Origin
Merriam Woods, MO
Morning in Merriam Woods on Monday
Local time
7:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Merriam Woods, MO to Kansas City, MO
Drive Time
4h 8m
Distance
208 mi
335 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 56m
★
6 AM
4h 9m
8 AM
4h 35m
10 AM
4h 18m
12 PM
4h 16m
3 PM
4h 19m
5 PM
4h 34m
8 PM
4h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kansas City, MO
Matthew Chirinos
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Merriam Woods to Kansas City, you are looking at a straightforward 208-mile journey through the Missouri heartland. Expect to spend about 4 hours and 8 minutes on the road, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. With an estimated fuel cost of $32, it is a budget-friendly way to navigate between these two Midwest locations. Because the drive is relatively efficient, you will not need to plan for an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares like the North Kansas Expressway, MO 7, and the American Legion Memorial Highway to get you to your destination.
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
104 miles from Merriam Woods, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 4m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 91% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm quickly, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 87.2 miles along the North Kansas Expressway. The experience is defined by consistent momentum rather than technical maneuvering, allowing you to cover ground efficiently across the region. As you transition from the local roads onto these primary highways, the drive moves from smaller-scale settings to a more streamlined, interstate-style pace. It is a predictable, functional route that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Maybe Lake Road 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 8m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Merriam Woods, MO to Kansas City, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maybe Lake Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Homestead Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Old Trail Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| American Legion Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 65 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Schoolcraft Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 44 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Payne Stewart Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Maybe Lake Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Merriam Woods, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on Deerfield Road
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
·
Deerfield Road
2
Turn right onto Maybe Lake Road
230 ft
·
13 sec
·
Maybe Lake Road
3
Turn left onto Homestead Road
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
Homestead Road
4
Turn left onto Old Trail Road
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Old Trail Road
5
At the end of the road, turn right
4.6 mi
·
6 min
6
Continue straight
0.9 mi
·
1 min
7
Take the ramp slight right
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
8
Merge slight left onto American Legion Memorial Highway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
9
Continue on US Highway 65
12 mi
·
13 min
·
US Highway 65
10
Continue on American Legion Memorial Highway
11 mi
·
12 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
11
Continue on Schoolcraft Freeway
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Schoolcraft Freeway
12
Take the exit slight right toward I 44 West: Joplin
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 44 West: Joplin
13
Merge slight left onto Payne Stewart Highway
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Payne Stewart Highway
14
Take the exit slight right toward MO 13: Bolivar
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
MO 13: Bolivar
15
Keep slight left to continue on MO 13: Bolivar
151 ft
·
4 sec
·
MO 13: Bolivar
16
Keep slight right to continue on MO 13 North: Bolivar
210 ft
·
7 sec
·
MO 13 North: Bolivar
17
Merge slight left onto North Kansas Expressway
87 mi
·
1 hr 42 min
·
North Kansas Expressway
18
Continue straight
36 mi
·
39 min
19
Take the exit slight right toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
38 mi
·
45 min
·
I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
20
Take the exit slight right toward 11th Street, Downtown
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
11th Street, Downtown
21
Turn straight onto East 11th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East 11th Street
22
Turn left onto Oak Street
463 ft
·
15 sec
·
Oak Street
23
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 4-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility when choosing your departure time. Aim to hit the road early if you want to maximize your time in Kansas City, though the lack of a mandatory overnight split means you can easily adjust based on your personal schedule. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refresh, as this will help break up the monotony of the long highway stretches. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during that 87.2-mile stretch on the North Kansas Expressway, as services may be spaced further apart. Staying mindful of your fuel budget of $32 will help ensure you reach your destination without any unexpected logistical stress.
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 104 miles from Merriam Woods, MO, or about 2h 4m 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104 miles or 2h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 24m
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 Merriam Woods, 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 Merriam Woods, MO
This is one driving day of about 208 miles and 4h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Merriam Woods, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 104 mi from Merriam Woods, MO · 2h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
104 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 104 miles from Merriam Woods, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$31.59 one way
$63.19 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $34.83 | $69.66 |
| premium | $4.80 | $39.27 | $78.53 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $46.21 | $92.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.4 | 0 | $21.84 | $9.98 |
| Efficient EV | 52 | 0 | $18.20 | $8.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.2 | 1 | $29.12 | $13.31 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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
Morning in Kansas City on Monday
Local time
7:28 AM
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
9 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
4h 8m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Merriam Woods, MO to Kansas City, MO covers 208 miles and takes about 4h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Maybe Lake Road, Homestead Road, Old Trail Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 104 miles from Merriam Woods, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.59 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 8m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Merriam Woods, MO to Kansas City, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Merriam Woods, MO to Kansas City, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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