Kansas City, MO to Pine Lawn, MO is 241.4 miles and takes about 4h 39m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Missouri for its entirety. Expect a route that primarily utilizes surface roads, offering a more grounded perspective of the landscape than a pure interstate experience. Given the relatively short duration and modest distance, this drive is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing for a relaxed pace without feeling rushed.
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
120.7 miles from Kansas City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
165.7 mi
3h 12m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
George Brett Super Highway
6.9 mi
9m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.6 mi
6m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
I 70
1.7 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 165.7 mi, about 3h 12m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,943 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~346 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Pine Lawn, MO.
32 mi·34 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
15
Continue on I 70; US 40
111 mi·2 hr 13 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·24 sec
Exit 241AToward Bermuda RoadUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·12 sec
Toward I 70 East: Saint LouisUse the slight left lane.
18
Merge onto I 70
1.7 mi·2 min·I 70
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 242Toward Jennings Station Road, Goodfellow BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn right onto Jennings Station Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Jennings Station Road
21
Turn right onto Sexton Place
316 ft·18 sec·Sexton Place
22
Turn left onto Cedarwood Avenue
42 ft·1 sec·Cedarwood Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
Cedarwood Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 4h 39m drive, departing in the morning from Kansas City, MO, will give you ample time to reach Pine Lawn, MO, well before evening. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to stop as needed; however, there's only one recommended stop. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 165.7-mile stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, as services might be less frequent. This route's reliance on surface roads means you'll encounter more local traffic and varied speed limits, so adjust your travel time accordingly.
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 120.7 miles from Kansas City, MO, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.7 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 53 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.7 miles or 2h 13m 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 Pine Lawn, 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 241.4 miles and 4h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 165.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 240.6 — 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
7
238.5 mi into trip|~4h 34m in
Take the exit toward Bermuda Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 241A
Toward Bermuda Road
8
238.8 mi into trip|~4h 34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
8
240.6 mi into trip|~4h 37m in
Take the exit toward Jennings Station Road, Goodfellow Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 242
Toward Jennings Station Road, Goodfellow Boulev...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.14 one way
$80.27 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$43.72
$87.44
premium
$5.18
$49.26
$98.52
diesel
$5.35
$50.85
$101.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.4
0
$25.35
$11.59
Efficient EV
60.4
0
$21.12
$9.66
EV Truck/SUV
96.6
1
$33.80
$15.45
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 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 May 31, 2026
Origin
Kansas City, MO
Afternoon
in Kansas City on Wednesday
Local time
2:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
E 7 mph51% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 30 at 8:34PM CDT until June 1 at 5:08PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 30 at 8:23PM CDT until June 1 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Pine Lawn, MO
Afternoon
in Pine Lawn on Wednesday
Local time
2:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 7 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 30 at 8:34PM CDT until June 1 at 5:08PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 30 at 8:23PM CDT until June 1 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
69°F
Pierpont, MO
121 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
1 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 39m 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.
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
$19
near mile 241.4
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 surface roads, with 100% of the route not being on limited-access highways. You'll experience the longest stretch of continuous driving on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, covering 165.7 miles. After that segment, expect to navigate through areas with more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you transition away from highway cruising.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 165.7 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 241.4 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 0.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 238.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 39m. Total distance: 241.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 165.7 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 31 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 Pine Lawn, 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 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 238.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Pine Lawn, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
