New Haven, MO to Kansas City, MO is 204.4 miles and takes about 3h 59m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route primarily traverses the Midwest, staying within Missouri for its entirety. Expect a drive that largely consists of surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate experience. With a recommended one-day duration and a manageable fuel cost, this trip is a straightforward option for connecting these two Missouri cities.
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
102.2 miles from New Haven, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
99.9 mi
1h 51m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Market Street
15.4 mi
22m
MO 100
15.3 mi
22m
George Brett Super Highway
6.8 mi
9m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.6 mi
6m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 99.9 mi, about 1h 51m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 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 New Haven, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on Maupin Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Maupin Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto MO 100
15 mi·22 min·MO 100
3
Turn right onto MO 19
15 mi·22 min·Market Street
4
Enter roundabout
225 ft·3 sec
5
Continue
224 ft·8 sec
6
Turn straight onto MO 19
0.1 mi·10 sec·MO 19
7
Enter roundabout
448 ft·7 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
8
Continue
0.2 mi·12 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
9
Merge onto I 70; US 40
46 mi·52 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth 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
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.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 2PToward 13th Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
21
Continue on East 13th Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·East 13th Street
22
Turn right onto Oak Street
454 ft·13 sec·Oak Street
23
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
Trip Plan
For this 204.4-mile, roughly 4-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but consider a mid-drive stop to break up the nearly 100-mile highway stretch. Budget around $31 for fuel, and keep in mind that the majority of the route is on surface roads, which may mean slightly slower speeds and more traffic signals. Pay attention to local road signs as you get closer to Kansas City to navigate the urban environment.
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 102.2 miles from New Haven, MO, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.9 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 45 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.2 miles or 2h 6m 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 16m
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 New Haven, 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 New Haven, MO
This is one driving day of about 204.4 miles and 3h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from New Haven, 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 99.9 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 31.2 and 204.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
31.2 mi into trip|~45m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
31.4 mi into trip|~45m in
Enter roundabout toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
9
203.7 mi into trip|~3h 57m 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
203.9 mi into trip|~3h 58m 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
5
204.3 mi into trip|~3h 59m in|Oak Street
Turn right onto Oak Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.19 one way
$60.37 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$33.32
$66.65
premium
$4.72
$37.95
$75.90
diesel
$4.80
$38.59
$77.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.3
0
$21.46
$9.81
Efficient EV
51.1
0
$17.89
$8.18
EV Truck/SUV
81.8
1
$28.62
$13.08
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
New Haven, MO
Late night
in New Haven on Tuesday
Local time
4:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Cloudy
W 1 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:17PM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 7:55PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Kansas City, MO
Late night
in Kansas City on Tuesday
Local time
4:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SSW 5 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:17PM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 7:55PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
94°F
Columbia, MO
102 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
3 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 59m 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 is mostly surface roads, with only 8% of the route on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 99.9 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway before transitioning to local streets. Be prepared for more frequent exits and intersections as you move away from highway driving. This will likely feel like a more continuous urban or suburban merge as you approach your destination.
Only 8% 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: 99.9 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 31.2 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 59m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 31.2 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 31.4 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.7 miles (I 670; I 70 Alt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
The longest stretch is about 99.9 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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: at 31.2 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 31.4 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.7 miles (I 670; I 70 Alt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Kansas City, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
