Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
47.2 mi
76 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
Photo: Tien Nguyen
The drive from Kansas City, KS to Atchison, KS covers 47.2 miles and takes about 1h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 29, 45 Highway, 273 Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.8 miles on I 29. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.17 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
23.6 miles from Kansas City, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 31m into the drive .
The drive from Kansas City, KS to Atchison, KS covers 47.2 miles and takes about 1h 4m, 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 0.1 miles in near US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 47.2 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 0.1 miles (US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Turn left onto US 69 / North 7th Street Trafficway
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 635 / Harry Darby Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71 toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward MO 273 North: Tracy, Weston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Between Kansas City, KS and Atchison, KS, road signs point toward Saint Joseph and Weston.
Saint Joseph
Weston
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 29 | 16.8 mi | 18m |
| 45 Highway | 13.7 mi | 18m |
| 273 Highway | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| North 7th Street Trafficway | 3.8 mi | 8m |
| Southwest 59 Highway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Southwest 45 Highway | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Harry Darby Memorial Highway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Amelia Earhart Bridge | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, KS and Atchison, KS.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Armstrong Avenue
Turn left onto US 69
Keep slight left at fork onto I 635
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 29; US 71
Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71
Take the exit
Turn left onto MO 273; MO 371
Continue on MO 273
Turn right onto MO 45; MO 273
Continue on MO 45; MO 273
Turn left onto US 59; MO 273
Continue on US 59; MO 273
Turn right onto South 4th Street
Turn left onto Kansas Avenue
Arrive at destination
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.
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 47.2 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 23.6 miles or 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atchison, KS than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Kansas City, KS 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 Kansas City, KS
This is one driving day of about 47.2 miles and 1h 4m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.6 mi from Kansas City, KS · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 47.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 23.6 miles from Kansas City, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Atchison, KS 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 Atchison, KS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$7.17 one way
$14.34 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $7.90 | $15.81 |
| premium | $4.80 | $8.91 | $17.82 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.49 | $20.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.96 | $2.27 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.13 | $1.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.61 | $3.02 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Kansas City on Saturday
Local time
4:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Atchison on Saturday
Local time
4:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
49°F
Kansas City, MO
24 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
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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