Origin
Kansas City, MO
Late night in Kansas City on Saturday
Local time
1:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 8m
Distance
152.7 mi
246 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kansas City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Mount Pleasant, MO
Theodore Nguyen
This 152.7-mile drive from Kansas City, MO to Mount Pleasant, MO is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 8 minutes. With an estimated fuel cost of $24, it's an economical option for exploring more of the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and US 65, offering a blend of driving experiences. You'll spend about 32% of your time on highways, making it a straightforward journey without the need for an overnight stay. This trip is perfect for a leisurely weekend excursion, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of daylight left.
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
76.4 miles from Kansas City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 152.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
The drive offers a mixed profile, transitioning between the faster pace of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and the more local feel of East Broadway Boulevard and US 65. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 52.5 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, providing a solid block of highway cruising. As you progress, expect the character of the road to evolve, moving from major thoroughfare to potentially more direct, regional connections. This variation ensures the journey remains engaging, avoiding the monotony of a pure interstate experience.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
631 ft
Total Descent
604 ft
Highest Point
1,045 ft
~130.9 mi in
Elevation Range
347 ft
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 12th Street.
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 152.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.6 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40 / George Brett Super Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto East 12th Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 70 East, US 40 East
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40 / George Brett Super Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 65 South: Sedalia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn right onto MO 5
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 52.5 mi | 56m |
| East Broadway Boulevard | 24.3 mi | 32m |
| US 65 | 15.9 mi | 18m |
| MO 52 | 15.8 mi | 21m |
| MO 5 | 14.5 mi | 18m |
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| George Brett Super Highway | 6.9 mi | 9m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, MO and Mount Pleasant, MO.
Start on Oak Street
Turn right onto East 12th Street
Turn right onto Charlotte Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
Continue on I 70
Continue on I 70
Continue on I 70
Continue on I 70
Continue on I 70; US 40
Take the exit
Merge onto US 65
Turn slight left onto MO 765
Continue on MO 765
Turn straight onto North Ohio Avenue
Turn left onto East Pettis Street
Continue on West Saline Street
Turn right onto North Engineer Avenue
Turn left onto US 50
Turn right onto MO 5
At end of road, turn left onto MO 52
Continue on US 54 Bus; MO 87
Continue on US 54 Business
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 54
Turn straight onto US 54
Turn right onto MO FF
Turn right onto Doyle Road
Arrive at destination
For this 3-hour drive, departing Kansas City in the morning allows you to arrive in Mount Pleasant well before midday. With only one recommended stop, you have the flexibility to take breaks as needed without feeling rushed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 52.5-mile stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, to ensure smooth progress. Given the relatively short duration and manageable distance, you can easily complete this trip in a single day, making it ideal for a spontaneous road trip.
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.
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 34 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.4 miles or 1h 25m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mount Pleasant, MO than in the middle of the route.
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 152.7 miles and 3h 8m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 76.4 mi from Kansas City, MO · 1h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 76.4 miles from Kansas City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Mount Pleasant, 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 Mount Pleasant, MO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$23.87 one way
$47.75 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $26.21 | $52.42 |
| premium | $4.89 | $29.39 | $58.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.71 | $67.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.8 | 0 | $16.03 | $7.33 |
| Efficient EV | 38.2 | 0 | $13.36 | $6.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.1 | 0 | $21.38 | $9.77 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Kansas City on Saturday
Local time
1:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Mount Pleasant on Saturday
Local time
1:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
71°F
Marshall, 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
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.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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