Drive Time
6h 25m
Distance
393.1 mi
633 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$58
one way
Photo: Matthew Chirinos
The drive from Malden, MO to Kansas City, MO covers 393.1 miles and takes about 6h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Madison Street, West Main Street, North Douglas Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $58.36 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
196.5 miles from Malden, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 12m into the drive .
Expect a 6h 25m drive with frequent turns across 393.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Very easy — mostly straight driving
Navigation is easy, but the length (6h 25m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Malden, MO to Kansas City, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Madison Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Douglas Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Westwood Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Westwood Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 65 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Schoolcraft Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Malden, MO and Kansas City, MO.
Start on West Laclede Street
Turn left onto South Madison Street
Turn left onto West Main Street
Turn right onto North Douglas Street
Turn left
Turn right
Turn right onto South Westwood Boulevard
Continue on State Street
Continue on North Westwood Boulevard
Continue straight
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right
Take the exit slight right toward US 65 North: Sedalia
Merge slight left onto Schoolcraft Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward I 44 West: Joplin
Merge slight left onto Payne Stewart Highway
Take the exit slight right toward MO 13: Bolivar
Keep slight left to continue on MO 13: Bolivar
Keep slight right to continue on MO 13 North: Bolivar
Merge slight left onto North Kansas Expressway
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
Take the exit slight right toward 11th Street, Downtown
Turn straight onto East 11th Street
Turn left onto Oak Street
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 86 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 196.5 miles or 3h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kansas City, MO than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Malden, 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 Malden, MO
This is one driving day of about 393.1 miles and 6h 25m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 196.5 mi from Malden, MO · 3h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
197 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 86 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 196.5 miles from Malden, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$58.36 one way
$116.72 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $65.82 | $131.64 |
| premium | $4.65 | $72.03 | $144.05 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $82.09 | $164.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 137.5 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 117.9 | 1 | $41.28 | $18.87 |
| Efficient EV | 98.3 | 1 | $34.40 | $15.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 157.2 | 1 | $55.03 | $25.16 |
Gas CO2
138 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Malden on Saturday
Local time
12:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Kansas City on Saturday
Local time
12:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
74°F
Bentonville, AR
197 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
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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