Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 52m
Distance
385.9 mi
621 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$60
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kansas City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Bethany, MO
Wikimedia Commons
This 385.9-mile journey from Kansas City, MO, to Bethany, MO, is a solid day trip, estimated to take around 7 hours and 52 minutes of driving time. Primarily utilizing US 60 and MO 13, with a bit of MO 7, this route is largely highway-focused, with 85% of the drive on faster roads. You can expect a fuel cost of approximately $60 for this trip. With two planned stops, it's a manageable drive for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. The route keeps you within the Midwest region, offering a straightforward drive through Missouri.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
193 miles from Kansas City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 48m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 60 | 177.3 mi | 3h 28m |
| MO 13 | 68 mi | 1h 19m |
| MO 7 | 55.6 mi | 1h 4m |
| Bruce R. Watkins Drive | 37.3 mi | 44m |
| MO 53 | 19.6 mi | 29m |
| Schoolcraft Freeway | 8.3 mi | 10m |
| MO J | 5.2 mi | 9m |
| Payne Stewart Highway | 4.3 mi | 5m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, MO and Bethany, MO.
Start on Oak Street
Turn right onto East 12th Street
Turn right onto Charlotte Street
Turn left onto East Truman Road
Turn right onto Campbell Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 71
Take the exit onto MO 7
Turn slight left onto MO 7
Continue on MO 13
Take the exit
Merge onto I 44
Take the exit
Merge onto US 65
Take the exit
Merge onto US 60
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
Turn straight onto US 60 Business; US 67 Business
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
Turn slight left
Turn slight left onto MO 53
Turn left onto MO J
Turn left onto MO H
Turn right onto County Road 102
Arrive at destination
Given the 7-hour, 52-minute drive time, an early morning start from Kansas City is recommended to make the most of your day. You'll have two opportunities to stop along the way, which is a good pace for a drive of this length. Keep an eye on your fuel as the longest stretch is 177.3 miles on US 60, so plan your refueling stops accordingly. The estimated fuel cost is $60, so budget for that. This trip is well-suited for a single-day adventure, so you have flexibility in your departure time and how long you choose to linger at your stops.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 85 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 193 miles or 3h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethany, MO than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Kansas City, 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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kansas City, MO
This is one driving day of about 385.9 miles and 7h 52m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
193 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.
A short stop after about 85 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 193 miles from Kansas City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 60 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 177.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 257.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto East 12th Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Campbell Street
Navigation decision point
Merge onto US 71 / Bruce R. Watkins Drive
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto MO 7 toward MO 7 South: Clinton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60 toward US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$60.33 one way
$120.66 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $66.24 | $132.48 |
| premium | $4.89 | $74.26 | $148.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $85.20 | $170.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 135 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 115.8 | 1 | $40.52 | $18.52 |
| Efficient EV | 96.5 | 1 | $33.77 | $15.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 154.4 | 1 | $54.03 | $24.70 |
Gas CO2
135 kg
EV CO2
45 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Kansas City on Saturday
Local time
8:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Sunny
Destination
Evening in Bethany on Saturday
Local time
8:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
76°F
Waynesville, MO
193 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this trip, with 85% of the mileage on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 177.3 miles, primarily on US 60. While mostly highway, this route offers a good balance, avoiding a purely monotonous interstate experience. The roads will generally feel efficient, allowing you to cover ground steadily. This profile suggests a drive where you can maintain consistent speeds for extended periods.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 60 and MO 13. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 12th Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 385.9 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: near the start (East 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (Campbell Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 71 / Bruce R. Watkins Drive): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kansas City, MO and Bethany, MO, road signs point toward Saint Louis and Poplar Bluff.
Saint Louis
Poplar Bluff
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 52m. Total distance: 385.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 52m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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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