Roubidoux, MO to Kansas City, MO is 225.9 miles and takes about 5h 4m via MO 7, MO 17, and MO 5, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Missouri for its entirety. It's a straightforward drive that should feel familiar to anyone who's driven through the region. Consider this route for a simple, direct connection between these two Missouri points, especially if you're looking for a single-day trip without too many complications.
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
113 miles from Roubidoux, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MO 7
142.8 mi
3h 3m
MO 17
29.5 mi
42m
MO 5
24.9 mi
29m
I 44
9.9 mi
10m
US Historic 66
6.3 mi
8m
MO F
4.6 mi
8m
Gladden Road
3 mi
11m
MO BB
2.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
MO 7
— 142.8 mi, about 3h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Roubidoux, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on Flat Rock Road
0.1 mi·27 sec·Flat Rock Road
2
Turn left onto Roubidoux Road
310 ft·13 sec·Roubidoux Road
3
Turn slight right onto Gladden Road
3.0 mi·11 min·Gladden Road
4
At end of road, turn right onto MO M
0.8 mi·2 min·MO M
5
Turn left onto MO 17; MO 32
29 mi·42 min·MO 17; MO 32
6
Turn left
176 ft·8 sec
7
Turn left onto US Historic 66; MO AB
6.3 mi·8 min·US Historic 66; MO AB
8
Turn right onto MO AB
226 ft·3 sec·MO AB
9
Continue on MO 133
0.1 mi·17 sec·MO 133
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 44 West: Springfield
11
Merge onto I 44
9.9 mi·10 min·I 44
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 135Toward MO F: Sleeper
13
Turn right onto MO F; US Historic 66
2.3 mi·4 min·MO F; US Historic 66
14
Turn slight left onto MO F
2.3 mi·4 min·MO F
15
Continue on MO BB
2.4 mi·4 min·MO BB
16
At end of road, turn right onto MO 5
25 mi·29 min·MO 5
17
Turn left onto MO 7
37 mi·53 min·MO 7
18
Take the exit onto MO 7
0.3 mi·33 sec·MO 7
Toward MO 7 North: Warsaw, Clinton
19
Turn left onto MO 7
28 mi·38 min·MO 7
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on MO 7; MO 13; MO 52
39 mi·44 min·MO 7; MO 13; MO 52
21
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.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Toward 11th Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
23
Turn straight onto East 11th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·East 11th Street
Use the left lane.
24
Turn left onto Oak Street
461 ft·15 sec·Oak Street
25
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Kansas City without feeling rushed. Since it's a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to stop as needed, but keep in mind the longest stretch without a major change is 142.8 miles on MO 7. Planning for one fuel stop around the halfway point should be sufficient, given the estimated $34 fuel cost. Pay attention as you approach Kansas City, as the highway environment will shift with increasing traffic and more exit options.
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 113 miles from Roubidoux, MO, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 142.8 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 50 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 15m
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 Roubidoux, 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 Roubidoux, MO
This is one driving day of about 225.9 miles and 5h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Roubidoux, 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 MO 7 for about 142.8 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 39.9 and 225.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
39.9 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 West: Springfield
Navigation decision point
Toward I 44 West: Springfield
5
50.2 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward MO F: Sleeper
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 135
Toward MO F: Sleeper
5
119.7 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|MO 7
Take the exit onto MO 7 toward MO 7 North: Warsaw, Clinton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 7 North: Warsaw, Clinton
7
187.2 mi into trip|~4h 17m 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
225.2 mi into trip|~5h 2m 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
$33.36 one way
$66.72 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$36.83
$73.66
premium
$4.72
$41.94
$83.89
diesel
$4.80
$42.65
$85.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.8
0
$23.72
$10.84
Efficient EV
56.5
0
$19.77
$9.04
EV Truck/SUV
90.4
1
$31.63
$14.46
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Roubidoux, MO
Late night
in Roubidoux on Monday
Local time
1:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 9 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Kansas City, MO
Late night
in Kansas City on Monday
Local time
1:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 9 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
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
5h 4m 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?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 92% of the 225.9 miles on higher-speed roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 142.8 miles on MO 7, which will likely feel like consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads will occur later in the drive, closer to Kansas City, where you might notice more frequent exits and local traffic.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 142.8 mi on MO 7.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 7 and MO 17. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 39.9 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 5h 4m drive. You will face about 18 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 39.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 50.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 119.7 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,313 ft748 ft
Total Climb
774 ft
Total Descent
1,006 ft
Highest Point
1,313 ft
~16.1 mi in
Elevation Range
565 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Roubidoux, MO and Kansas City, MO, road signs point toward Mo F: Sleeper and Clinton.
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 142.8 miles on MO 7. 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 39.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 50.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 119.7 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 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.
