Kansas City, MO to Osage Beach, MO is 167.2 miles and takes about 3h 24m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and US 65, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, taking you from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. The route is primarily highway driving but includes some surface roads, making it a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a good option for a quick getaway.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
83.6 miles from Kansas City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
52.5 mi
56m
East Broadway Boulevard
24.3 mi
32m
US 65
15.9 mi
18m
MO 52
15 mi
19m
US 54
14.9 mi
16m
MO 5
14.5 mi
18m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
8.5 mi
9m
George Brett Super Highway
6.9 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 52.5 mi, about 56m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 13 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,251 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~346 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, MO and Osage Beach, MO.
8.5 mi·9 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 78AToward US 65 South: Sedalia
12
Merge onto US 65
16 mi·18 min·US 65
13
Turn slight left onto MO 765
0.1 mi·14 sec·MO 765
Toward MO 765: Sedalia
14
Continue on MO 765
0.2 mi·16 sec·MO 765
15
Turn straight onto North Ohio Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·North Ohio Avenue
16
Turn left onto East Pettis Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East Pettis Street
17
Continue on West Saline Street
0.3 mi·50 sec·West Saline Street
18
Turn right onto North Engineer Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·North Engineer Avenue
19
Turn left onto US 50
24 mi·32 min·East Broadway Boulevard
20
Turn right onto MO 5
14 mi·18 min·MO 5
Use the right lane.
21
At end of road, turn left onto MO 52
15 mi·19 min·MO 52
22
Turn right onto South Grand Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·South Grand Avenue
23
Turn slight left onto West 17th Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·West 17th Street
24
Turn right onto US 54 Bus; MO 52
2.2 mi·3 min·US 54 Bus; MO 52
25
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward US 54 West: Lake of the Ozarks
26
Merge onto US 54
15 mi·16 min·US 54
Use the slight right lane.
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 54 Business
28
Turn right onto Jeffries Road
0.2 mi·25 sec·Jeffries Road
29
At end of road, turn right onto US 54 Business
0.2 mi·26 sec·Osage Beach Parkway
30
Turn left onto Winn Road
190 ft·9 sec·Winn Road
31
Turn right
129 ft·9 sec
32
Turn right
83 ft·6 sec
33
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
This 167.2-mile drive is easily completed in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Kansas City in the morning should allow you to reach Osage Beach with plenty of daylight. Plan for one stop along the way; the longest stretch without a major road change is 52.5 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, so consider breaking up your drive around that point. Keep in mind the estimated fuel cost of $30 for budgeting your trip.
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 83.6 miles from Kansas City, MO, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.5 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 37 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.6 miles or 1h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Osage Beach, 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 167.2 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 52.5 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 119 — 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
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East, US 40 East
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|I 70; US 24; US 40 / George Brett Super Highway
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40 / George Brett Super Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
75.9 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward US 65 South: Sedalia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 78A
Toward US 65 South: Sedalia
5
119 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|MO 5
Turn right onto MO 5
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.80 one way
$55.60 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$30.28
$60.56
premium
$5.18
$34.12
$68.24
diesel
$5.35
$35.22
$70.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.2
0
$17.56
$8.03
Efficient EV
41.8
0
$14.63
$6.69
EV Truck/SUV
66.9
0
$23.41
$10.70
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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 May 31, 2026
Origin
Kansas City, MO
Afternoon
in Kansas City on Wednesday
Local time
3:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 9 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 3:09PM CDT until June 4 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 31 at 3:08PM CDT until May 31 at 3:30PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Destination
Osage Beach, MO
Afternoon
in Osage Beach on Wednesday
Local time
3:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 6 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 3:09PM CDT until June 4 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 31 at 3:08PM CDT until May 31 at 3:30PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
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
1 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
3h 24m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 38% of this 167.2-mile drive on highways, with the longest continuous highway stretch being 52.5 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The route transitions from highway to surface roads, meaning you'll experience a change in traffic density and speed limits. Expect a mixed driving experience as you move between the faster-paced highway sections and the more local feel of surface streets.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.5 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 21 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 167.2 miles you will encounter 21 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 0.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.6 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40 / George Brett Super Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,044 ft713 ft
Total Climb
621 ft
Total Descent
746 ft
Highest Point
1,044 ft
~131.3 mi in
Elevation Range
331 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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.
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
Osage Beach is a town in Missouri, on Lake of the Ozarks. It is known as "the heart of Lake of the Ozarks" due to how many popular activities it is home to.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 24m. Total distance: 167.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.5 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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.
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 0.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.6 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40 / George Brett Super Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Osage Beach, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
