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Trip from Richmond, MO to Kansas City, MO

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

53m

Distance

44 mi

71 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 49m ★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m

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

city in and county seat of Ray County, Missouri, United States

Richmond, MO

Wikimedia Commons

city in Missouri, United States, that is one of two county seats of Jackson County and the largest city in Missouri

Kansas City, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This short, 44-mile journey from Richmond to Kansas City, Missouri, will take you about 53 minutes to complete, making it a perfect day trip within the Midwest. You'll primarily navigate local roads and MO 10 West before merging onto I-29 South for the final stretch into Kansas City. With a modest fuel cost of around $7, this drive offers a practical and straightforward option for getting between these two Missouri cities. The route's profile is described as 'turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting you'll be making frequent turns rather than cruising on a long highway stretch. Given its brevity, no overnight stop is necessary.

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

22 miles from Richmond, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 26m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a route characterized by frequent turns, as indicated by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. While there's no highway share mentioned, the presence of MO 10 West and I-29 South suggests a mix of local road navigation and some highway driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the total duration of just over 50 minutes implies you won't be on any single road for an extended period. This drive is less about long, open stretches and more about navigating through towns and connecting roads, with the final segment on I-29 South offering a brief taste of highway cruising.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Camden Street 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Richmond, MO to Kansas City, MO is easy. At 53m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Richmond, MO to Kansas City, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Camden Street
MO 10 West
I 29 South
I 70 East
Downtown
East 11th Street
Oak Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: South Camden Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on West Main Street

0.1 mi · 27 sec · West Main Street
2

Turn left onto South Camden Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Camden Street
3

At the end of the road, turn right onto South Camden Street

0.4 mi · 54 sec · South Camden Street
4

Take the ramp right toward MO 10 West: Excelsior Springs

0.2 mi · 34 sec · MO 10 West: Excelsior Springs
5

Merge slight left

1.5 mi · 1 min
6

Keep slight left

259 ft · 4 sec
7

Continue straight

33 mi · 43 min
8

Take the exit slight right toward I 29 South, I 35 South, US 71 South: Kansas City

0.3 mi · 42 sec · I 29 South, I 35 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
9

Merge slight left

2.9 mi · 4 min
10

Keep slight left to continue on I 70 East, US 40 East, US 71 South: Saint Louis, Joplin

0.3 mi · 33 sec · I 70 East, US 40 East, US 71 South: Saint Louis, Joplin
11

Take the exit slight right toward Downtown

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Downtown
12

Turn slight right onto East 11th Street

0.3 mi · 52 sec · East 11th Street
13

Turn left onto Oak Street

463 ft · 15 sec · Oak Street
14

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Since this 44-mile drive is so short, lasting under an hour, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Richmond, MO, in the morning should get you to Kansas City with plenty of time for activities. The estimated fuel cost is only $7, so you likely won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops. Pay close attention to the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile; be ready to make several turns as you transition from South Camden Street to MO 10 West and then to I-29 South. A good tip for this route is to use your GPS with real-time traffic updates, as frequent turns on local roads can sometimes be unpredictable.

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 22 miles from Richmond, MO, or about 26m 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 10 miles or 12m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 22 miles or 26m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 45m

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 Richmond, MO.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Richmond, MO

This is one driving day of about 44 miles and 53m.

At 44 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 22 mi from Richmond, MO · 26m into the drive

Downtown Liberty, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Liberty, MO

22 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

Excelsior Springs, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Liberty, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 22 miles from Richmond, 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

$6.88 one way

$13.76 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $7.55 $15.11
premium $4.89 $8.47 $16.93
diesel $5.61 $9.71 $19.43

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$7

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$32–$57

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 15.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 13.2 0 $4.62 $2.11
Efficient EV 11 0 $3.85 $1.76
EV Truck/SUV 17.6 0 $6.16 $2.82

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Richmond, MO

Late night in Richmond on Thursday

Local time

12:13 AM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kansas City, MO

Late night in Kansas City on Thursday

Local time

12:13 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

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

21 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

53m 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 Richmond, MO to Kansas City, MO covers 44 miles and takes about 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Camden Street, MO 10 West, I 29 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22 miles from Richmond, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.88 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.
The drive from Richmond, MO to Kansas City, MO is easy. At 53m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Richmond, MO to Kansas City, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Richmond, MO to Kansas City, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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