Origin
Kansas City, MO
Night in Kansas City on Wednesday
Local time
10:02 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kansas City, MO to Taos, MO
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
55m
Distance
40.7 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kansas City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Taos, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Trip Overview
The drive from Kansas City, MO to Taos, MO covers 40.7 miles and takes about 55m 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, Locust Street, MO 9 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.36 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
20.3 miles from Kansas City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 27m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 55m drive with frequent turns across 40.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Kansas City, MO to Taos, MO is easy. At 55m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kansas City, MO to Taos, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East 12th Street | — | — |
| Locust Street | — | — |
| MO 9 North | — | — |
| US 169 North | — | — |
| I 29 North | — | — |
| MO H | — | — |
| 371 Highway | — | — |
| Southeast 116 Highway | — | — |
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 Taos, MO.
1
Start on Oak Street
20 ft
·
5 sec
·
Oak Street
2
Turn right onto East 12th Street
328 ft
·
15 sec
·
East 12th Street
3
Turn left onto Locust Street
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Locust Street
4
Continue straight
3.0 mi
·
5 min
5
Keep slight left to continue on MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
6
Take the exit slight right toward US 169 North: Smithville
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 169 North: Smithville
7
Continue straight
1.2 mi
·
1 min
8
Take the exit slight left toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
9
Merge slight right
12 mi
·
13 min
10
Merge slight left
2.7 mi
·
2 min
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
13 mi
·
13 min
·
I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
12
Take the exit slight right toward MO H, MO Z: New Market, Dearborn
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
MO H, MO Z: New Market, Dearborn
13
Turn left onto MO H, MO Z: New Market, Dearborn
92 ft
·
6 sec
·
MO H, MO Z: New Market, Dearborn
14
Turn left
0.8 mi
·
1 min
15
At the end of the road, turn right onto 371 Highway
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
371 Highway
16
Turn left onto Southeast 116 Highway
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast 116 Highway
17
Turn right
1.5 mi
·
3 min
18
Turn right onto Southeast Taos Road
16 ft
·
1 sec
·
Southeast Taos Road
19
Arrive at your destination
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 20.3 miles from Kansas City, MO, or about 27m 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 40.7 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 20.3 miles or 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Taos, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Kansas City, MO.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kansas City, MO
This is one driving day of about 40.7 miles and 55m.
At 40.7 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.3 mi from Kansas City, MO · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.3 miles from Kansas City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Taos, MO
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Taos, MO if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.36 one way
$12.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.99 | $13.97 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.83 | $15.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.99 | $17.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.27 | $1.95 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.56 | $1.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.70 | $2.60 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Taos, MO
Night in Taos on Wednesday
Local time
10:02 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
26 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
55m 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 Taos, MO covers 40.7 miles and takes about 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East 12th Street, Locust Street, MO 9 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.3 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 $6.36 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 Taos, MO is easy. At 55m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kansas City, MO to Taos, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Kansas City, MO to Taos, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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