Origin
Jefferson City, MO
Afternoon in Jefferson City on Monday
Local time
12:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jefferson City, MO to Kansas City, MO
Drive Time
2h 56m
Distance
157.5 mi
254 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 45m
★
6 AM
2h 57m
8 AM
3h 19m
10 AM
3h 5m
12 PM
3h 2m
3 PM
3h 6m
5 PM
3h 18m
8 PM
2h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jefferson City, MO
life vibes
Kansas City, MO
Matthew Chirinos
Trip Overview
The drive from Jefferson City, MO to Kansas City, MO covers 157.5 miles and takes about 2h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, US 63 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.92 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
78.8 miles from Jefferson City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 56m drive with frequent turns across 157.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 54.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Jefferson Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 157.5 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: near the start (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 30.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Jefferson Street
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
7
30.1 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint L...
9
30.7 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
9
156.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 55m 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
157 mi into trip
|
~2h 55m 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 Along This Route
Between Jefferson City, MO and Kansas City, MO, road signs point toward Mo Pp: Kansas City and Saint Louis.
Mo Pp: Kansas City
30.1 mi in
|
~34m
Saint Louis
30.1 mi in
|
~34m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 54.3 mi | 58m |
| US 63 | 27.8 mi | 30m |
| 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 |
| Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| US 54 | 1.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
— 54.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson City, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on East Wall Way
155 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Wall Way
2
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
251 ft
·
14 sec
·
Jefferson Street
3
Turn right onto West McCarty Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West McCarty Street
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia
5
Merge onto US 54; US 63
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US 54; US 63
6
Take the exit onto US 63
28 mi
·
30 min
·
US 63
Toward US 63 North: Columbia
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint Louis
Use the left / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 63 Conn
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 63 Conn
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Use the left lane.
10
Merge onto I 70; US 40
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi
·
58 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
52 mi
·
56 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
15
Continue on I 70
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
16
Continue on I 70
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 70
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
18
Continue on I 70
6.8 mi
·
9 min
·
George Brett Super Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
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.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 2P
Toward 13th Street, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
21
Continue on East 13th Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
East 13th Street
22
Turn right onto Oak Street
454 ft
·
13 sec
·
Oak Street
23
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 78.8 miles from Jefferson City, MO, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.8 miles or 1h 28m 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 23m
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 Jefferson City, 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 Jefferson City, MO
This is one driving day of about 157.5 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Jefferson City, 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 U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for about 54.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 78.8 mi from Jefferson City, MO · 1h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
79 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 78.8 miles from Jefferson City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.92 one way
$47.85 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $26.37 | $52.74 |
| premium | $4.80 | $29.73 | $59.47 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $34.99 | $69.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.3 | 0 | $16.54 | $7.56 |
| Efficient EV | 39.4 | 0 | $13.78 | $6.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63 | 0 | $22.05 | $10.08 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Afternoon in Kansas City on Monday
Local time
12:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSW 13 to 18 mph
13% chance
Live forecast
Along the Route
50°F
Columbia, MO
79 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
30 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 56m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Jefferson City, MO to Kansas City, MO covers 157.5 miles and takes about 2h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, US 63. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 78.8 miles from Jefferson City, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.92 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 demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 157.5 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: near the start (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 30.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Jefferson City, MO and Kansas City, MO, road signs point toward Mo Pp: Kansas City and Saint Louis.
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Return Trip
Kansas City, MO to Jefferson City, MOPlan the drive back the other way.
156.9 mi
2h 56m
Continue From Kansas City, MO
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