The drive from Leawood, KS to Horton, KS covers 88.7 miles and takes about 2h 3m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 29, US 73 Highway, 45 Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.8 miles on I 29.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.87 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.
Midpoint
44.4 miles from Leawood, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 88.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Leawood, KS to Horton, KS covers 88.7 miles and takes about 2h 3m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 29 is the longest continuous segment at about 16.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Mission Road.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 88.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Mission Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (West 75th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (Metcalf Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|Mission Road
Turn right onto Mission Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.5 mi into trip|~6m in|West 75th Street
Turn left onto West 75th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
4.6 mi into trip|~10m in|Metcalf Avenue
Turn right onto Metcalf Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
20.2 mi into trip|~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 12A
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport,...
8
37.4 mi into trip|~50m in
Take the exit toward MO 273 North: Tracy, Weston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 20
Toward MO 273 North: Tracy, Weston
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Leawood, KS and Horton, KS, road signs point toward Saint Joseph and Weston.
Saint Joseph
20.2 mi in|~30m
Weston
37.4 mi in|~50m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 29
16.8 mi
18m
US 73 Highway
15.7 mi
23m
45 Highway
13.7 mi
18m
Harry Darby Memorial Highway
12.4 mi
14m
US Highway 73
8.2 mi
9m
273 Highway
4.7 mi
6m
Southwest 59 Highway
3.4 mi
4m
Metcalf Avenue
3.2 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 16.8 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leawood, KS and Horton, KS.
1
Start on West 90th Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·West 90th Street
2
Turn right onto Meadow Lane
371 ft·21 sec·Meadow Lane
3
Turn left onto West 89th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West 89th Street
4
Turn right onto Mission Road
1.8 mi·4 min·Mission Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto West 75th Street
2.0 mi·4 min·West 75th Street
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto Metcalf Avenue
3.2 mi·5 min·Metcalf Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 635
8.2 mi·9 min·Harry Darby Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 635
2.8 mi·3 min·Harry Darby Memorial Highway
Use the slight left lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 635
1.4 mi·1 min·Harry Darby Memorial Highway
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 12AToward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint JosephUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 29; US 71
10 mi·11 min·I 29; US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71
2.7 mi·2 min·I 29; I 435; US 71
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71
3.8 mi·4 min·I 29; US 71
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 20Toward MO 273 North: Tracy, WestonUse the right lane.
15
Turn left onto MO 273; MO 371
0.7 mi·1 min·273 Highway
16
Continue on MO 273
4.0 mi·5 min·273 Highway
17
Turn right onto MO 45; MO 273
14 mi·18 min·45 Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on MO 45; MO 273
1.7 mi·2 min·Southwest 45 Highway
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto US 59; MO 273
3.4 mi·4 min·Southwest 59 Highway
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on US 59; MO 273
0.5 mi·1 min·Amelia Earhart Bridge
21
Turn right onto South 4th Street
414 ft·14 sec·South 4th Street
22
Turn left onto Main Street
1.5 mi·2 min·Main Street
23
Turn left onto Woodlawn Avenue
0.5 mi·52 sec·Woodlawn Avenue
24
Continue on US 73
16 mi·23 min·US 73 Highway
25
Continue on US 73
8.2 mi·9 min·US Highway 73
26
Continue on US 73; KS 20
0.2 mi·26 sec·110th Street
27
Continue on US 73; KS 20
0.5 mi·1 min·East 15th Street
28
Turn left onto US 159
0.5 mi·1 min·1st Avenue East
29
Arrive at destination
US 159
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 44.4 miles from Leawood, KS, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.8 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 20 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.4 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Horton, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Leawood, KS 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 Leawood, KS
This is one driving day of about 88.7 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Leawood, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 29 for about 16.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.4 mi from Leawood, KS
· 1h into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.87 one way
$27.73 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.23
$30.45
premium
$4.89
$17.07
$34.14
diesel
$5.61
$19.58
$39.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.6
0
$9.31
$4.26
Efficient EV
22.2
0
$7.76
$3.55
EV Truck/SUV
35.5
0
$12.42
$5.68
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Leawood, KS
Afternoon
in Leawood on Friday
Local time
1:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Horton, KS
Afternoon
in Horton on Friday
Local time
1:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°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
4 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
2h 3m 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 Leawood, KS to Horton, KS covers 88.7 miles and takes about 2h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 29, US 73 Highway, 45 Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.4 miles from Leawood, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.87 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 88.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Mission Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (West 75th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (Metcalf Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Leawood, KS and Horton, KS, road signs point toward Saint Joseph and Weston.
