Origin
Kansas City, KS
Morning in Kansas City on Sunday
Local time
6:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kansas City, KS to Paola, KS
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
44.5 mi
72 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paola, KS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick getaway from Kansas City to Paola, you are looking at a straightforward 44.5-mile journey that typically takes about 58 minutes. This drive is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as the proximity of these two Great Plains locations makes an overnight stay unnecessary. You can expect to spend roughly $7 on fuel for the round trip, keeping your overhead costs quite low. Navigating this route involves a combination of North 7th Street Trafficway, I-35, and US 169. It is a practical, efficient connection between the city and the quieter outskirts, offering a simple transition for travelers who prefer a direct, no-fuss commute.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 169 | 20.8 mi | 24m |
| I 35 | 18.7 mi | 22m |
| North 7th Street Trafficway | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| East Peoria Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Baptiste Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Hedge Lane | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Armstrong Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Silver Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 169
— 20.8 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, KS and Paola, KS.
1
Start on this road
149 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Armstrong Avenue
282 ft
·
14 sec
·
Armstrong Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 69
3.1 mi
·
6 min
·
North 7th Street Trafficway
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward I 35 South: Wichita
5
Merge onto I 35
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
I 35
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on I 35; US 56; US 169
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
I 35; US 56; US 169
Toward I 35 South, US 56 West, US 169 South: Wichita
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on I 35; US 50; US 56; US 169
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
I 35; US 50; US 56; US 169
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit onto US 169
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
US 169
Exit 215
Toward US 169 South, KS 7: Paola
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto US 169; K-7
21 mi
·
23 min
·
US 169; K-7
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Baptiste Drive
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto Baptiste Drive
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Baptiste Drive
12
Turn left onto Hedge Lane
334 ft
·
12 sec
·
Hedge Lane
13
Turn right onto East Peoria Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Peoria Street
14
Turn left onto South Silver Street
222 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Silver Street
15
Arrive at destination
South Silver Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.3 miles from Kansas City, KS, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 42.8 — 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
|
Armstrong Avenue
Turn right onto Armstrong Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway
Turn right onto US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
3.3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
22 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
US 169
Take the exit onto US 169 toward US 169 South, KS 7: Paola
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.
Exit 215
Toward US 169 South, KS 7: Paola
6
42.8 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward Baptiste Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Baptiste Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.96 one way
$13.91 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.64 | $15.28 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.56 | $17.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.83 | $19.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.67 | $2.14 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.89 | $1.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.23 | $2.85 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Paola, KS
Morning in Paola on Sunday
Local time
6:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
58m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily focused on highway travel, with 89% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will find yourself settling into a steady pace, particularly on US 169, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 20.8 miles. The experience is primarily a highway-focused drive, moving away from the denser city traffic of Kansas City and into more open regional roads. Because the route relies so heavily on high-speed infrastructure, you can expect a consistent driving rhythm throughout the hour-long trip. It is a functional path that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding backroads or scenic detours.
89% 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: 20.8 mi on US 169.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 169 and I 35. 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 Armstrong Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 44.5 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 (Armstrong Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 44.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.8 miles on US 169. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Paola, KS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Armstrong Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Paola, KS before heading back.
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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