Origin
Overland Park, KS
Evening in Overland Park on Sunday
Local time
8:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Overland Park, KS to Kansas City, KS
Drive Time
21m
Distance
11.2 mi
18 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 22m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 20m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Overland Park, KS
Sam McCool
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Overland Park to Kansas City, Kansas, you are looking at a brief 11.2-mile journey. This trip typically takes about 21 minutes, making it a perfect day trip that requires no overnight stays. With an estimated fuel cost of just $2, it is an incredibly budget-friendly way to navigate these two Great Plains hubs. You will primarily utilize Metcalf Avenue, US 69, and the South 7th Street Trafficway to complete your travel. Because both cities are located within the same region, you can expect a familiar landscape rather than a drastic change in scenery. It is a straightforward, practical route that serves as an efficient connection between these two Kansas locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
5.6 miles from Overland Park, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
This mixed drive offers a blend of local navigation and highway travel, with 31% of your route consisting of highway driving. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 3.8 miles on Metcalf Avenue before the road transitions through various thoroughfares. The experience behind the wheel is functional and varied, shifting from standard urban road segments to the more open stretches provided by US 69. Because the total distance is only 11.2 miles, the personality of the road changes rapidly as you transition between different traffic environments. Expect a steady, no-nonsense drive that gets you from point A to point B without any prolonged, monotonous interstate sections.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Metcalf Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 3.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 81st Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 11.2 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 81st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Metcalf Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (US 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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
|
West 81st Street
Turn right onto West 81st Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Metcalf Avenue
Turn left onto Metcalf Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
8
4.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 69
Keep slight right at fork onto US 69 toward I 35 North, US 69 North: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 35 North, US 69 North: Des Moines
7
7.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward US 169
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 234
Toward US 169
5
11.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Metcalf Avenue | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| US 69 | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| South 7th Street Trafficway | 3.2 mi | 7m |
| West 80th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Marty Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Armstrong Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 81st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Metcalf Avenue
— 3.8 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Overland Park, KS and Kansas City, KS.
1
Start on this road
134 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto West 81st Street
182 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 81st Street
3
Turn left onto Marty Street
482 ft
·
23 sec
·
Marty Street
4
Turn right onto West 80th Street
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
West 80th Street
5
Turn left onto Metcalf Avenue
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Metcalf Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 69
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
US 69
Toward I 35 North, US 69 North: Des Moines
Use the right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 234
Toward US 169
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto US 169
3.2 mi
·
7 min
·
South 7th Street Trafficway
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left onto Armstrong Avenue
282 ft
·
17 sec
·
Armstrong Avenue
10
Turn left
149 ft
·
10 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 21-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns. You will not need to worry about planning for multiple stops, as the direct nature of this 11.2-mile route allows for a seamless, non-stop arrival. Keep in mind that with fuel costs as low as $2, you can easily account for your commute in your daily travel budget without stress. Given the reliance on Metcalf Avenue and US 69, checking current traffic conditions before you head out is your best strategy for a smooth arrival. Use the lack of required stops to your advantage by choosing a departure time that avoids the heaviest congestion on the South 7th Street Trafficway.
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 5.6 miles from Overland Park, KS, or about 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 3.8 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 11.2 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 5.6 miles or 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kansas City, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Overland Park, 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 Overland Park, KS
This is one driving day of about 11.2 miles and 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Overland Park, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Metcalf Avenue for about 3.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 5.6 mi from Overland Park, KS · 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
6 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 11.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 5.6 miles from Overland Park, KS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Kansas City, KS
The final approach into Kansas City, KS 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, KS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.70 one way
$3.40 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $1.88 | $3.75 |
| premium | $4.80 | $2.11 | $4.23 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.49 | $4.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.18 | $0.54 |
| Efficient EV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.98 | $0.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.57 | $0.72 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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, KS
Evening in Kansas City on Sunday
Local time
8:17 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
21m 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 Overland Park, KS to Kansas City, KS covers 11.2 miles and takes about 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Metcalf Avenue, US 69, South 7th Street Trafficway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.6 miles from Overland Park, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.70 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 11.2 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 81st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Metcalf Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (US 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Overland Park, KS to Kansas City, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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