Origin
Kansas City, MO
Afternoon in Kansas City on Saturday
Local time
3:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kansas City, MO to Albany, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 7m
Distance
96.9 mi
156 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 58m
★
6 AM
2h 7m
8 AM
2h 25m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 12m
3 PM
2h 14m
5 PM
2h 24m
8 PM
2h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kansas City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Albany, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Trip Overview
Kansas City, MO to Albany, MO is 96.9 miles and takes about 2h 7m via I-35, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, traversing the Midwest region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused drive that's ideal for a quick day trip or as a short leg on a longer journey. You'll find it's a practical route with minimal fuss, perfect if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B within the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.4 miles from Kansas City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Kansas City Expressway | 48.8 mi | 52m |
| MO A | 11.5 mi | 20m |
| I 35 | 11.2 mi | 12m |
| Dilley Street | 8 mi | 14m |
| US 69 | 7.2 mi | 10m |
| US 71 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| MO 85 | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| 2nd Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 48.8 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, MO and Albany, MO.
1
Start on Oak Street
20 ft
·
4 sec
·
Oak Street
2
Turn right onto East 12th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East 12th Street
3
Turn left onto Harrison Street
438 ft
·
16 sec
·
Harrison Street
4
Turn left onto East 11th Street
209 ft
·
5 sec
·
East 11th Street
5
Take the ramp
455 ft
·
11 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 24 West, US 40 West, I 29 North, I 35 North, US 71 North
6
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40; US 71
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
George Brett Super Highway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
US 71
Exit 2G
Toward I 29 North, I 35 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph, Des Moines
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 35
Toward I 35 North: Des Moines
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; MO 110
49 mi
·
52 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
11
Turn left onto US 69
7.2 mi
·
10 min
·
US 69
12
Turn left onto MO Z
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Street
13
Turn slight left onto MO Z
8.0 mi
·
14 min
·
Dilley Street
14
Turn right onto MO A
12 mi
·
20 min
·
MO A
15
Continue on MO 85
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
MO 85
16
Turn right onto East Jackson Street
193 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Jackson Street
17
Arrive at destination
East Jackson Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 2-hour duration, you have plenty of flexibility with this route. Aim to depart in the morning to make the most of your day, though an afternoon departure is also feasible. With only 96.9 miles, you won't need extensive planned stops for gas or rest. However, keep an eye on your fuel gauge as the longest stretch without a major road change is about 48.8 miles. A good practical tip is to check your tire pressure before you leave Kansas City, ensuring optimal efficiency for this short, highway-centric trip.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.4 miles from Kansas City, MO, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.8 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 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.4 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albany, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kansas 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 Kansas City, MO
This is one driving day of about 96.9 miles and 2h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Kansas City, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway for about 48.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.4 miles from Kansas City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 5.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East 12th Street
Turn right onto East 12th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Harrison Street
Turn left onto Harrison Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 West, US 24 West, US 40 West, I 29 North, I 35 North, US 71 North
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 West, US 24 West, US 40 West, I 29...
9
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 71
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71 toward I 29 North, I 35 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph, Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 2G
Toward I 29 North, I 35 North, US 71 North: Sai...
7
5.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 North: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Des Moines
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.15 one way
$30.30 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.63 | $33.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.65 | $37.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.39 | $42.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.1 | 0 | $10.17 | $4.65 |
| Efficient EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.48 | $3.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.8 | 0 | $13.57 | $6.20 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Albany, MO
Afternoon in Albany on Saturday
Local time
3:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Gallatin, MO
48 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
2 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 7m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 78% of the journey on major roads like the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and I-35. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 48.8 miles on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, offering a consistent pace. The route transitions from the expressway onto MO A before rejoining I-35. Expect a mostly consistent driving experience, making it easy to maintain speed and cover ground efficiently without many abrupt changes.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.8 mi on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and MO A. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 12th Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.9 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Harrison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Kansas City, MO
Full guide →Kansas City is a major Midwestern metropolitan area that spreads across the border of Missouri and Kansas. It is a city that tends to hide itself from tourists. Reputed to have more boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any other city in the world except for Rome, it can be a beautiful city, too. It is unique in that it is split down the middle by the state line of Kansas and Missouri.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 7m. Total distance: 96.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.8 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Albany, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Harrison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Albany, MO before heading back.
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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