Origin
Potosi, MO
Evening in Potosi on Wednesday
Local time
6:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Potosi, MO to Kansas City, MO
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
4h 38m
Distance
273 mi
439 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 25m
★
6 AM
4h 39m
8 AM
5h 6m
10 AM
4h 48m
12 PM
4h 46m
3 PM
4h 50m
5 PM
5h 4m
8 PM
4h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kansas City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Potosi, MO to Kansas City, MO covers 273 miles and takes about 4h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Commercial Avenue, North Main Street, I 70 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.68 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
136.5 miles from Potosi, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 38m drive with frequent turns across 273 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Commercial Avenue 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 38m 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 Potosi, MO to Kansas City, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Commercial Avenue | — | — |
| North Main Street | — | — |
| I 70 West | — | — |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | — | — |
| Clifton J | — | — |
| George Brett Super Highway | — | — |
| I 670 West | — | — |
| 13th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South Commercial Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Potosi, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on West High Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West High Street
2
Turn left
11 mi
·
15 min
3
Turn left
20 mi
·
34 min
4
At the end of the road, turn left
6.2 mi
·
9 min
5
Turn straight onto South Commercial Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Commercial Avenue
6
Turn left onto North Main Street
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
North Main Street
7
At the end of the road, turn left
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
8
Turn right
31 mi
·
47 min
9
Take the ramp left toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesburg
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesburg
10
Merge slight left
176 mi
·
3 hr 14 min
11
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
12
Continue on Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
13
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
14
Continue on George Brett Super Highway
6.8 mi
·
9 min
·
George Brett Super Highway
15
Keep slight left to continue on I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South: Topeka, Wichita
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South: Topeka, Wichita
16
Take the exit slight right toward 13th Street, Downtown
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
13th Street, Downtown
17
Continue on East 13th Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
East 13th Street
18
Turn right onto Oak Street
456 ft
·
13 sec
·
Oak Street
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 136.5 miles from Potosi, MO, or about 2h 19m 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 60 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.5 miles or 2h 19m 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 48m
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 Potosi, 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 Potosi, MO
This is one driving day of about 273 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Potosi, 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 136.5 mi from Potosi, MO · 2h 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 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 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 136.5 miles from Potosi, 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
$42.68 one way
$85.36 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $46.86 | $93.72 |
| premium | $4.89 | $52.54 | $105.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $60.27 | $120.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 81.9 | 1 | $28.66 | $13.10 |
| Efficient EV | 68.3 | 0 | $23.89 | $10.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.2 | 1 | $38.22 | $17.47 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 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
Evening in Kansas City on Wednesday
Local time
6:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
18 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
4h 38m 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 Potosi, MO to Kansas City, MO covers 273 miles and takes about 4h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Commercial Avenue, North Main Street, I 70 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 136.5 miles from Potosi, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.68 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 38m 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 Potosi, MO to Kansas City, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Potosi, MO to Kansas City, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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