Origin
Malden, MO
Afternoon in Malden on Sunday
Local time
1:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Malden, MO to Kansas City, MO
Drive Time
7h 53m
Distance
388.1 mi
625 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$59
one way
Photo: Matthew Chirinos
Trip Overview
Traveling from Malden to Kansas City covers 388.1 miles across the heart of Missouri. You can expect to spend approximately 7 hours and 53 minutes behind the wheel, making this a long but manageable single-day commitment. With a primary reliance on US 60, North Kansas Expressway, and MO 7, the route is designed for efficiency rather than sightseeing. Budgeting roughly $59 for fuel will keep you moving throughout the journey. Since the entire trip takes place within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you transition from the Bootheel toward the state’s largest metropolitan area.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
194.1 miles from Malden, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 3m into the drive .
Drive Character
This highway-focused drive is built for steady progress, with 94% of your journey taking place on major roads. You will settle into a long rhythm early on, facing a 176.6-mile stretch on US 60 that serves as the backbone of your travel. While the North Kansas Expressway and MO 7 help navigate you toward your destination, the experience remains consistent and straightforward. Expect a drive that favors speed and directness over technical maneuvers or winding backroads. It is a practical, predictable trek that allows you to cover significant ground without constant navigation changes.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 60 is the longest continuous segment at about 176.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 60 and North Kansas Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO 25 Business / South Madison Street.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 388.1 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: near the start (MO 25 Business / South Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 226.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 226.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 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
|
MO 25 Business / South Madison Street
Turn left onto MO 25 Business / South Madison Street
Navigation decision point
7
226.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MO 13: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
7
226.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
7
349.5 mi into trip
|
~7h 6m in
|
MO 7
Take the exit onto MO 7 toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none lane.
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kan...
7
387.4 mi into trip
|
~7h 51m in
Take the exit toward 11th Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 11th Street, Downtown
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 60 | 176.6 mi | 3h 28m |
| North Kansas Expressway | 87.2 mi | 1h 42m |
| MO 7 | 73.9 mi | 1h 24m |
| MO 53 | 19.5 mi | 29m |
| MO J | 11.5 mi | 20m |
| Schoolcraft Freeway | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| Payne Stewart Highway | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| South Westwood Boulevard | 2.4 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 176.6 mi, about 3h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Malden, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on West Laclede Street
63 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Laclede Street
2
Turn left onto MO 25 Business
442 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Madison Street
3
Turn left onto MO 25 Business
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
West Main Street
4
Turn right onto MO 25 Business
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
North Douglas Street
5
Turn left onto MO J
12 mi
·
20 min
·
MO J
6
Turn right onto MO 53
20 mi
·
29 min
·
MO 53
7
Turn right onto US 67 Business
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
South Westwood Boulevard
8
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
State Street
9
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Westwood Boulevard
10
Continue on US 67; US 60 Business
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 67; US 60 Business
11
Continue on US 60; US 67
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
US 60; US 67
12
Take the exit onto US 60
173 mi
·
3 hr 23 min
·
US 60
Use the none lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward US 65 North: Sedalia
14
Merge onto US 65
8.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Schoolcraft Freeway
15
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
16
Merge onto I 44
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Payne Stewart Highway
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
18
Keep slight left at fork
150 ft
·
3 sec
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
19
Keep slight right at fork
209 ft
·
7 sec
Exit 77
Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
20
Merge onto MO 13
87 mi
·
1 hr 42 min
·
North Kansas Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Continue on MO 7
36 mi
·
39 min
·
MO 7
22
Take the exit onto MO 7
38 mi
·
45 min
·
MO 7
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
Use the none lane.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
Toward 11th Street, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
24
Turn straight onto East 11th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East 11th Street
Use the left / none lanes.
25
Turn left onto Oak Street
461 ft
·
15 sec
·
Oak Street
26
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
Trip Plan
To tackle this 388-mile trip efficiently, plan for at least two deliberate stops to break up the nearly 8-hour drive. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you reach Kansas City before the evening rush. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that long 176.6-mile stretch on US 60, to ensure you don't find yourself running low between service points. Since this route is optimized for a single day, having your music or podcasts queued up is essential for the long stretches of highway. Use the flexibility of your two planned stops to stretch your legs and refresh your focus before merging onto the busier segments leading into the city.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 194.1 miles from Malden, MO, or about 4h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.6 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 85 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 194.1 miles or 4h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 42m
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 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Malden, MO
This is one driving day of about 388.1 miles and 7h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 miles from Malden, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 60 for about 176.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 194.1 mi from Malden, MO · 4h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
194 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 85 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 194.1 miles from Malden, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 60 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 176.6 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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.95 one way
$117.90 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
136 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $64.98 | $129.97 |
| premium | $4.80 | $73.27 | $146.53 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $86.22 | $172.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$59
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 135.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 116.4 | 1 | $40.75 | $18.63 |
| Efficient EV | 97 | 1 | $33.96 | $15.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 155.2 | 1 | $54.33 | $24.84 |
Gas CO2
136 kg
EV CO2
45 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.
Destination
Kansas City, MO
Afternoon in Kansas City on Sunday
Local time
1:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
14 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
7h 53m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Malden, MO to Kansas City, MO covers 388.1 miles and takes about 7h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 60, North Kansas Expressway, MO 7. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 194.1 miles from Malden, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $58.95 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 388.1 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: near the start (MO 25 Business / South Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 226.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 226.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Malden, MO to Kansas City, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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