Wentzville, MO to Kearney, MO is 211.5 miles and takes about 4h 14m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway and MO 13, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traveling across Missouri on a mix of highways and surface roads. With a recommended one-day drive, it's a straightforward option for getting from point A to point B without significant detours. The route is mostly surface roads, so expect to encounter local traffic and slower speeds for a good portion of the trip.
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
105.7 miles from Wentzville, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.1 mi
1h 34m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
MO 13
24.6 mi
31m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
21.7 mi
23m
MO 10
16.2 mi
22m
MO 92
7.1 mi
10m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 80.1 mi, about 1h 34m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,527 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,994
Quietest
2 AM
~188 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.1×
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 Wentzville, MO and Kearney, MO.
1
Start on East Allen Street
40 ft·7 sec·East Allen Street
2
Turn left onto North Linn Avenue
0.1 mi·26 sec·North Linn Avenue
3
Turn right onto West 4th Street
442 ft·20 sec·West 4th Street
4
Turn left onto South Church Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·South Church Street
5
Enter roundabout
20 ft·0 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
6
Continue
0.2 mi·13 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
7
Merge onto I 70; US 40
80 mi·1 hr 34 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
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
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
20 mi·21 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 49Toward MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg
14
Turn right onto MO 13
25 mi·31 min·MO 13
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward MO 10 West: Excelsior Springs
16
Continue on MO 10
2.6 mi·3 min·MO 10
17
Keep slight right at fork onto MO 10
14 mi·19 min·MO 10
Toward MO 10 West: Excelsior Springs
18
Turn right onto Saratoga Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·Saratoga Street
19
At end of road, turn left onto East Broadway Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East Broadway Street
20
At end of road, turn right onto North Kansas City Avenue
0.3 mi·36 sec·North Kansas City Avenue
21
Keep slight left at fork onto Cliff Drive
0.1 mi·15 sec·Cliff Drive
22
Turn right onto Dunbar Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Dunbar Avenue
23
Continue on Miller Avenue
0.2 mi·24 sec·Miller Avenue
24
Turn right onto MO 10 Spur
0.8 mi·1 min·North Jesse James Road
25
Turn right onto US 69
0.5 mi·58 sec·US 69
26
Turn left onto MO 92
7.1 mi·10 min·MO 92
Use the left lane.
27
Turn left onto MO 33
46 ft·1 sec·South Jefferson Street
Use the left lane.
28
Arrive at destination
MO 33
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 14m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning from Wentzville will allow you to reach Kearney with plenty of daylight. The route has only one suggested stop, so consider breaking up the drive with a quick stretch or snack midway, perhaps around the 100-mile mark. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $33, but it's always wise to top off before heading out. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but be aware that much of the route involves surface roads, which can be slower due to local traffic and speed limits.
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 105.7 miles from Wentzville, MO, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.1 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 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.7 miles or 2h 3m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kearney, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wentzville, 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 Wentzville, MO
This is one driving day of about 211.5 miles and 4h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Wentzville, 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 80.1 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 211.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in
Enter roundabout toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
6
160.3 mi into trip|~3h 2m in
Take the exit toward MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 49
Toward MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg
6
185 mi into trip|~3h 33m in
Take the exit toward MO 10 West: Excelsior Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MO 10 West: Excelsior Springs
6
204.3 mi into trip|~4h 3m in|MO 92
Turn left onto MO 92
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
211.5 mi into trip|~4h 14m in|MO 33 / South Jefferson Street
Turn left onto MO 33 / South Jefferson Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.23 one way
$62.47 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$34.48
$68.96
premium
$4.72
$39.27
$78.54
diesel
$4.80
$39.94
$79.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.5
0
$22.21
$10.15
Efficient EV
52.9
0
$18.51
$8.46
EV Truck/SUV
84.6
1
$29.61
$13.54
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Wentzville, MO
Morning
in Wentzville on Sunday
Local time
6:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 5 to 9 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Kearney, MO
Morning
in Kearney on Sunday
Local time
6:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 to 8 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
92°F
Marshall, MO
106 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 14m 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?
You'll spend about 23% of this 211.5-mile drive on highways. The longest stretch on a highway is 80.1 miles, primarily on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. After that, you'll transition to MO 13 and other surface roads, making up the bulk of the mileage. Expect a change in pace as you move from higher-speed highway cruising to navigating local roads with more intersections.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.1 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 0.4 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 4h 14m drive. You will face about 17 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 160.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 185 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,061 ft631 ft
Total Climb
846 ft
Total Descent
624 ft
Highest Point
1,061 ft
~196.4 mi in
Elevation Range
430 ft
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 Wentzville, MO to Kearney, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Warrensburg along the way.
The longest stretch is about 80.1 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 0.4 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 160.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 185 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Kearney, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
