Spanning 403.8 miles across Missouri, this journey from Kennett to Kansas City takes approximately 8 hours and 13 minutes of pure driving time. While technically possible in one long haul, splitting the trip over 2 days is highly recommended to keep the pace comfortable. You will primarily navigate via US 60, the North Kansas Expressway, and MO 7, keeping you firmly within the Midwest. Budgeting about $61 for fuel covers the essentials for this highway-focused transit. Whether you are moving between regions or just visiting, this route offers a straightforward path across the state that prioritizes efficiency over local detours.
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
201.9 miles from Kennett, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 60
176.6 mi
3h 28m
North Kansas Expressway
87.2 mi
1h 42m
MO 7
73.9 mi
1h 24m
MO 53
34.6 mi
51m
Independence Street
11.6 mi
17m
Schoolcraft Freeway
8.1 mi
10m
Payne Stewart Highway
4.1 mi
5m
South Westwood Boulevard
2.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 176.6 mi, about 3h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kennett, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on Kennett Street
134 ft·7 sec·Kennett Street
2
Turn right onto MO 84
1.2 mi·2 min·1st Street
3
Turn left onto MO 25
12 mi·17 min·Independence Street
4
Turn left onto MO 53
35 mi·51 min·MO 53
5
Turn right onto US 67 Business
2.4 mi·3 min·South Westwood Boulevard
6
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
0.3 mi·25 sec·State Street
7
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·North Westwood Boulevard
8
Continue on US 67; US 60 Business
0.4 mi·37 sec·US 67; US 60 Business
9
Continue on US 60; US 67
4.0 mi·4 min·US 60; US 67
10
Take the exit onto US 60
173 mi·3 hr 23 min·US 60
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward US 65 North: Sedalia
12
Merge onto US 65
8.1 mi·10 min·Schoolcraft Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
14
Merge onto I 44
4.1 mi·5 min·Payne Stewart Highway
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13: Bolivar
16
Keep slight left at fork
150 ft·3 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13: Bolivar
17
Keep slight right at fork
209 ft·7 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
18
Merge onto MO 13
87 mi·1 hr 42 min·North Kansas Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Continue on MO 7
36 mi·39 min·MO 7
20
Take the exit onto MO 7
38 mi·45 min·MO 7
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Toward 11th Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
22
Turn straight onto East 11th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·East 11th Street
Use the left lane.
23
Turn left onto Oak Street
461 ft·15 sec·Oak Street
24
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
Trip Plan
Because this drive requires over 8 hours of focus, planning your departure early in the morning is your best strategy for a stress-free experience. You should budget for at least 2 planned stops to break up the monotony and keep yourself alert behind the wheel. Given the reliance on major roads, keep an eye on your fuel gauge when you hit the 176.6-mile stretch on US 60, as service intervals can vary. If you choose to split the trip over 2 days, look for a midpoint between Kennett and Kansas City to ensure a balanced workload. Prioritize these rest breaks to maintain your energy, as the high highway percentage makes for a very steady, high-speed pace.
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 201.9 miles from Kennett, MO, or about 4h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.6 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 2h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 201.9 miles or 4h 14m 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 201.9 miles or 4h 14m
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 7h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kansas City, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kennett, 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 Kennett, MO
Aim for roughly 202 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Kansas City, 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 Kennett, 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 176.6 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 241.9 and 403.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
241.9 mi into trip|~5h 3m in
Take the exit toward MO 13: Bolivar
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
7
242 mi into trip|~5h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MO 13: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
7
242 mi into trip|~5h 3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
7
365.2 mi into trip|~7h 26m in|MO 7
Take the exit onto MO 7 toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kan...
7
403.1 mi into trip|~8h 11m in
Take the exit toward 11th Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 11th Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$63.13 one way
$126.26 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg141 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$69.31
$138.63
premium
$4.89
$77.71
$155.42
diesel
$5.61
$89.15
$178.31
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: 141.3 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
121.1
1
$42.40
$19.38
Efficient EV
101
1
$35.33
$16.15
EV Truck/SUV
161.5
2
$56.53
$25.84
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
Kennett, MO
Evening
in Kennett on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
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
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 warmer 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.
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...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 236.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive defined by speed and efficiency, as 94% of your journey is spent on highways. You will settle into a long rhythm early on, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 176.6 miles on US 60. The route maintains a consistent, highway-focused profile that minimizes the need for technical maneuvering or navigating complex local turns. As you transition through the different sections of the state, the character of the road remains reliable and fast-paced. It is the kind of drive where you can put on a playlist and focus on the miles ahead without constant interruptions from stop-and-go traffic.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 176.6 mi on US 60.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 60 and North Kansas Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 241.9 miles in.
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 16 significant decision points across 403.8 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: at 241.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 242 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 242 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 176.6 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 Kansas City, 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: at 241.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 242 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 242 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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 Kansas City, MO before the return drive.
