This 172.5-mile drive from Pierce City, MO to Kansas City, MO takes approximately 3 hours and 21 minutes, making it a very manageable day trip. You'll be navigating primarily on local roads, following the Purple Heart Trail and East Commercial Street for a significant portion of the journey. With a fuel cost estimated at $27, this route offers an economical way to travel between two points within the Midwest region. The drive is best suited for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
86.3 miles from Pierce City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Pierce City, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on this road
77 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Myrtle Street
391 ft·19 sec·Myrtle Street
3
Turn right onto MO 37
12 mi·21 min·East Commercial Street
4
Turn left onto I 44 Business; MO 37
0.3 mi·26 sec·High Street
5
Continue on I 44 Business; MO 37
2.0 mi·3 min·Blackberry Road
6
Turn right onto I 44 Business; MO 37
0.5 mi·1 min·I 44 Business; MO 37
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
8
Merge onto I 44
7.5 mi·8 min·Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Exit 18BToward I 49 North, US 71 North: Carthage, Kansas City
10
Merge onto I 49; US 71
10 mi·11 min·George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 49; US 71
10 mi·11 min·Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway
12
Continue on I 49; US 71
128 mi·2 hr 21 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Toward 11th Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto East 11th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·East 11th Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto Oak Street
461 ft·15 sec·Oak Street
16
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 21-minute duration, starting your journey from Pierce City in the morning will comfortably get you to Kansas City with plenty of time. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of around $27, this trip is budget-friendly and doesn't require extensive planning. Pay attention to road signage, especially when transitioning between the Purple Heart Trail, East Commercial Street, and Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway, as this is a turn-heavy route. Enjoy the flexibility of a shorter drive, allowing for spontaneous pauses if you see something that catches your eye.
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 86.3 miles from Pierce City, MO, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 127.6 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 38 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.3 miles or 1h 45m 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 46m
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 Pierce 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 Pierce City, MO
This is one driving day of about 172.5 miles and 3h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Pierce 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 127.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 171.8 — 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|Myrtle Street
Turn right onto Myrtle Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|MO 37 / East Commercial Street
Turn right onto MO 37 / East Commercial Street
Navigation decision point
5
15.3 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 West: Joplin
Navigation decision point
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
6
23 mi into trip|~35m in
Take the exit toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Carthage, Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 18B
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Carthage, Kansa...
7
171.8 mi into trip|~3h 20m 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
$26.97 one way
$53.94 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.61
$59.22
premium
$4.89
$33.20
$66.39
diesel
$5.61
$38.09
$76.17
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: 60.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.8
0
$18.11
$8.28
Efficient EV
43.1
0
$15.09
$6.90
EV Truck/SUV
69
0
$24.15
$11.04
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Pierce City, MO
Morning
in Pierce City on Sunday
Local time
6:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kansas City, MO
Morning
in Kansas City on Sunday
Local time
6:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Nevada, MO
86 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
19 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 21m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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.
George Washington Carver National Monument
National Monument
The young child known as the "Plant Doctor" tended his secret garden while observing the day-to-day operations of a 19th century farm. Nature and nurture ultimately influenced George on his quest for...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 23.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' on this 172.5-mile route, with a 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 127.6 miles on the Purple Heart Trail. This suggests a journey characterized by frequent turns and potentially slower speeds as you pass through various communities. The Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway also features in the route, contributing to the local road feel. This isn't a high-speed interstate cruise; rather, it's a more engaged driving experience through Missouri's landscape.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 127.6 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
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 early in the drive near Myrtle Street.
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 21m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Myrtle Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MO 37 / East Commercial Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 127.6 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 (Myrtle Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MO 37 / East Commercial Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes — George Washington Carver National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Kansas City, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
