Trip from Pierce City, MO to Kansas City, MO

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

3h 21m

Distance

172.5 mi

278 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

3h 10m ★

6 AM

3h 22m

8 AM

3h 46m

10 AM

3h 30m

12 PM

3h 28m

3 PM

3h 32m

5 PM

3h 45m

8 PM

3h 15m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

This 172.5-mile drive from Pierce City, MO to Kansas City, MO takes approximately 3 hours and 21 minutes, making it a very manageable day trip. You'll be navigating primarily on local roads, following the Purple Heart Trail and East Commercial Street for a significant portion of the journey. With a fuel cost estimated at $27, this route offers an economical way to travel between two points within the Midwest region. The drive is best suited for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

86.3 miles from Pierce City, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 45m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' on this 172.5-mile route, with a 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 127.6 miles on the Purple Heart Trail. This suggests a journey characterized by frequent turns and potentially slower speeds as you pass through various communities. The Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway also features in the route, contributing to the local road feel. This isn't a high-speed interstate cruise; rather, it's a more engaged driving experience through Missouri's landscape.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Purple Heart Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 127.6 miles.

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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Myrtle Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 21m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Myrtle Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MO 37 / East Commercial Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.3 miles: Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Myrtle Street

Turn right onto Myrtle Street

Navigation decision point

4

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | MO 37 / East Commercial Street

Turn right onto MO 37 / East Commercial Street

Navigation decision point

5

15.3 mi into trip | ~27m in

Take the ramp toward I 44 West: Joplin

Navigation decision point

Toward I 44 West: Joplin

6

23 mi into trip | ~35m in

Take the exit toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Carthage, Kansas City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 18B Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Carthage, Kansa...

7

171.8 mi into trip | ~3h 20m 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
Purple Heart Trail	127.6 mi	2h 21m
East Commercial Street	12.4 mi	21m
Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway	10.5 mi	11m
George Washington Carver Memorial Highway	10.3 mi	11m
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway	7.5 mi	8m
Blackberry Road	2 mi	3m
I 44 Business	0.5 mi	1m
East 11th Street	0.3 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 127.6 mi, about 2h 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pierce City, MO and Kansas City, MO.

1

Start on this road

77 ft · 7 sec · this road

2

Turn right onto Myrtle Street

391 ft · 19 sec · Myrtle Street

3

Turn right onto MO 37

12 mi · 21 min · East Commercial Street

4

Turn left onto I 44 Business; MO 37

0.3 mi · 26 sec · High Street

5

Continue on I 44 Business; MO 37

2.0 mi · 3 min · Blackberry Road

6

Turn right onto I 44 Business; MO 37

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 44 Business; MO 37

7

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Toward I 44 West: Joplin

8

Merge onto I 44

7.5 mi · 8 min · Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 44 sec

Exit 18B Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Carthage, Kansas City

10

Merge onto I 49; US 71

10 mi · 11 min · George Washington Carver Memorial Highway

11

Continue on I 49; US 71

10 mi · 11 min · Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway

12

Continue on I 49; US 71

128 mi · 2 hr 21 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 25 sec

Toward 11th Street, Downtown Use the slight right lane.

14

Turn straight onto East 11th Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · East 11th Street

Use the left lane.

15

Turn left onto Oak Street

461 ft · 15 sec · Oak Street

16

Arrive at destination

Oak Street

Trip Plan

Given the 3-hour and 21-minute duration, starting your journey from Pierce City in the morning will comfortably get you to Kansas City with plenty of time. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of around $27, this trip is budget-friendly and doesn't require extensive planning. Pay attention to road signage, especially when transitioning between the Purple Heart Trail, East Commercial Street, and Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway, as this is a turn-heavy route. Enjoy the flexibility of a shorter drive, allowing for spontaneous pauses if you see something that catches your eye.

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 86.3 miles from Pierce City, MO, or about 1h 45m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 127.6 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 80 miles or 1h 38m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 86.3 miles or 1h 45m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 46m

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 Pierce City, 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 Pierce City, MO

This is one driving day of about 172.5 miles and 3h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Pierce City, 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.

The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 127.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 86.3 mi from Pierce City, MO · 1h 45m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Nevada, MO

86 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

Nevada, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Nevada, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 86.3 miles from Pierce City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 127.6 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

George Washington Carver National Monument

National Monument

The young child known as the "Plant Doctor" tended his secret garden while observing the day-to-day operations of a 19th century farm. Nature and nurture ultimately influenced George on his quest for...

8 mi from route ~19 min detour Free near mile 23.8

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.97 one way

$53.94 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 60 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$29.61	$59.22
premium	$4.89	$33.20	$66.39
diesel	$5.61	$38.09	$76.17

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 60.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	51.8	$18.11	$8.28
Efficient EV	43.1	$15.09	$6.90
EV Truck/SUV	69	$24.15	$11.04

Gas CO2

60 kg

EV CO2

20 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.

Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Pierce City, MO

Evening in Pierce City on Tuesday

Local time

6:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kansas City, MO

Evening in Kansas City on Tuesday

Local time

6:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

54°F

Nevada, MO

86 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

7 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

3h 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 Pierce City, MO to Kansas City, MO covers 172.5 miles and takes about 3h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, East Commercial Street, Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 86.3 miles from Pierce City, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.97 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 3h 21m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Myrtle Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MO 37 / East Commercial Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.3 miles: Navigation decision point.

The route from Pierce City, MO to Kansas City, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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