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Trip from Eldon, MO to Kansas City, MO

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 2m

Distance

149.2 mi

240 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Fair

2 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 51m ★
6 AM
3h 2m
8 AM
3h 25m
10 AM
3h 10m
12 PM
3h 8m
3 PM
3h 11m
5 PM
3h 24m
8 PM
2h 55m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Eldon, MO, MO

Eldon, MO

Valeria Boltneva

city in Missouri, United States, that is one of two county seats of Jackson County and the largest city in Missouri

Kansas City, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 149.2-mile drive from Eldon, MO, to Kansas City, MO, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 2 minutes. You'll primarily travel on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, US 50, and US 65, with about 37% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this Midwest to Midwest excursion is around $23. This route offers a mixed driving experience, making it a straightforward and efficient trip for those looking to get from point A to point B without major logistical planning.

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

74.6 miles from Eldon, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 52.5 mi 56m
US 50 24.3 mi 32m
US 65 16.1 mi 18m
West 4th Street 15.2 mi 19m
MO 5 14.5 mi 18m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway 8.8 mi 9m
George Brett Super Highway 6.8 mi 9m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway 5.6 mi 6m
Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 52.5 mi, about 56m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Eldon, MO and Kansas City, MO.

1

Start on West 2nd Street

84 ft · 5 sec · West 2nd Street
2

Turn right onto South Aurora Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · South Aurora Street
3

Turn right onto MO 52

15 mi · 19 min · West 4th Street
4

Continue on MO 5

14 mi · 18 min · MO 5
5

Turn left onto US 50; MO 5

16 mi · 21 min · US 50; MO 5
6

Continue on US 50; MO 135

8.0 mi · 11 min · US 50; MO 135
7

Turn right onto South Engineer Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Engineer Avenue
8

Turn left onto West Saline Street

0.3 mi · 48 sec · West Saline Street
9

Continue on East Pettis Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Pettis Street
10

Turn right onto MO 765

1.1 mi · 2 min · North Ohio Avenue
11

Continue on MO 765

0.1 mi · 11 sec · MO 765
Toward US 65 North: Marshall
12

Merge onto US 65

16 mi · 18 min · US 65
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
14

Merge onto I 70; US 40

8.8 mi · 9 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
15

Continue on I 70; US 40

52 mi · 56 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
16

Continue on I 70

2.7 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
17

Continue on I 70

1.8 mi · 2 min · Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Continue on I 70

2.9 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
19

Continue on I 70

6.8 mi · 9 min · George Brett Super Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Keep slight left at fork onto I 670; I 70 Alt

0.2 mi · 21 sec · I 670; I 70 Alt
Exit 2L Toward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South: Topeka, Wichita Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 2P Toward 13th Street, Downtown Use the slight right lane.
22

Continue on East 13th Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · East 13th Street
23

Turn right onto Oak Street

454 ft · 13 sec · Oak Street
24

Arrive at destination

Oak Street

Trip Plan

Given the 3-hour duration and 149.2-mile distance, this route is perfect for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. You'll encounter one recommended stop along the way, which is ample for a trip of this length. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 52.5-mile stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably. With a fuel cost estimate of $23, budgeting is straightforward for this journey.

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 74.6 miles from Eldon, MO, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.5 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 33 miles or 43m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 74.6 miles or 1h 38m 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 30m

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 Eldon, 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 Eldon, MO

This is one driving day of about 149.2 miles and 3h 2m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Eldon, 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 52.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and county seat of Saline County, Missouri, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Marshall, MO

75 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Tipton, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Marshall, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 74.6 miles from Eldon, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · home stretch

Pokesan - Poke Bowls, Dumplings & More

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kansas City, Missouri

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18167016120

Visit website

Dott Boss

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Kansas City, Missouri

0.3 mi

Black Garlic Restaurant & Rum Bar

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kansas City, Missouri

2.7 mi

Best coffee break · home stretch

Core Coffee & Eatery

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kansas City, Missouri

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch · 0min to go 1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+18162875027

Visit website

Pokesan - Poke Bowls, Dumplings & More

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Kansas City, Missouri

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18167016120

Visit website

Dott Boss

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Kansas City, Missouri

Hours: 6:30 am–12 pm

+18162838000

Visit website

Black Garlic Restaurant & Rum Bar

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour Moderately

Kansas City, Missouri

Hours: 5–9 pm

+18162146939

Visit website

Chef Tito´s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

North Kansas City, Missouri

Hours: 4–9 pm

+18168414700

Visit website

Thailand Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Blue Springs, Missouri

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+18162293292

Visit website

TAILLEUR RESTAURANT

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $50 to $10

Kansas City, Missouri

Hours: 5–9 pm

+18164427042

Visit website

Chappell's Restaurant & Sports Museum

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Kansas City, Missouri

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18164210002

Visit website

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Independence, Missouri

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+18167955520

Visit website

Core Coffee & Eatery

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Kansas City, Missouri

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+18162875027

Visit website

Francis Energy Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

Early stretch 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Sedalia, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18004891588

Visit website

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

Final third 4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour

Higginsville, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

+16602071324

Visit website

Money Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Kansas City, Missouri

Hours: 9:30 am–4 pm

+18168812683

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 149.1 — 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 | South Aurora Street

Turn right onto South Aurora Street

Navigation decision point

4
55.4 mi into trip | ~1h 15m in | MO 765 / North Ohio Avenue

Turn right onto MO 765 / North Ohio Avenue

Navigation decision point

9
148.5 mi into trip | ~3h 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
148.7 mi into trip | ~3h 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
149.1 mi into trip | ~3h 1m in | Oak Street

Turn right onto Oak Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.33 one way

$46.65 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $25.61 $51.22
premium $4.89 $28.71 $57.42
diesel $5.61 $32.94 $65.88

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 52.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 44.8 0 $15.67 $7.16
Efficient EV 37.3 0 $13.05 $5.97
EV Truck/SUV 59.7 0 $20.89 $9.55

Gas CO2

52 kg

EV CO2

17 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 17, 2026

Origin

Eldon, MO

Late night in Eldon on Tuesday

Local time

5:25 AM

CDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kansas City, MO

Late night in Kansas City on Tuesday

Local time

5:25 AM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 9 to 13 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 17 at 2:14AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Springfield MO

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 17 at 1:42AM CDT until April 18 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO

65°F

Marshall, MO

75 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

15 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 2m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

The drive from Eldon to Kansas City presents a mixed driving profile, meaning you'll encounter a variety of road types. With 37% of the route utilizing highways, expect some faster-paced sections, balanced with other road types. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 52.5 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, offering a good opportunity to settle in. This blend of highway and other roads means the character of the drive will shift, keeping things interesting for the 3-hour duration.

37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.5 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Aurora Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 149.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 (South Aurora Street): Navigation decision point; at 55.4 miles (MO 765 / North Ohio Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 148.5 miles (I 670; I 70 Alt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

About the Cities

Arriving in Kansas City, MO

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 2m. Total distance: 149.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (37%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 52.5 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. 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.

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: near the start (South Aurora Street): Navigation decision point; at 55.4 miles (MO 765 / North Ohio Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 148.5 miles (I 670; I 70 Alt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Kansas City, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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