Origin
La Plata, MO
Afternoon in La Plata on Friday
Local time
1:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Plata, MO to Kansas City, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 13m
Distance
166.9 mi
269 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 2m
★
6 AM
3h 13m
8 AM
3h 37m
10 AM
3h 22m
12 PM
3h 19m
3 PM
3h 23m
5 PM
3h 36m
8 PM
3h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Plata, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Kansas City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from La Plata, MO to Kansas City, MO covers 166.9 miles and takes about 3h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, MO 110, US 63 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 95.6 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.09 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
83.4 miles from La Plata, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 13m. Total distance: 166.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 13m highway drive covering 166.9 miles, with most of the trip on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and MO 110. The longest continuous stretch is about 95.6 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 95.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and MO 110. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Gex Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 13m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Gex Street): Navigation decision point; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.5 miles (MO 110): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
|
South Gex Street
Turn left onto South Gex Street
Navigation decision point
6
19.8 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Saint Joseph
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Saint Joseph
8
115.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m in
|
MO 110
Turn left onto MO 110 toward I 35 South, MO 110 West: Kansas City
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 South, MO 110 West: Kansas City
7
166 mi into trip
|
~3h 11m in
|
US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto US 71 toward I 70 East, US 40 East, US 71 South: Saint Louis, Joplin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East, US 71 South: Sain...
7
166.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 12m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2J
Toward Downtown
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Kansas City Expressway | 95.6 mi | 1h 50m |
| MO 110 | 50.5 mi | 56m |
| US 63 | 18.9 mi | 21m |
| East Clark Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| US 71 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East 11th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Gex Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Oak Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 95.6 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Plata, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on East Moore Street
20 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Moore Street
2
Turn left onto South Gex Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
South Gex Street
3
Turn left onto MO 156
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Clark Street
4
Turn right onto US 63
19 mi
·
21 min
·
US 63
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Saint Joseph
6
Merge onto US 36; MO 110
96 mi
·
1 hr 50 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
7
Turn left onto MO 110
51 mi
·
56 min
·
MO 110
Toward I 35 South, MO 110 West: Kansas City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 71
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
US 71
Exit 3
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East, US 71 South: Saint Louis, Joplin
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 2J
Toward Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn slight right onto East 11th Street
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
East 11th Street
11
Turn left onto Oak Street
461 ft
·
15 sec
·
Oak Street
12
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
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 83.4 miles from La Plata, MO, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.6 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 37 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.4 miles or 1h 37m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kansas City, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving La Plata, 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 La Plata, MO
This is one driving day of about 166.9 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from La Plata, 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 Chicago-Kansas City Expressway for about 95.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83.4 mi from La Plata, MO · 1h 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
83 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 83.4 miles from La Plata, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Chicago-Kansas City Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 95.6 miles.
Arriving in Kansas City, MO
The final approach into Kansas 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 Kansas 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
$26.09 one way
$52.19 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $28.65 | $57.30 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.12 | $64.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.85 | $73.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.1 | 0 | $17.52 | $8.01 |
| Efficient EV | 41.7 | 0 | $14.60 | $6.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66.8 | 0 | $23.37 | $10.68 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
Kansas City, MO
Afternoon in Kansas City on Friday
Local time
1:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Chillicothe, MO
83 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
5 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 13m 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 La Plata, MO to Kansas City, MO covers 166.9 miles and takes about 3h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, MO 110, US 63. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 83.4 miles from La Plata, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.09 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.
This is a straightforward 3h 13m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Gex Street): Navigation decision point; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.5 miles (MO 110): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from La Plata, MO to Kansas City, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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