Saint Paul, MO to Kansas City, MO is 218.1 miles and takes about 4h 13m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway and U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Midwest to Midwest trip is entirely within Missouri, offering a straightforward path between two significant cities. The route is mostly surface roads, meaning you'll experience more local traffic and fewer high-speed stretches compared to a fully interstate drive. It's a good option if you prefer a more grounded drive and don't mind navigating through towns and along local highways. Plan for a single day of travel, keeping your fuel costs manageable.
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
109.1 miles from Saint Paul, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
82.6 mi
1h 37m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
George Brett Super Highway
6.8 mi
9m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.6 mi
6m
MO P
2.9 mi
3m
Josephville Road
2.9 mi
6m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 82.6 mi, about 1h 37m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 23 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,281 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,830
Quietest
1 AM
~292 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.2×
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 Saint Paul, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on Hackmann Road
351 ft·17 sec·Hackmann Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Saint Paul Road
1.4 mi·3 min·Saint Paul Road
3
Turn right onto MO P
2.9 mi·3 min·MO P
4
Turn left onto Josephville Road
2.9 mi·6 min·Josephville Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto MO A
1.0 mi·1 min·Highway A
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·19 sec
Toward I 70 West
7
Merge onto I 70
83 mi·1 hr 37 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
11
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.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 2PToward 13th Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
19
Continue on East 13th Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·East 13th Street
20
Turn right onto Oak Street
454 ft·13 sec·Oak Street
21
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
Trip Plan
For this 4h 13m drive, consider an early morning departure from Saint Paul to maximize your daylight hours. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. The longest stretch without a significant break is 82.6 miles, so plan your fuel and restroom breaks accordingly. Given the $33 fuel cost estimate, it's wise to fill up before leaving Saint Paul to avoid potentially higher prices along the way. This route is easily manageable in a single day, so you can take your time and enjoy the drive through Missouri's landscape.
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 109.1 miles from Saint Paul, MO, or about 2h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.6 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 48 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.1 miles or 2h 12m 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 27m
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 Saint Paul, 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 Saint Paul, MO
This is one driving day of about 218.1 miles and 4h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Saint Paul, 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 82.6 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 218 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Saint Paul Road
At end of road, turn left onto Saint Paul Road
Navigation decision point
5
8.5 mi into trip|~15m in|I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
9
217.4 mi into trip|~4h 11m 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
217.6 mi into trip|~4h 11m 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
218 mi into trip|~4h 12m in|Oak Street
Turn right onto Oak Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.21 one way
$64.42 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$35.56
$71.11
premium
$4.72
$40.49
$80.99
diesel
$4.80
$41.18
$82.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.4
0
$22.90
$10.47
Efficient EV
54.5
0
$19.08
$8.72
EV Truck/SUV
87.2
1
$30.53
$13.96
Gas CO2
76 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Saint Paul, MO
Late night
in Saint Paul on Sunday
Local time
5:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 3 to 8 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:26PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:26PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Kansas City, MO
Late night
in Kansas City on Sunday
Local time
5:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 9 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:26PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:26PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
91°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
1 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 13m 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 drive covers 218.1 miles, with the majority on surface roads. You'll encounter 82.6 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, which is the longest continuous stretch. Since the highway share is 0%, expect to navigate through various towns and local junctions for most of your trip. Keep an eye out for frequent intersections and potential traffic lights as you make your way across the state.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.6 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 0.1 miles in near Saint Paul Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 13m 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 0.1 miles (Saint Paul Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.5 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 217.4 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 82.6 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 29 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 0.1 miles (Saint Paul Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.5 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 217.4 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 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Kansas City, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
