Kansas City, MO to Wardsville, MO is 163.6 miles and takes about 3h 5m via U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Missouri, connecting two points in the Midwest region. It primarily utilizes surface roads, so expect a more local driving experience. With a total drive time under four hours and just one recommended stop, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, making it a convenient 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
81.8 miles from Kansas City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
US 63
30.9 mi
34m
George Brett Super Highway
6.9 mi
9m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.6 mi
6m
MO B
3.5 mi
5m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
— 54.4 mi, about 58m
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
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 Wardsville, 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
1.5 mi·1 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 128AToward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly
16
Turn slight right
192 ft·4 sec
Toward US 63 South: Jefferson City
17
Merge onto US 63 Conn
521 ft·11 sec·US 63 Conn
Use the slight right lane.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward US 63 South: Jefferson CityUse the straight lane.
19
Merge onto US 63
27 mi·29 min·US 63
20
Take the exit onto US 63
3.8 mi·5 min·US 63
Toward US 54 West, US 63 South: Jefferson City
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward MO C
22
Turn left onto MO C
446 ft·14 sec·Southwest Boulevard
23
Continue on Ellis Boulevard
0.2 mi·29 sec·Ellis Boulevard
24
Turn right onto Lorenzo Green Drive
1.3 mi·2 min·Lorenzo Green Drive
25
Turn left onto MO B
3.5 mi·5 min·MO B
26
Keep slight left at fork onto MO W
192 ft·12 sec·MO W
27
Turn left onto MO M
340 ft·6 sec·MO M
28
Arrive at destination
MO M
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of around 3 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving Kansas City in the morning to arrive in Wardsville with plenty of afternoon time for any plans you might have. The fuel cost is estimated at $26, so factor that into your budget. With only one recommended stop and most of the route on surface roads, you can easily manage this drive without needing to break it up, but keep an eye out for local cafes or small towns if you decide to extend your break. Pay attention to the transition points between the highway segments and the surface roads to adjust your speed 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 81.8 miles from Kansas City, MO, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 36 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.8 miles or 1h 31m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wardsville, 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 163.6 miles and 3h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for about 54.4 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 127 — 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
6
126.7 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
Take the exit toward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 128A
Toward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly
7
126.9 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|US 63 Conn
Merge onto US 63 Conn
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
127 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
Take the exit toward US 63 South: Jefferson City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 63 South: Jefferson City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.20 one way
$54.40 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$29.63
$59.26
premium
$5.18
$33.38
$66.77
diesel
$5.35
$34.46
$68.92
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.1
0
$17.18
$7.85
Efficient EV
40.9
0
$14.32
$6.54
EV Truck/SUV
65.4
0
$22.90
$10.47
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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 29, 2026
Origin
Kansas City, MO
Afternoon
in Kansas City on Wednesday
Local time
3:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 8 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 29 at 2:11PM CDT until May 30 at 3:27PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Destination
Wardsville, MO
Afternoon
in Wardsville on Wednesday
Local time
3:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
E 5 mph57% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 29 at 2:11PM CDT until May 30 at 3:27PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
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
3h 5m 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?
This drive consists mostly of surface roads, with only 19% of the route on highways. You'll experience 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway before transitioning to other roads. Expect a more rural cruising feel for the majority of your travel, with fewer high-speed sections. The shift from highway to local roads will be noticeable as you approach your destination.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.4 mi on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial 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 16 significant decision points across 163.6 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 126.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
897 ft568 ft
Total Climb
729 ft
Total Descent
842 ft
Highest Point
897 ft
Elevation Range
330 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 Wardsville, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Moberly 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.
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 3h 5m. Total distance: 163.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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 Wardsville, 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 16 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 126.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Wardsville, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
