Origin
Chaffee, MO
Late night in Chaffee on Wednesday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
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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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chaffee, MO
life vibes
Kansas City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
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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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.
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.
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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
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
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
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
Saint Louis
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Chaffee, MO and Kansas City, MO.
Start on MO M
Turn right onto MO A
Enter roundabout onto MO A
Continue on MO A
Turn right onto MO 77
Enter roundabout onto MO AB
Continue on MO AB
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 55; US 61
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
Continue on I 55
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 270
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
Take the exit onto US 40
Merge onto I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70
Continue on I 70
Continue on I 70
Continue on I 70
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670; I 70 Alt
Take the exit
Continue on East 13th Street
Turn right onto Oak Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
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
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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 checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 102.9 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$56.39 one way
$112.78 round trip
| 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Chaffee on Wednesday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Kansas City on Wednesday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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