Sullivan, MO to Kansas City, MO is 241.8 miles and takes about 4h 48m via US 50, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Missouri. It's a straightforward, single-day trip that won't consume your entire day, making it ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two cities. You'll find the journey offers a mix of driving experiences, generally keeping you on well-traveled roads.
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
120.9 miles from Sullivan, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 48m. Total distance: 241.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
This trip presents a mixed drive, with 46% of the route utilizing highways. You'll experience stretches on US 50, the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 62.4 miles on US 50, offering a good period of consistent travel. Expect the road conditions to vary, transitioning between faster highway segments and potentially more local road sections as you progress toward Kansas City.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 33 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 62.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Hughes Ford Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 241.8 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 0.1 miles (Hughes Ford Road): Navigation decision point; at 114.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Hughes Ford Road
At end of road, turn right onto Hughes Ford Road
Navigation decision point
7
114.3 mi into trip|~2h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint L...
9
114.9 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
9
241.1 mi into trip|~4h 47m 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
241.3 mi into trip|~4h 47m 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 Sullivan, MO and Kansas City, MO, road signs point toward Columbia, Mo Pp: Kansas City and Saint Louis.
Columbia
84.8 mi in|~1h 53m|via US 63
Mo Pp: Kansas City
114.3 mi in|~2h 26m
Saint Louis
114.3 mi in|~2h 26m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 50
62.4 mi
1h 12m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
US 63
28.1 mi
31m
MO 185
15.6 mi
23m
George Brett Super Highway
6.8 mi
9m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.6 mi
6m
Elmont Road
2.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 62.4 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sullivan, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on this road
55 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto West Washington Street
337 ft·9 sec·West Washington Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto Hughes Ford Road
117 ft·8 sec·Hughes Ford Road
4
Turn left onto West Main Street
376 ft·12 sec·West Main Street
5
Turn right onto Elmont Road
2.7 mi·4 min·Elmont Road
6
Turn right onto MO 185
16 mi·23 min·MO 185
7
Turn left onto US 50
45 mi·50 min·US 50
8
Continue on MO U
0.3 mi·38 sec·MO U
9
Turn right onto County Route 605
1.5 mi·5 min·County Route 605
10
Turn right onto County Route 604
0.6 mi·2 min·County Route 604
11
Continue on Loose Creek Highway
1.0 mi·2 min·Loose Creek Highway
12
Turn left onto Wolf Ridge Trail
0.4 mi·1 min·Wolf Ridge Trail
13
Turn right onto US 50
18 mi·21 min·US 50
14
Take the exit onto US 63
0.3 mi·40 sec·US 63
Toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia
15
Merge onto US 54; US 63
1.4 mi·1 min·US 54; US 63
16
Take the exit onto US 63
28 mi·30 min·US 63
Toward US 63 North: Columbia
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint LouisUse the left / straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on US 63 Conn
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 63 Conn
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the left lane.
20
Merge onto I 70; US 40
1.3 mi·1 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
21
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
22
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
23
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Exit 2LToward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South: Topeka, WichitaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 2PToward 13th Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
31
Continue on East 13th Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·East 13th Street
32
Turn right onto Oak Street
454 ft·13 sec·Oak Street
33
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 48m duration, leaving Sullivan, MO in the morning will comfortably get you to Kansas City before evening. With only one recommended stop on this 241.8-mile journey, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 62.4 miles on US 50, as services might be less frequent in certain sections. The $38 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting, and planning to refuel before you leave Sullivan is a sensible approach.
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 120.9 miles from Sullivan, MO, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.4 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 53 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.9 miles or 2h 35m 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 58m
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 Sullivan, 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 Sullivan, MO
This is one driving day of about 241.8 miles and 4h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Sullivan, 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 US 50 for about 62.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 120.9 mi from Sullivan, MO
· 2h 35m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.80 one way
$75.61 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$41.51
$83.01
premium
$4.89
$46.53
$93.06
diesel
$5.61
$53.39
$106.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.5
0
$25.39
$11.61
Efficient EV
60.5
0
$21.16
$9.67
EV Truck/SUV
96.7
1
$33.85
$15.48
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Sullivan, MO
Late night
in Sullivan on Saturday
Local time
12:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kansas City, MO
Late night
in Kansas City on Saturday
Local time
12:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Liberty, MO
121 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
19 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 48m 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 Sullivan, MO to Kansas City, MO covers 241.8 miles and takes about 4h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 50, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 120.9 miles from Sullivan, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.80 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 demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 241.8 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 0.1 miles (Hughes Ford Road): Navigation decision point; at 114.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Sullivan, MO and Kansas City, MO, road signs point toward Columbia, Mo Pp: Kansas City and Saint Louis.
