Connecting Louisiana to Kansas City, this 219.3-mile journey across Missouri takes approximately 3 hours and 36 minutes of drive time. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, you should plan for a full day of travel. Budgeting roughly $33 for fuel covers the expected costs for this cross-state trek. Since you will be navigating through the Midwest, expect a steady transition across the state's interior landscape. While it is certainly possible to complete this trip in a single day, the turn-heavy nature of the path means you should prepare for an active driving experience rather than a passive highway cruise.
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
109.3 miles from Louisiana, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
72.9 mi
1h 22m
US 54
69.9 mi
1h 29m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
George Brett Super Highway
6.8 mi
9m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.6 mi
6m
Georgia Street
2 mi
3m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 72.9 mi, about 1h 22m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,287 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~346 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 102 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 Louisiana, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on Tennessee Street
35 ft·7 sec·Tennessee Street
2
Turn left onto North 7th Street
296 ft·15 sec·North 7th Street
3
Turn right onto US 54 Business
2.0 mi·3 min·Georgia Street
4
Continue on US 54 BUS; MO NN
0.7 mi·1 min·US 54 BUS; MO NN
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 54
19 mi·24 min·US 54
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 54
14 mi·19 min·US 54
7
Enter roundabout onto US 54; MO 19
241 ft·3 sec·US 54; MO 19
8
Continue on US 54; MO 19
8.1 mi·11 min·US 54; MO 19
9
Enter roundabout onto US 54
62 ft·0 sec·US 54
10
Continue on US 54
10 mi·13 min·US 54
11
Turn left onto US 54
18 mi·20 min·US 54
Toward US 54 West: Jefferson City
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
13
Merge onto I 70; US 40
19 mi·23 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
15
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
16
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
17
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Exit 2LToward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South: Topeka, WichitaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 2PToward 13th Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
25
Continue on East 13th Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·East 13th Street
26
Turn right onto Oak Street
454 ft·13 sec·Oak Street
27
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy drive, starting your journey early in the morning will give you the best visibility for navigating the local routes. You should plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the 3-hour and 36-minute duration, as the constant steering can be more taxing than standard highway travel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge throughout the day, ensuring you have the $33 budget ready for a mid-trip fill-up. Flexibility is your greatest asset here; since the total duration is manageable for a single day, you can pace your stops according to your own comfort level. Prioritize staying alert on the winding sections to ensure a smooth arrival in Kansas City.
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 109.3 miles from Louisiana, MO, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.9 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 48 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.3 miles or 2h 18m 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 33m
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 Louisiana, 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 Louisiana, MO
This is one driving day of about 218.7 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Louisiana, 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 72.9 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 218.1 — 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|North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
54.6 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|US 54
Turn left onto US 54 toward US 54 West: Jefferson City
Navigation decision point
Toward US 54 West: Jefferson City
5
72.7 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
9
217.9 mi into trip|~4h 17m in|I 670; I 70 Alt
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670; I 70 Alt toward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South: Topeka, Wichita
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2L
Toward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South:...
9
218.1 mi into trip|~4h 17m in
Take the exit toward 13th 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.
Exit 2P
Toward 13th Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.48 one way
$72.96 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$39.65
$79.30
premium
$5.26
$45.28
$90.56
diesel
$6.18
$53.20
$106.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.6
0
$22.96
$10.50
Efficient EV
54.7
0
$19.14
$8.75
EV Truck/SUV
87.5
1
$30.62
$14.00
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Louisiana, MO
Late night
in Louisiana on Tuesday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Sunny
SE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Kansas City, MO
Late night
in Kansas City on Tuesday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Partly Sunny
SE 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
80°F
Columbia, MO
109 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
2 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 18m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a hands-on driving experience as you navigate away from Louisiana via North 7th Street and Georgia Street. With a 0% highway share, this route trades high-speed interstate monotony for a series of technical local roads. You will find yourself constantly adjusting to the turns that define this specific path through the Missouri countryside. Because the road is consistently winding, you should anticipate a drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. The lack of long, uninterrupted stretches reinforces the character of this trip as a focused, local-road excursion.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.9 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 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North 7th 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 218.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 (North 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 54.6 miles (US 54): Navigation decision point; at 72.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Louisiana (French: La Louisiane) is a state in the South of the United States that is known for its culture that dominates in the New Orleans part of the state. The state of Louisiana is bordered to the west by Texas, to the north by Arkansas, to the east by the state of Mississippi, and to the south by the Gulf of Mexico.
Top landmarks
•Bethel Chapel AME Church — church building in Missouri, United States of America
•Louisiana Chicago & Alton Railroad Depot — railway station in Louisiana, the United States of America
•Georgia Street Historic District — historic district in Missouri, United States
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 18m. Total distance: 218.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.9 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 21 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 (North 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 54.6 miles (US 54): Navigation decision point; at 72.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Kansas City, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
