Trip from Kansas City, MO to Camdenton, MO

Drive Time

3h 16m

Distance

152.1 mi

245 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

Downtown Kansas City, MO, MO

Kansas City, MO

Matthew Chirinos

Downtown Camdenton, MO, MO

Camdenton, MO

Change C.C

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick getaway from Kansas City to Camdenton, expect a manageable 152.1-mile journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 16 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight split. Budget approximately $23 for fuel to complete the drive through the heart of Missouri. You will transition from the urban atmosphere of Kansas City into the more relaxed pace of the Midwest landscape. Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart at your leisure while still having plenty of time to explore Camdenton upon arrival.

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

76 miles from Kansas City, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a mixed driving experience that balances efficiency with local road travel. You will spend about 56% of your time on highways, utilizing routes like Bruce R. Watkins Drive and East Division Road to navigate away from the city. The most significant portion of your journey involves a 77-mile stretch on MO 7, which serves as the backbone of this route. As you progress, the road environment shifts from high-traffic corridors to the more steady, predictable pace of state highways. Staying alert is key, as the transition between these different road types defines the overall flow of your time behind the wheel.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MO 7 is the longest continuous segment at about 77 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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.

Route Complexity 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Kansas City, MO to Camdenton, MO is easy. At 3h 16m with 56% 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 0.6 miles (Campbell Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 71 / Bruce R. Watkins Drive): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These 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

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 none lane.
5
38.1 mi into trip | ~46m in | MO 7

Take the exit onto MO 7 toward MO 7 South: Clinton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 157 Toward MO 7 South: Clinton
6
152 mi into trip | ~3h 16m in | US 54

At end of road, turn right onto US 54

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
MO 7 77 mi 1h 39m
Bruce R. Watkins Drive 37.3 mi 44m
East Division Road 27.6 mi 37m
MO 5 7.5 mi 9m
East Ohio Street 0.6 mi 1m
US 54 0.6 mi 1m
Charlotte Street 0.3 mi <1m
East 12th Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: MO 7 — 77 mi, about 1h 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, MO and Camdenton, 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

37 mi · 44 min · Bruce R. Watkins Drive
Use the none lane.
8

Take the exit onto MO 7

0.2 mi · 19 sec · MO 7
Exit 157 Toward MO 7 South: Clinton
9

Turn slight left onto MO 7

39 mi · 44 min · MO 7
Exit 157 Toward MO 7 South: Clinton Use the left lane.
10

Turn left onto MO 7

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Ohio Street
11

Continue on MO 7

28 mi · 37 min · East Division Road
12

Take the ramp onto MO 7

6.5 mi · 8 min · MO 7
Toward MO 7 South, MO 65 South: Springfield
13

Turn left onto MO 7

31 mi · 46 min · MO 7
14

At end of road, turn right onto MO 5; MO 7

7.5 mi · 9 min · MO 5; MO 7
15

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 39 sec
Toward US 54 West: Nevada
16

Turn slight right onto US 54

0.5 mi · 1 min · US 54
17

Turn left onto Court Circle SE

147 ft · 4 sec · Court Circle SE
18

Continue on Court Circle SE

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Court Circle SE
19

Continue on Court Circle SW

379 ft · 15 sec · Court Circle SW
20

At end of road, turn right onto US 54

296 ft · 8 sec · US 54
21

Arrive at destination

US 54

Trip Plan

For the smoothest experience, plan for at least one dedicated stop during your 152.1-mile drive to stretch your legs and refresh. Since the route is straightforward, you can easily depart in the morning to maximize your time in Camdenton. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge when traveling the 77-mile stretch on MO 7, as service options may be more limited compared to the area surrounding Kansas City. Because the total duration is just over three hours, you have the advantage of a flexible schedule that accommodates minor delays without ruining your plans. Using the recommended path ensures you stay on the most direct roads while managing your transit time effectively.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76 miles from Kansas City, MO, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77 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 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 76 miles or 1h 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 2h 36m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Camdenton, 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 152.1 miles and 3h 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kansas 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 MO 7 for about 77 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 76 mi from Kansas City, MO · 1h 29m into the drive

Downtown Billings, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Billings, MO

76 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

Warsaw, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Warsaw, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 76 miles from Kansas City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before MO 7 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77 miles.

Arriving in Camdenton, MO

The final approach into Camdenton, 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 Camdenton, 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

$23.10 one way

$46.20 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 53 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $25.47 $50.94
premium $4.80 $28.71 $57.43
diesel $5.64 $33.79 $67.58

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 53.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 45.6 0 $15.97 $7.30
Efficient EV 38 0 $13.31 $6.08
EV Truck/SUV 60.8 0 $21.29 $9.73

Gas CO2

53 kg

EV CO2

18 kg (66% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Kansas City, MO

Afternoon in Kansas City on Sunday

Local time

2:42 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Camdenton, MO

Afternoon in Camdenton on Sunday

Local time

2:42 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

56°F

Billings, MO

76 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

27 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

3h 16m 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 Camdenton, MO covers 152.1 miles and takes about 3h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MO 7, Bruce R. Watkins Drive, East Division Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 76 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 $23.10 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Kansas City, MO to Camdenton, MO is easy. At 3h 16m with 56% 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 0.6 miles (Campbell Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 71 / Bruce R. Watkins Drive): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Kansas City, MO to Camdenton, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Camdenton, MO to Kansas City, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

152.2 mi 3h 16m

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