Origin
Carterville, MO
Late night in Carterville on Saturday
Local time
2:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carterville, MO to Kansas City, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 46m
Distance
149.2 mi
240 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 36m
★
6 AM
2h 47m
8 AM
3h 8m
10 AM
2h 54m
12 PM
2h 52m
3 PM
2h 55m
5 PM
3h 7m
8 PM
2h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kansas City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Carterville, MO to Kansas City, MO covers 149.2 miles and takes about 2h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Purple Heart Trail, Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway, Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 127.6 miles on Purple Heart Trail. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.33 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
74.6 miles from Carterville, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 46m. Total distance: 149.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 46m drive with frequent turns across 149.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Purple Heart Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 127.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 0.8 miles in.
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 2h 46m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1 miles (I 49 Business; MO 171 / Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 49 Business, MO 171 South: Carthage
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 Business, MO 171 South: Carthage
3
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 49 Business; MO 171 / Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 49 Business; MO 171 / Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
8
7 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Turn left toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
7
148.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 44m 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
4
149.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 46m in
|
Oak Street
Turn left onto Oak Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 127.6 mi | 2h 21m |
| Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway | 10.5 mi | 11m |
| Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| George Washington Carver Memorial Highway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| West Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East 11th Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| MO HH | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Oak Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 127.6 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carterville, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on US Historic 66
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
2
Continue on MO HH
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
MO HH
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 49 Business, MO 171 South: Carthage
4
Merge onto I 49 Business; MO 171
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway
5
Continue on MO 96; MO 571
452 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Central Avenue
Toward MO 96 East, MO 571 South: Carthage
6
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 49; US 71
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
8
Continue on I 49; US 71
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway
9
Continue on I 49; US 71
128 mi
·
2 hr 21 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
Toward 11th Street, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto East 11th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East 11th Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto Oak Street
461 ft
·
15 sec
·
Oak Street
13
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.6 miles from Carterville, MO, or about 1h 23m 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 33 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.6 miles or 1h 23m 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 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 Carterville, 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 Carterville, MO
This is one driving day of about 149.2 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Carterville, 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 74.6 mi from Carterville, MO · 1h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 74.6 miles from Carterville, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 127.6 miles.
Arriving in Kansas City, MO
The final approach into Kansas City, MO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Kansas City, MO.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.33 one way
$46.65 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $25.61 | $51.22 |
| premium | $4.89 | $28.71 | $57.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.94 | $65.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.8 | 0 | $15.67 | $7.16 |
| Efficient EV | 37.3 | 0 | $13.05 | $5.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.7 | 0 | $20.89 | $9.55 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Late night in Kansas City on Saturday
Local time
2:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Nevada, MO
75 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
17 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
2h 46m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Carterville, MO to Kansas City, MO covers 149.2 miles and takes about 2h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway, Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74.6 miles from Carterville, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.33 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 46m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1 miles (I 49 Business; MO 171 / Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Carterville, MO to Kansas City, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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