How far is Dexter, MO from Kansas City, MO?

The driving distance from Dexter, MO to Kansas City, MO is about 385.4 miles (620.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 297.8 miles (479.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 05m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
385.44 mi
06h 02m
Flight
297.8 mi
479.26 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Dexter.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
297.8 mi
Kilometers
479.26 km
Flight Time
00h 35m

Driving Distance

Road route
385.44 mi
Kilometers
620.31 km
Drive Time
06h 02m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 06h 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Kansas City
Sat, May 2, 9:53 AM CDT
Return by in Dexter
Sat, May 2, 3:56 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Dexter
2026-05-02T03:50
Arrive Kansas City
Sat, May 2, 9:53 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:03 PM to 1:33 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:54 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Dexter
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Fordland
MO

City in Webster County, Missouri, United States

From Dexter
189.8 mi
03h 01m
To Kansas City
195.7 mi
03h 01m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph N
Destination
65°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Dexter and Kansas City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dexter and Kansas City.

  1. 1

    Start on North Walnut Street

    1341 ft · 42 sec · North Walnut Street

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left

    2.3 mi · 4 min

  3. 3

    Turn right

    91 m · 6 sec

  4. 4

    Continue straight

    615 ft · 16 sec

  5. 5

    Take the ramp left toward US 60 West: Poplar Bluff

    19.3 mi · 23 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    5.5 mi · 6 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward US 60 West, US 67 North: Springfield, Saint Louis

    4.5 mi · 6 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right

    172.6 mi · 3 hr 23 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 65 North: Sedalia

    1511 ft · 32 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Schoolcraft Freeway

    8.1 mi · 10 min · Schoolcraft Freeway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 44 West: Joplin

    1.3 km · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Payne Stewart Highway

    4.1 mi · 5 min · Payne Stewart Highway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 13: Bolivar

    596 ft · 15 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on MO 13: Bolivar

    46 m · 4 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on MO 13 North: Bolivar

    64 m · 7 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto North Kansas Expressway

    87.2 mi · 1 hr 43 min · North Kansas Expressway

  17. 17

    Continue straight

    35.9 mi · 39 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City

    37.9 mi · 46 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward 11th Street, Downtown

    1637 ft · 26 sec

  20. 20

    Turn straight onto East 11th Street

    1731 ft · 1 min · East 11th Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Oak Street

    141 m · 15 sec · Oak Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Oak Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Dexter and Kansas City.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
22 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
3 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 60 West
202 mi · 52%
North Kansas Expressway
123 mi · 32%
I 49 North
37.9 mi · 10%
Schoolcraft Freeway
8.06 mi · 2%
Payne Stewart Highway
4.1 mi · 1%
I 44 West
0.79 mi
Longest Stretch

US 60 West

Take the exit slight right

173 mi · 03h 23m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 02m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+87.6 mi
297.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fordland
03h 01m from Dexter
Leave By
11:54 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Dexter and Mostly Sunny near Kansas City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Dexter to Kansas City?

The road trip is about 385.4 miles (620.3 km) and usually takes 06h 02m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Fordland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 189.8 miles from Dexter and 195.7 miles from Kansas City.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 297.8 miles (479.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 87.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $51.29 one way or $102.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 120.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Dexter and Mostly Sunny near Kansas City.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Dexter and Kansas City. Straight-line distance: 297.8 mi (479.26 km).

Dexter

#1 Dexter

City in Stoddard County, Missouri, United States

Population7,839
Coordinates36.7958900, -89.9578700
Altitude113
CountryUnited States
Kansas City

#2 Kansas City

The third most populous city in Missouri and the center of the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Population495,327
Coordinates39.0997300, -94.5785700
Altitude274
CountryUnited States
Start: North Walnut Street (-89.957795, 36.795888)
End: Oak Street (-94.578571, 39.099732)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 620 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 50m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 30m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 48m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
13.6 gal
51.49 L · about $51.29
Round trip
$102.57
27.2 gal · 102.98 L
Estimated CO2
120.9 kg one way
Round trip: 241.7 kg / 533 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $51.29 $102.57
Mid-grade $4.25 $57.84 $115.68
Premium $4.65 $63.29 $126.59
Diesel $5.30 $72.13 $144.27

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Missouri · May 02, 2026

There is no time difference between Dexter and Kansas City. The current time is 03:50:46.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.