This 212.2-mile drive from Kansas City, MO, to Forsyth, MO, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 13 minutes. You'll navigate primarily via MO 13 and MO 7, with a portion on Bruce R. Watkins Drive. With a highway share of 74%, this is a highway-focused trip, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $33, and it's a straightforward drive through the Midwest. This route is well-suited for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
106.1 miles from Kansas City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MO 13
68 mi
1h 19m
MO 7
55.6 mi
1h 4m
Bruce R. Watkins Drive
37.3 mi
44m
American Legion Memorial Highway
12.1 mi
13m
US Highway 65
12 mi
13m
Schoolcraft Freeway
10.7 mi
13m
US 160
10.3 mi
15m
Payne Stewart Highway
4.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
MO 13
— 68 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, MO and Forsyth, MO.
1
Start on Oak Street
20 ft·4 sec·Oak Street
2
Turn right onto East 12th Street
0.2 mi·42 sec·East 12th Street
3
Turn right onto Charlotte Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·Charlotte Street
4
Turn left onto East Truman Road
395 ft·11 sec·East Truman Road
5
Turn right onto Campbell Street
68 ft·1 sec·Campbell Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward US 71 South: Joplin
7
Merge onto US 71
37 mi·44 min·Bruce R. Watkins Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto MO 7
0.2 mi·19 sec·MO 7
Exit 157Toward MO 7 South: Clinton
9
Turn slight left onto MO 7
55 mi·1 hr 3 min·MO 7
Exit 157Toward MO 7 South: ClintonUse the left lane.
10
Continue on MO 13
68 mi·1 hr 19 min·MO 13
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 44 East: Rolla, Saint Louis
12
Merge onto I 44
4.3 mi·5 min·Payne Stewart Highway
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 82AToward US 65 South: Branson
14
Merge onto US 65
11 mi·13 min·Schoolcraft Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 65
11 mi·12 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
16
Continue on US 65
12 mi·13 min·US Highway 65
17
Continue on US 65
1.2 mi·1 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward US 160: Reed Springs Junction, Forsyth
19
Turn left onto US 160
4.3 mi·6 min·US 160
20
Turn slight left onto US 160; MO 176
6.0 mi·9 min·US 160; MO 176
21
Turn slight right onto Rockhill Drive
0.1 mi·24 sec·Rockhill Drive
22
Arrive at destination
Rockhill Drive
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 4-hour, 13-minute duration, this route is ideal for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. You can easily complete this drive without needing to split it. The longest stretch without a major road change is 68 miles on MO 13, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid rush hour traffic leaving Kansas City and arrive in Forsyth with ample daylight. With a total of 212.2 miles, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is always a good idea, especially on the longer highway sections.
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 106.1 miles from Kansas City, MO, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68 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 47 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.1 miles or 2h 5m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Forsyth, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kansas City, MO
This is one driving day of about 212.2 miles and 4h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Kansas City, 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 MO 13 for about 68 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 38.3 — 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|East 12th Street
Turn right onto East 12th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|Campbell Street
Turn right onto Campbell Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|US 71 / Bruce R. Watkins Drive
Merge onto US 71 / Bruce R. Watkins Drive
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
38.1 mi into trip|~46m in|MO 7
Take the exit onto MO 7 toward MO 7 South: Clinton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 157
Toward MO 7 South: Clinton
5
38.3 mi into trip|~46m in|MO 7
Turn slight left onto MO 7 toward MO 7 South: Clinton
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 157
Toward MO 7 South: Clinton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.18 one way
$66.35 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$36.42
$72.85
premium
$4.89
$40.84
$81.67
diesel
$5.61
$46.85
$93.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
26 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Dynamic ev Charging Station
Ozark, Missouri
Other
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Springfield, Missouri
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Dynamic Charging Station
Springfield, Missouri
Other
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Bolivar, Missouri
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Springfield, Missouri
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Springfield, Missouri
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Springfield, Missouri
Tesla
1 DCFC
Mercedes-Benz Charging Station
Springfield, Missouri
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 14
Other: 6
Tesla Destination: 2
Tesla: 2
EV Connect: 1
Blink: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.7
0
$22.28
$10.19
Efficient EV
53.1
0
$18.57
$8.49
EV Truck/SUV
84.9
1
$29.71
$13.58
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Kansas City, MO
Night
in Kansas City on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Forsyth, MO
Night
in Forsyth on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
80°F
Warsaw, MO
106 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
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
4h 13m 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...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 175.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this journey, with 74% of the route utilizing higher-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 68 miles on MO 13, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. While predominantly highway, the route incorporates segments of MO 7 and Bruce R. Watkins Drive, which may offer a slightly different driving feel. This drive should feel largely direct and efficient, allowing you to cover significant ground with relative ease.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68 mi on MO 13.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 13 and MO 7. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 12th Street.
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 212.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 (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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Kansas City, MO to Forsyth, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Louis along the way.
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 13m. Total distance: 212.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68 miles on MO 13. 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 (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.
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 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Forsyth, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
