Traveling from Kansas City to Kennett spans 404.3 miles across the heart of Missouri. You should plan for approximately 8 hours and 13 minutes of driving time, making this a journey best suited for a two-day itinerary rather than a single grueling day behind the wheel. With a fuel budget of roughly $61, it is a straightforward trek that keeps you within the Midwest region throughout the entire trip. Relying on a mix of MO 13, MO 7, and US 60, this highway-focused route offers a practical way to traverse the state. Breaking the trip into two days will help you manage the distance comfortably while ensuring you stay alert on the road.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
202.1 miles from Kansas City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
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
34.6 mi
51m
MO 25
11.6 mi
17m
Schoolcraft Freeway
8.3 mi
10m
Payne Stewart Highway
4.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 177.3 mi, about 3h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, MO and Kennett, 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
8.3 mi·10 min·Schoolcraft Freeway
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·52 sec
Toward US 60 East: Cabool
16
Merge onto US 60
82 mi·1 hr 35 min·US 60
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60
90 mi·1 hr 46 min·US 60
Toward US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
4.8 mi·6 min·US 60
19
Turn straight onto US 60 Business; US 67 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·North Westwood Boulevard
20
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
0.3 mi·25 sec·State Street
21
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
2.3 mi·3 min·North Westwood Boulevard
22
Turn slight left
133 ft·7 sec
23
Turn slight left onto MO 53
35 mi·51 min·MO 53
24
At end of road, turn right onto MO 25
12 mi·17 min·MO 25
25
Turn right onto US 412; MO 84
1.3 mi·2 min·1st Street
26
Turn left onto Kennett Street
134 ft·3 sec·Kennett Street
27
Arrive at destination
Kennett Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 404.3-mile journey, aim to pace yourself with at least two planned stops to break up the drive. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue, especially given the lengthy 8-hour and 13-minute duration. Since you are spending nearly $61 on fuel, keep an eye on your gauge during that 177.3-mile stretch on US 60 where services might be more spread out. Because this route is highway-heavy, consider splitting your drive at a midway point to keep the experience manageable. Prioritizing these breaks will ensure you arrive in Kennett feeling refreshed rather than exhausted.
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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 202.1 miles from Kansas City, MO, or about 3h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 177.3 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 89 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 202.1 miles or 3h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 202.1 miles or 3h 58m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kennett, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kansas City, MO
Aim for roughly 202 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Kennett, MO
Aim for roughly 202 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from Kansas City, MO.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 60 for about 177.3 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 18
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.
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
6
257.4 mi into trip|~5h 3m in|US 60
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
Toward US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$63.21 one way
$126.42 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg142 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$69.40
$138.80
premium
$4.89
$77.80
$155.61
diesel
$5.61
$89.26
$178.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$63
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$193–$303
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 141.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
121.3
1
$42.45
$19.41
Efficient EV
101.1
1
$35.38
$16.17
EV Truck/SUV
161.7
2
$56.60
$25.88
Gas CO2
141 kg
EV CO2
47 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Kansas City, MO
Evening
in Kansas City on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Sunny
SSW 3 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Kennett, MO
Evening
in Kennett on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Waynesville, MO
202 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
28 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
8h 13m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by its highway-focused nature, with 88% of the journey spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a variety of road types, transitioning between different state and federal routes as you move south. A significant portion of your stamina will be tested during the longest uninterrupted stretch, which covers 177.3 miles specifically on US 60. Expect a steady, consistent pace as you transition away from the Kansas City metro area. The character of the drive remains functional and direct, providing a reliable path that prioritizes efficiency over technical, winding backroads.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 177.3 mi on US 60.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 404.3 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kansas City, MO and Kennett, MO, road signs point toward Saint Louis and 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.
The longest stretch is about 177.3 miles on US 60. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 202 miles on day one.
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.
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 Kennett, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.2 hours each way, a round trip means 16.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kennett, MO before the return drive.
