Origin
Shawnee, KS
Night in Shawnee on Sunday
Local time
9:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shawnee, KS to Kansas City, KS
Drive Time
18m
Distance
10.8 mi
17 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 17m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 22m
10 AM
0h 20m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 20m
5 PM
0h 22m
8 PM
0h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shawnee, KS
Tien Nguyen
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick transit between Shawnee and Kansas City, you will find this 10.8-mile trip to be a straightforward connection within the Great Plains. Clocking in at just 18 minutes, this journey is designed for a single day of travel rather than an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $2 on fuel, making it a highly economical commute. The route utilizes a combination of the Harry Darby Memorial Highway, the Kansas Turnpike, and the South 7th Street Trafficway. Because the entire trip stays within Kansas, you will enjoy a consistent regional feel throughout the drive.
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
5.4 miles from Shawnee, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 9m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. With only 26% of the route consisting of highway driving, you will spend most of your time navigating local traffic patterns. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 3.2-mile segment on the Harry Darby Memorial Highway. Transitioning between these specific thoroughfares keeps the pace dynamic, as the road character shifts from highway speeds to the more technical demands of the South 7th Street Trafficway. It is an efficient, functional drive that gets you from point A to point B without unnecessary complexity.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Harry Darby Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 3.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near Shawnee Drive.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 10.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (Shawnee Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Shawnee Drive
Turn left onto Shawnee Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
2.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 635 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 635 North
7
6.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4A
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
6
8.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69 toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69 North: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69...
9
9 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
US 69
Take the exit onto US 69 toward US 69 North, US 169 South
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 422A
Toward US 69 North, US 169 South
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Darby Memorial Highway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| South 7th Street Trafficway | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| 47th Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Shawnee Drive | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| I 70 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Bond Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| US 69 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Harry Darby Memorial Highway
— 3.2 mi, about 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shawnee, KS and Kansas City, KS.
1
Start on Bond Street
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Bond Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto 47th Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
47th Street
3
Turn left onto Shawnee Drive
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Shawnee Drive
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 635 North
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 635
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Harry Darby Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 4A
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
I 70; US 24; US 40; US 69
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 69 North: Saint Louis
9
Take the exit onto US 69
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 69
Exit 422A
Toward US 69 North, US 169 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto US 69
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South 7th Street Trafficway
Toward US 69 North
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto Armstrong Avenue
282 ft
·
17 sec
·
Armstrong Avenue
12
Turn left
149 ft
·
10 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 10.8-mile run, you have significant flexibility in your departure schedule, as there is no need to plan for mid-trip stops. You should prioritize checking local traffic reports before heading out, especially since the route relies on a mix of turnpikes and local trafficways. Keep in mind that your total fuel budget is quite low at $2, so you won't need to worry about planning specific refueling points along the way. Use your time wisely by choosing a departure window that avoids peak local congestion to ensure you hit that 18-minute estimate. A concrete tip for this route: pay close attention to the signage when transitioning onto the South 7th Street Trafficway, as the turn-heavy nature of the drive makes navigation key.
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 5.4 miles from Shawnee, KS, or about 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 3.2 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 10.8 miles or 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 5.4 miles or 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 14m
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 Shawnee, 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 Shawnee, KS
This is one driving day of about 10.8 miles and 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Shawnee, 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 Harry Darby Memorial Highway for about 3.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 5.4 mi from Shawnee, KS · 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
5 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 10.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 5.4 miles from Shawnee, 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
$1.64 one way
$3.28 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $1.81 | $3.62 |
| premium | $4.80 | $2.04 | $4.08 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.40 | $4.80 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.11
Kansas Turnpike
(2.3 mi)
$0.11
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.8 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 | 3.2 | 0 | $1.13 | $0.52 |
| Efficient EV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.95 | $0.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.51 | $0.69 |
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
Night in Kansas City on Sunday
Local time
9:30 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
18m 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 Shawnee, KS to Kansas City, KS covers 10.8 miles and takes about 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Harry Darby Memorial Highway, Kansas Turnpike, South 7th Street Trafficway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.4 miles from Shawnee, KS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.64 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 demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 10.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (Shawnee Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Shawnee, KS to Kansas City, KS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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