Origin
Pleasant Hill, MO
Evening in Pleasant Hill on Wednesday
Local time
7:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pleasant Hill, MO to Kansas City, MO
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
51m
Distance
34.6 mi
56 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pleasant Hill, MO
Robert So
Kansas City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to head from Pleasant Hill to Kansas City, you are looking at a manageable 34.6-mile trek that typically takes about 51 minutes. This highway-focused route utilizes a combination of US 50, Blue Parkway, and MO 7 to bridge the gap between these two Missouri locations. Because the total travel time is under an hour, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $5, it is a highly economical trip for those needing to reach the city quickly. Both the origin and destination are located within the Midwest, keeping the drive consistent with the region's landscape.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
17.3 miles from Pleasant Hill, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a straightforward, highway-centric experience where 77% of your travel occurs on major roads. The path shifts from regional highways like MO 7 onto the more robust US 50, which provides the longest uninterrupted stretch of 8.9 miles. You will navigate a mix of fast-moving highway segments that eventually transition into the more urbanized environment of Blue Parkway as you approach Kansas City. The drive maintains a consistent pace, favoring efficiency over winding, technical roads. Being behind the wheel here feels functional and direct, making it a reliable commute or quick transit route.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 50 is the longest continuous segment at about 8.9 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,036 ft
788 ft
Total Climb
404 ft
Total Descent
414 ft
Highest Point
1,036 ft
~7.4 mi in
Elevation Range
248 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and Blue Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24.9 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 34.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 24.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
24.9 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward I 435 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 435 North
8
27.6 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward I 70, US 24 West: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Sports Complex
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 63A
Toward I 70, US 24 West: Kansas City, Saint Lou...
8
27.8 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West, US 24 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 70 West, US 24 West: Kansas City
9
33.9 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
I 670; I 70 Alt
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670; I 70 Alt toward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South: Topeka, Wichita
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2L
Toward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South:...
9
34.1 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward 13th 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.
Exit 2P
Toward 13th Street, Downtown
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Pleasant Hill, MO and Kansas City, MO, road signs point toward Saint Louis and Sports Complex.
Saint Louis
27.6 mi in
|
~40m
Sports Complex
27.6 mi in
|
~40m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 50 | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| Blue Parkway | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| MO 7 | 7.5 mi | 13m |
| George Brett Super Highway | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| I 435 | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Cedar Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East 13th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| I 670 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 8.9 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pleasant Hill, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on North Jeffreys Street
410 ft
·
23 sec
·
North Jeffreys Street
2
Turn left onto MO 7 Bus
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Cedar Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto MO 7
7.5 mi
·
13 min
·
MO 7
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 50 West: Kansas City
5
Merge onto US 50
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
US 50
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on MO 350
7.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Blue Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 435 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 435
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
I 435
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 63A
Toward I 70, US 24 West: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Sports Complex
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 70 West, US 24 West: Kansas City
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 70; US 24
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
George Brett Super Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670; I 70 Alt
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 670; I 70 Alt
Exit 2L
Toward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South: Topeka, Wichita
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 2P
Toward 13th Street, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on East 13th Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
East 13th Street
15
Turn right onto Oak Street
454 ft
·
13 sec
·
Oak Street
16
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 51-minute journey, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You will not need to plan for any formal stops along the way, as the 34.6-mile distance is easily handled in one go. Keep in mind that because the route is heavily reliant on highway travel, traffic patterns on US 50 may impact your total duration during peak commuting hours. It is wise to check local traffic reports before you head out to ensure the smoothest transit possible. Given the modest $5 fuel cost, you can focus your budget on your destination activities rather than worrying about mid-trip refueling.
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 17.3 miles from Pleasant Hill, MO, or about 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.9 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 34.6 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 17.3 miles or 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kansas City, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Pleasant Hill, MO.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pleasant Hill, MO
This is one driving day of about 34.6 miles and 51m.
At 34.6 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on US 50 for about 8.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.3 mi from Pleasant Hill, MO · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.3 miles from Pleasant Hill, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Kansas City, MO
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Kansas City, MO if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.41 one way
$10.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.94 | $11.88 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.66 | $13.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.64 | $15.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.63 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.03 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Evening in Kansas City on Wednesday
Local time
7:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Sunny
SSW 14 to 17 mph
19% chance
Live forecast
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
32 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
51m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Pleasant Hill, MO to Kansas City, MO covers 34.6 miles and takes about 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 50, Blue Parkway, 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 17.3 miles from Pleasant Hill, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.41 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 is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 34.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Pleasant Hill, MO and Kansas City, MO, road signs point toward Saint Louis and Sports Complex.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 788 ft to 1,036 ft elevation with about 404 ft of total climbing.
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