Origin
Washington, MO
Night in Washington on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Washington, MO to Kansas City, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 11m
Distance
215.6 mi
347 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 58m
★
6 AM
4h 11m
8 AM
4h 37m
10 AM
4h 20m
12 PM
4h 18m
3 PM
4h 22m
5 PM
4h 36m
8 PM
4h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Washington, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Kansas City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 215.6-mile drive from Washington, MO to Kansas City, MO is a straightforward Midwest journey that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect to spend about 4 hours and 11 minutes on the road, with an estimated fuel cost of $34. The route is heavily focused on highway travel, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B. With only one recommended stop, it's a manageable day trip, so you can be flexible with your departure time. You'll be traveling entirely within Missouri, traversing familiar Midwest landscapes.
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
107.8 miles from Washington, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 176.4 mi | 3h 14m |
| Franklin Avenue | 23.4 mi | 35m |
| George Brett Super Highway | 6.8 mi | 9m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| West 3rd Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| East 13th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| I 670 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 176.4 mi, about 3h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washington, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on West 3rd Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto MO 47
23 mi
·
35 min
·
Franklin Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesburg
4
Merge onto I 70; US 40
176 mi
·
3 hr 14 min
·
I 70; US 40
5
Continue on I 70
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
6
Continue on I 70
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 70
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
8
Continue on I 70
6.8 mi
·
9 min
·
George Brett Super Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670; I 70 Alt
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 670; I 70 Alt
Exit 2L
Toward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South: Topeka, Wichita
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 2P
Toward 13th Street, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on East 13th Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
East 13th Street
12
Turn right onto Oak Street
454 ft
·
13 sec
·
Oak Street
13
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, an early morning departure from Washington, MO, will allow you to reach Kansas City with plenty of daylight. Plan for one stop to break up the 176.4-mile stretch on I-70; this will help you stay refreshed for the remainder of the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer highway segments, and factor in the $34 fuel cost. Since this is a straightforward, single-day trip, you have the flexibility to leave when it suits you best, but arriving in Kansas City before evening traffic can make for a smoother entry into the 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 107.8 miles from Washington, MO, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.4 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 47 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.8 miles or 2h 9m 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 25m
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 Washington, 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 Washington, MO
This is one driving day of about 215.6 miles and 4h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Washington, 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 I 70 for about 176.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
108 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 107.8 miles from Washington, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 70 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 176.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 215.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
MO 47 / Franklin Avenue
Turn left onto MO 47 / Franklin Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
24.1 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesburg
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesbu...
9
214.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 9m 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
215 mi into trip
|
~4h 9m 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
215.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 10m in
|
Oak Street
Turn right onto Oak Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.01 one way
$64.02 round trip
$3.77/gal
25.4 MPG avg
75 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $36.10 | $72.20 |
| premium | $4.65 | $39.50 | $79.01 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $45.02 | $90.04 |
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: 75.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.7 | 0 | $22.64 | $10.35 |
| Efficient EV | 53.9 | 0 | $18.87 | $8.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.2 | 1 | $30.18 | $13.80 |
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Destination
Kansas City, MO
Night in Kansas City on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Sunny
SSW 3 to 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
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
9 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
4h 11m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Primarily a highway-focused drive, this route spends about 82% of its time on major interstates. You'll encounter the George Brett Super Highway and I-70 for the bulk of your travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans an impressive 176.4 miles on I-70, so be prepared for extended periods of highway cruising. While Franklin Avenue is part of the initial leg, the character of the drive is overwhelmingly that of a fast-paced interstate journey, designed for covering distance efficiently rather than for scenic detours.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 176.4 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Franklin Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near MO 47 / Franklin Avenue.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 11m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (MO 47 / Franklin Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 214.8 miles (I 670; I 70 Alt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Washington, MO to Kansas City, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Jonesburg along the way.
Jonesburg
24.1 mi in
|
~37m
About the Cities
Arriving in Kansas City, MO
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 11m. Total distance: 215.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 176.4 miles on I 70. 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: at 0.7 miles (MO 47 / Franklin Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 214.8 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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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