Skip to main content

Trip from Kansas City, MO to Kimberling City, MO

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 22m

Distance

209.6 mi

337 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 9m ★
6 AM
4h 22m
8 AM
4h 49m
10 AM
4h 31m
12 PM
4h 29m
3 PM
4h 33m
5 PM
4h 47m
8 PM
4h 14m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Missouri, United States, that is one of two county seats of Jackson County and the largest city in Missouri

Kansas City, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Kimberling City, MO, MO

Kimberling City, MO

Efrem Efre

Trip Overview

The drive from Kansas City, MO to Kimberling City, MO covers 209.6 miles and takes about 4h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East 12th Street, Charlotte Street, East Truman Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.77 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

104.8 miles from Kansas City, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 11m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 22m drive with frequent turns across 209.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East 12th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 4h 22m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kansas City, MO to Kimberling City, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East 12th Street
Charlotte Street
East Truman Road
Campbell Street
US 71 South
Bruce R
MO 7 South
US 60 East

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: East 12th Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Oak Street

20 ft · 5 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

394 ft · 12 sec · East Truman Road
5

Turn right onto Campbell Street

69 ft · 1 sec · Campbell Street
6

Take the ramp straight toward US 71 South: Joplin

0.2 mi · 27 sec · US 71 South: Joplin
7

Merge slight left onto Bruce R. Watkins Drive

37 mi · 44 min · Bruce R. Watkins Drive
8

Take the exit slight right toward MO 7 South: Clinton

0.2 mi · 20 sec · MO 7 South: Clinton
9

Turn slight left onto MO 7 South: Clinton

55 mi · 1 hr 3 min · MO 7 South: Clinton
10

Continue straight

76 mi · 1 hr 33 min
11

Take the ramp slight left toward US 60 East, US 160 East, MO 13 South: Rogersville

0.3 mi · 36 sec · US 60 East, US 160 East, MO 13 South: Rogersville
12

Merge slight left onto James River Freeway

0.9 mi · 1 min · James River Freeway
13

Take the exit slight right toward MO 13 South, US 160 East: Nixa

0.2 mi · 28 sec · MO 13 South, US 160 East: Nixa
14

Continue on South Campbell Avenue

27 mi · 37 min · South Campbell Avenue
15

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

217 ft · 4 sec · the route
16

Exit the roundabout

10 mi · 15 min
17

Turn left onto Kimberling Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · Kimberling Boulevard
18

Turn left onto Marina Way

0.3 mi · 1 min · Marina Way
19

Turn right

226 ft · 10 sec
20

Continue straight

0.2 mi · 45 sec
21

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 104.8 miles from Kansas City, MO, or about 2h 11m into the drive.

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 46 miles or 57m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 104.8 miles or 2h 11m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 35m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kimberling 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.

+

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 209.6 miles and 4h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 104.8 mi from Kansas City, MO · 2h 11m into the drive

Downtown El Dorado Springs, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

El Dorado Springs, MO

105 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

Garden City, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

El Dorado Springs, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 104.8 miles from Kansas City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Kimberling City, MO

The final approach into Kimberling 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 Kimberling 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

$32.77 one way

$65.54 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 73 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $35.98 $71.96
premium $4.89 $40.34 $80.67
diesel $5.61 $46.28 $92.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 73.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 62.9 0 $22.01 $10.06
Efficient EV 52.4 0 $18.34 $8.38
EV Truck/SUV 83.8 1 $29.34 $13.41

Gas CO2

73 kg

EV CO2

25 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Kansas City, MO

Late night in Kansas City on Thursday

Local time

12:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kimberling City, MO

Late night in Kimberling City on Thursday

Local time

12:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

55°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

19 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 22m on the road

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

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 Kimberling City, MO covers 209.6 miles and takes about 4h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East 12th Street, Charlotte Street, East Truman Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 104.8 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 $32.77 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 22m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kansas City, MO to Kimberling City, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Kansas City, MO to Kimberling City, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More trips to Kimberling City, MO

Explore more options from Kansas City, MO or browse trips ending in Kimberling City, MO.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.

Explore maps for Kansas City, MO or Kimberling City, MO on MapSof.net.