Origin
Kansas City, MO
Late night in Kansas City on Friday
Local time
3:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kansas City, MO to Appleton City, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 40m
Distance
84.9 mi
137 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 33m
★
6 AM
1h 41m
8 AM
1h 56m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 47m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kansas City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Appleton City, MO
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Kansas City, MO to Appleton City, MO covers 84.9 miles and takes about 1h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Bruce R. Watkins Drive, MO 52, Charlotte Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 65.2 miles on Bruce R. Watkins Drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.27 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.
Midpoint
42.4 miles from Kansas City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 84.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (22%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 40m drive with frequent turns across 84.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Bruce R. Watkins Drive is the longest continuous segment at about 65.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 12th Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Kansas City, MO to Appleton City, MO is easy. At 1h 40m with 22% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Charlotte Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (Campbell Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 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
|
East 12th Street
Turn right onto East 12th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Charlotte Street
Turn right onto Charlotte Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Campbell Street
Turn right onto Campbell Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 71 / Bruce R. Watkins Drive
Merge onto US 71 / Bruce R. Watkins Drive
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
66 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
MO 52
Take the exit onto MO 52 toward MO 52 East: Appleton City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 129
Toward MO 52 East: Appleton City
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bruce R. Watkins Drive | 65.2 mi | 1h 14m |
| MO 52 | 18.8 mi | 24m |
| Charlotte Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East 12th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Truman Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Campbell Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Oak Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Walnut Street | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Bruce R. Watkins Drive
— 65.2 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, MO and Appleton City, MO.
1
Start on Oak Street
20 ft
·
4 sec
·
Oak Street
2
Turn right onto East 12th Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
East 12th Street
3
Turn right onto Charlotte Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Charlotte Street
4
Turn left onto East Truman Road
395 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Truman Road
5
Turn right onto Campbell Street
68 ft
·
1 sec
·
Campbell Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward US 71 South: Joplin
7
Merge onto US 71
65 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
Bruce R. Watkins Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto MO 52
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
MO 52
Exit 129
Toward MO 52 East: Appleton City
9
Turn left onto MO 52
19 mi
·
24 min
·
MO 52
10
Turn left onto North Walnut Street
13 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Walnut Street
11
Arrive at destination
North Walnut 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.4 miles from Kansas City, MO, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.2 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 19 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.4 miles or 49m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Appleton City, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kansas City, MO
This is one driving day of about 84.9 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Kansas City, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Bruce R. Watkins Drive for about 65.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.4 mi from Kansas City, MO · 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.4 miles from Kansas City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Bruce R. Watkins Drive if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.2 miles.
Arriving in Appleton City, MO
The final approach into Appleton City, MO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.27 one way
$26.55 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.57 | $29.15 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.34 | $32.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.74 | $37.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.5 | 0 | $8.91 | $4.08 |
| Efficient EV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.43 | $3.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34 | 0 | $11.89 | $5.43 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Appleton City, MO
Late night in Appleton City on Friday
Local time
3:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 40m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Kansas City, MO to Appleton City, MO covers 84.9 miles and takes about 1h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Bruce R. Watkins Drive, MO 52, Charlotte Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.4 miles from Kansas City, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.27 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.
The drive from Kansas City, MO to Appleton City, MO is easy. At 1h 40m with 22% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Charlotte Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (Campbell Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Kansas City, MO to Appleton City, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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