Branson, MO to Blue Springs, MO is 202.7 miles and takes about 4h 9m via North Kansas Expressway and MO 7, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, traveling entirely within Missouri. Given its relatively short distance and predominantly highway profile, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion. Expect a straightforward drive that bypasses major urban centers for much of its length, making it a practical choice for a quick trip between these two points.
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
101.4 miles from Branson, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Kansas Expressway
87.2 mi
1h 42m
MO 7
39.2 mi
43m
American Legion Memorial Highway
18.6 mi
21m
MO 291
14.5 mi
21m
US Highway 65
12 mi
13m
Schoolcraft Freeway
10.7 mi
13m
MO 58
8.5 mi
11m
Payne Stewart Highway
4.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
North Kansas Expressway
— 87.2 mi, about 1h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Branson, MO and Blue Springs, MO.
1
Start on this road
63 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto US 65 Bus; MO 76
169 ft·6 sec·South Business 65
3
Continue on Red Route
0.4 mi·46 sec·Veterans Boulevard
4
Continue on Red Route
150 ft·3 sec·Veterans Boulevard
5
Enter roundabout onto Red Route
287 ft·8 sec·Branson Landing Boulevard
6
Continue on Red Route
0.5 mi·58 sec·Branson Landing Boulevard
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 65 North: Springfield
8
Merge onto US 65; MO 76
7.7 mi·8 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
9
Continue on US 65
12 mi·13 min·US Highway 65
10
Continue on US 65
11 mi·12 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
11
Continue on US 65
11 mi·13 min·Schoolcraft Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
13
Merge onto I 44
4.1 mi·5 min·Payne Stewart Highway
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13: Bolivar
15
Keep slight left at fork
150 ft·3 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13: Bolivar
16
Keep slight right at fork
209 ft·7 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
17
Merge onto MO 13
87 mi·1 hr 42 min·North Kansas Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Continue on MO 7
36 mi·39 min·MO 7
19
Take the exit onto MO 7
3.3 mi·3 min·MO 7
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 160Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
21
Keep slight right at fork
243 ft·6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
22
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi·12 min·MO 291
23
Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291
8.5 mi·11 min·MO 58; MO 291
24
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.6 mi·52 sec·MO 291
Toward US 50 East, MO 291 North: Sedalia
25
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.2 mi·37 sec·MO 291
Toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen RoadUse the slight right lane.
26
Turn left
300 ft·7 sec
27
Continue on MO 291
5.4 mi·8 min·MO 291
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Exit 12Toward Woods Chapel RoadUse the slight right lane.
29
Turn right onto Northeast Woods Chapel Road
1.3 mi·2 min·Northeast Woods Chapel Road
30
Continue on Southwest Woods Chapel Road
2.2 mi·3 min·Southwest Woods Chapel Road
31
Turn right onto US 40
1.5 mi·2 min·Corporal M.E. Webster Memorial Parkway
32
Turn left onto Southwest 15th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Southwest 15th Street
33
Arrive at destination
Southwest 15th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour drive, consider departing Branson in the morning to give yourself ample time for the 202.7-mile trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $31, it’s a budget-friendly excursion. Since this route is designed for a single day, you can be flexible with your timing. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 87.2 miles on the North Kansas Expressway, so plan for a break before or after this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach your destination, as services can become less frequent in some rural sections of MO 7.
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 101.4 miles from Branson, MO, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.2 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 45 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.4 miles or 2h 1m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blue Springs, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Branson, 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 Branson, MO
This is one driving day of about 202.7 miles and 4h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Branson, 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 87.2 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 47.4 and 197 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
47.4 mi into trip|~57m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MO 13: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
7
47.4 mi into trip|~57m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
6
174 mi into trip|~3h 24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
7
191.4 mi into trip|~3h 49m in|MO 291
Take the exit onto MO 291 toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen Road
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 MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen Road
7
197 mi into trip|~3h 58m in
Take the exit toward Woods Chapel Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12
Toward Woods Chapel Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.81 one way
$67.63 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$36.75
$73.50
premium
$5.26
$41.97
$83.94
diesel
$6.18
$49.31
$98.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.8
0
$21.28
$9.73
Efficient EV
50.7
0
$17.74
$8.11
EV Truck/SUV
81.1
1
$28.38
$12.97
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Branson, MO
Morning
in Branson on Saturday
Local time
8:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers
NW 15 to 21 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 1:51AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Destination
Blue Springs, MO
Morning
in Blue Springs on Saturday
Local time
8:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNW 15 to 18 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 1:51AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
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
6 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
4h 9m 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.
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?
This drive is mostly highway, with 86% of the 202.7 miles on high-speed roads like the North Kansas Expressway. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 87.2 miles on the North Kansas Expressway before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a good number of exits and merges as you navigate these highway sections, especially as you approach the Kansas City metropolitan area.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.2 mi on North Kansas Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Kansas Expressway and MO 7. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 47.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 202.7 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 47.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 47.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 174 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Branson is in the Ozarks and the southwest region Missouri. Today it is sometimes referred to as a "family-friendly Las Vegas" because of the many shows and attractions, the flashy building decorations, and the neon lights. The "strip", as it has been named, draws people from far and wide.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 9m. Total distance: 202.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.2 miles on North Kansas Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 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 Blue Springs, 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. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 47.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 47.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 174 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Blue Springs, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
