Dellwood, MO to Kansas City, MO is 240.8 miles and takes about 4h 37m via I 70, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Missouri, traversing the Midwest region. It's a straightforward trip, largely on the interstate, making it a good option if you want to get from point A to point B efficiently. Expect minimal fuss and a predictable travel time, ideal for a single-day excursion.
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
120.4 miles from Dellwood, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
221.4 mi
4h 12m
George Brett Super Highway
6.8 mi
9m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.6 mi
6m
Airport Road
1.8 mi
2m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Inner Belt Expressway
0.8 mi
<1m
Chambers Road
0.7 mi
1m
Hereford Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 221.4 mi, about 4h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dellwood, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on Chambers Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Chambers Road
2
Continue on Hereford Avenue
0.4 mi·39 sec·Hereford Avenue
3
Continue on Airport Road
1.8 mi·2 min·Airport Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·19 sec
Toward I 170 South
5
Merge onto I 170
0.8 mi·59 sec·Inner Belt Expressway
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 7BToward 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.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 2PToward 13th Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
14
Continue on East 13th Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·East 13th Street
15
Turn right onto Oak Street
454 ft·13 sec·Oak Street
16
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4.5-hour drive time, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid late-night driving. With only one recommended stop and a short overall duration, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you get closer to Kansas City, as fuel prices can fluctuate. The $38 fuel estimate should cover your trip, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer. Consider a brief stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs before the final push.
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 120.4 miles from Dellwood, MO, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 221.4 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 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.4 miles or 2h 18m 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 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 Dellwood, 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 Dellwood, MO
This is one driving day of about 240.8 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Dellwood, 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 221.4 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.1 and 240.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.1 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7B
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
5
4.5 mi into trip|~6m in|I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
9
240.1 mi into trip|~4h 36m 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
240.3 mi into trip|~4h 36m 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
5
240.7 mi into trip|~4h 37m in|Oak Street
Turn right onto Oak Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.65 one way
$75.29 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$41.33
$82.67
premium
$4.89
$46.34
$92.68
diesel
$5.61
$53.17
$106.33
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: 84.3 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
72.2
0
$25.28
$11.56
Efficient EV
60.2
0
$21.07
$9.63
EV Truck/SUV
96.3
1
$33.71
$15.41
Gas CO2
84 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
Dellwood, MO
Morning
in Dellwood on Sunday
Local time
9:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kansas City, MO
Morning
in Kansas City on Sunday
Local time
9:25 AM
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 37m 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 trip is 92% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on major interstates. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 221.4 miles on I 70. You'll notice a high density of exits for much of the drive, particularly as you approach larger towns and cities. The final portion of your drive will transition off the interstate onto surface roads.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 221.4 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and George Brett Super Highway. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in.
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 240.8 miles you will encounter 7 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 4.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 240.1 miles (I 670; I 70 Alt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 37m. Total distance: 240.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 37m 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 221.4 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 31 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.
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 4.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 240.1 miles (I 670; I 70 Alt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Kansas City, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
