Kansas City, MO to Mountain Grove, MO is 232.5 miles and takes about 4h 36m via MO 13, MO 7, and US 60, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest, offering a straightforward drive through Missouri. With most of the trip on highways, it's a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without much fuss. Plan for a single day of travel, as the duration is well within typical driving limits.
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
116.3 miles from Kansas City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MO 13
68 mi
1h 19m
MO 7
55.6 mi
1h 4m
US 60
55 mi
1h 4m
Bruce R. Watkins Drive
37.3 mi
44m
Schoolcraft Freeway
8.3 mi
10m
Payne Stewart Highway
4.3 mi
5m
US 60 Business
2.1 mi
3m
Charlotte Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
MO 13
— 68 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, MO and Mountain Grove, 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
55 mi·1 hr 4 min·US 60
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 60 Business: Mountain Grove
18
Turn right onto US 60 Business
2.1 mi·3 min·US 60 Business
19
Turn right onto MO 95
102 ft·2 sec·North Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
MO 95
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour, 36-minute drive, leaving anytime in the morning should get you to Mountain Grove with plenty of daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with stops. The longest stretch without a major route change is 68 miles on MO 13, so consider a brief pause before or after that segment if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition off the main highways, and plan your fill-up accordingly to stay within your estimated $36 budget.
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 116.3 miles from Kansas City, MO, or about 2h 16m 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 51 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.3 miles or 2h 16m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mountain Grove, 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 232.5 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 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.
Home stretch
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
$20 to $30
Mountain Grove, Missouri
Hours: 4–9 pm
+14179269954
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
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
$34.33 one way
$68.67 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$37.90
$75.81
premium
$4.72
$43.17
$86.34
diesel
$4.80
$43.90
$87.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.8
0
$24.41
$11.16
Efficient EV
58.1
0
$20.34
$9.30
EV Truck/SUV
93
1
$32.55
$14.88
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Kansas City, MO
Late night
in Kansas City on Sunday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 8 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:57AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Mountain Grove, MO
Late night
in Mountain Grove on Sunday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:57AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
4 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
4h 36m 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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 176.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 81% of the 232.5 miles on high-speed roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 68 miles on MO 13, indicating a significant portion of consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads will occur after the highway segments, offering a change in pace. Expect to encounter urban merging as you depart Kansas City before settling into rural cruising.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 13 and MO 7. You will hit about 17 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 Effort6/10
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 232.5 miles you will encounter 17 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,610 ft746 ft
Total Climb
1,257 ft
Total Descent
673 ft
Highest Point
1,610 ft
~199.3 mi in
Elevation Range
864 ft
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 Mountain Grove, 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.
=== Welcome World Cup fans ===
Kansas City is one of the 16 North American cities hosting matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Games in the region will be played at Arrowhead Stadium, located in the Truman Sports Complex on the eastern side of the city. Here are a few helpful tips for visiting football fans:
Arrowhead Stadium is about 35–40 km from Kansas City International Airport (MCI), and a taxi or Uber ride usually takes 30–45 minutes, depending on traffic.
Top landmarks
•The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art — art museum in Kansas City, Missouri
•Union Station — main railway station in Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 36m. Total distance: 232.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). 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.
Yes — we found about 7 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Mountain Grove, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Mountain Grove, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
