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Trip from Chaffee, MO to Kansas City, MO

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

6h 52m

Distance

360.7 mi

581 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$56

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
6h 41m ★
6 AM
6h 53m
8 AM
7h 16m
10 AM
7h 1m
12 PM
6h 58m
3 PM
7h 2m
5 PM
7h 15m
8 PM
6h 46m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Chaffee, MO, MO

Chaffee, MO

life vibes

city in Missouri, United States, that is one of two county seats of Jackson County and the largest city in Missouri

Kansas City, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Chaffee, MO to Kansas City, MO covers 360.7 miles and takes about 6h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 55, Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 102.9 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $56.39 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

180.4 miles from Chaffee, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 29m into the drive .

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Drive Character

The drive from Chaffee, MO to Kansas City, MO covers 360.7 miles and takes about 6h 52m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 102.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 113.8 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 360.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 113.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 126.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

8
113.8 mi into trip | ~2h 7m in

Take the exit toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago

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 196 Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chi...
8
114 mi into trip | ~2h 7m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 West: Kansas City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 270 West: Kansas City
8
126.3 mi into trip | ~2h 23m in

Take the exit toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis

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 12 Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Lo...
9
360 mi into trip | ~6h 50m 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
360.2 mi into trip | ~6h 51m 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

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Chaffee, MO and Kansas City, MO, road signs point toward Chicago and Saint Louis.

Chicago

113.8 mi in | ~2h 7m

Saint Louis

126.3 mi in | ~2h 23m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 102.9 mi 1h 50m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway 80.7 mi 1h 35m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway 54.4 mi 58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 54.3 mi 58m
Avenue of the Saints 25.4 mi 30m
I 270 11.5 mi 14m
George Brett Super Highway 6.8 mi 9m
MO AB 5.8 mi 8m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 102.9 mi, about 1h 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chaffee, MO and Kansas City, MO.

1

Start on MO M

34 ft · 2 sec · North Main Street
2

Turn right onto MO A

0.2 mi · 25 sec · West Yoakum Avenue
3

Enter roundabout onto MO A

401 ft · 8 sec · West Yoakum Avenue
4

Continue on MO A

0.4 mi · 47 sec · West Yoakum Avenue
5

Turn right onto MO 77

2.8 mi · 4 min · MO 77
6

Enter roundabout onto MO AB

114 ft · 2 sec · MO AB
Toward Interstate 55
7

Continue on MO AB

5.7 mi · 8 min · MO AB
Toward Interstate 55
8

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Cape Girardeau
9

Merge onto I 55; US 61

1.4 mi · 1 min · I 55; US 61
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55

102 mi · 1 hr 49 min · I 55
11

Continue on I 55

1.3 mi · 1 min · Rosa Parks Highway
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 196 Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago Use the slight right lane.
13

Keep slight left at fork

388 ft · 8 sec
Toward I 270 West: Kansas City Use the slight left lane.
14

Continue on this road

0.7 mi · 1 min · this road
Exit 196 Toward I 270 West
15

Merge onto I 270

11 mi · 14 min · I 270
Use the straight lane.
16

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Exit 12 Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis Use the slight right lane.
17

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville Use the slight left lane.
18

Continue on this road

0.1 mi · 9 sec · this road
Exit 12 Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
19

Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61

25 mi · 30 min · Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
20

Take the exit onto US 40

0.6 mi · 1 min · US 40
Exit 1A Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City Use the straight / slight left lanes.
21

Merge onto I 70; US 40

81 mi · 1 hr 35 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
22

Continue on I 70; US 40

2.0 mi · 2 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
23

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.6 mi · 1 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
24

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
25

Continue on I 70; US 40

54 mi · 58 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
26

Continue on I 70; US 40

52 mi · 56 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27

Continue on I 70

2.7 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
28

Continue on I 70

1.8 mi · 2 min · Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29

Continue on I 70

2.9 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
30

Continue on I 70

6.8 mi · 9 min · George Brett Super Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31

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.
32

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 2P Toward 13th Street, Downtown Use the slight right lane.
33

Continue on East 13th Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · East 13th Street
34

Turn right onto Oak Street

454 ft · 13 sec · Oak Street
35

Arrive at destination

Oak Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 180.4 miles from Chaffee, MO, or about 3h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.9 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 180.4 miles or 3h 29m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 44m

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 Chaffee, 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 Chaffee, MO

This is one driving day of about 360.7 miles and 6h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chaffee, 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 55 for about 102.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 180.4 mi from Chaffee, MO · 3h 29m into the drive

archaeological site near East St. Louis, Illinois, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cahokia, IL

180 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

Cahokia, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Alton, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 180.4 miles from Chaffee, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 102.9 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

$56.39 one way

$112.78 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 126 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $61.92 $123.83
premium $4.89 $69.41 $138.83
diesel $5.61 $79.64 $159.28

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$56

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$81–$106

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 126.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 108.2 1 $37.87 $17.31
Efficient EV 90.2 1 $31.56 $14.43
EV Truck/SUV 144.3 1 $50.50 $23.08

Gas CO2

126 kg

EV CO2

42 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Chaffee, MO

Late night in Chaffee on Wednesday

Local time

5:26 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kansas City, MO

Late night in Kansas City on Wednesday

Local time

5:26 AM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy

SSW 16 mph 53% 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

7 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

6h 52m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Chaffee, MO to Kansas City, MO covers 360.7 miles and takes about 6h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 180.4 miles from Chaffee, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $56.39 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 360.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 113.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 126.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Chaffee, MO and Kansas City, MO, road signs point toward Chicago and Saint Louis.

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