black Jack, 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 I 70 for about 215.4 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 241.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in|MO AC / New Halls Ferry Road
Turn left onto MO AC / New Halls Ferry Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
6
10.9 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 20A
Toward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
8
11.7 mi into trip|~17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20B
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
9
241.7 mi into trip|~4h 39m in|I 670; I 70 Alt
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670; I 70 Alt toward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South: Topeka, Wichita
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2L
Toward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South:...
9
241.9 mi into trip|~4h 40m in
Take the exit toward 13th 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.
Exit 2P
Toward 13th Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.90 one way
$75.79 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$41.61
$83.22
premium
$4.89
$46.65
$93.30
diesel
$5.61
$53.52
$107.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.7
0
$25.45
$11.64
Efficient EV
60.6
0
$21.21
$9.70
EV Truck/SUV
97
1
$33.94
$15.51
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Black Jack, MO
Night
in Black Jack on Saturday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kansas City, MO
Night
in Kansas City on Saturday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live 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
16 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
4h 41m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 89% of the journey on major interstates. You'll spend the majority of your time on I 70, experiencing its consistent flow for a significant stretch of 215.4 miles. Expect a predictable and generally smooth ride as you traverse the state. While the route is largely defined by the interstate, the transition from the Rosemary Straub Davison Highway to the George Brett Super Highway indicates the primary artery you'll follow for most of this 4h 41m trip.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 215.4 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Rosemary Straub Davison Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near MO AC / New Halls Ferry Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 242.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (MO AC / New Halls Ferry Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.7 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 4h 41m. Total distance: 242.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 215.4 miles on I 70. 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: at 1.5 miles (MO AC / New Halls Ferry Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Kansas City, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
