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

The driving distance from Kansas City, MO to Centralia, MO is about 147.5 miles (237.3 km), with a travel time of about 02h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 131 miles (210.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 43m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
147.47 mi
02h 51m
Flight
130.99 mi
210.8 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Kansas City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
130.99 mi
Kilometers
210.8 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
147.47 mi
Kilometers
237.33 km
Drive Time
02h 51m

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 02h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Centralia
Thu, Apr 30, 8:54 AM CDT
Return by in Kansas City
Thu, Apr 30, 11:45 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Kansas City
2026-04-30T06:02
Arrive Centralia
Thu, Apr 30, 8:54 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:52 AM to 12:52 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:46 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Kansas City
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Houstonia
MO

City in Pettis County, Missouri, United States

From Kansas City
73.6 mi
01h 25m
To Centralia
73.9 mi
01h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph W
Destination
63°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Oak Street

    6 m · 5 sec · Oak Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East 12th Street

    1308 ft · 42 sec · East 12th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Charlotte Street

    145 m · 12 sec · Charlotte Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp straight toward I 70 East, US 40 East

    1164 ft · 28 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto George Brett Super Highway

    6.9 mi · 9 min · George Brett Super Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    2.6 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    52.5 mi · 57 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

    32 mi · 34 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

    22.4 mi · 24 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly

    874 ft · 27 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left

    1.2 km · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    1.2 mi · 1 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward MO B: Hallsville, Centralia

    1316 ft · 32 sec

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Paris Road

    9.9 mi · 14 min · Paris Road

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    7.9 mi · 12 min

  21. 21

    Turn right onto West Singleton Street

    2822 ft · 1 min · West Singleton Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto South Rollins Street

    120 m · 17 sec · South Rollins Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Rollins Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
23 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi · 37%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi · 37%
Paris Road
17.8 mi · 12%
George Brett Super Highway
6.92 mi · 5%
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.56 mi · 4%
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.83 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

52.5 mi · 00h 57m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 51m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.5 mi
131 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Houstonia
01h 25m from Kansas City
Leave By
12:46 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Kansas City and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Centralia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 147.5 miles (237.3 km) and usually takes 02h 51m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Houstonia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 73.6 miles from Kansas City and 73.9 miles from Centralia.

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

The direct path is about 131 miles (210.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:46 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.61 one way or $39.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 46.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Kansas City and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Centralia.

Stop Ideas Near Houstonia

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Houstonia, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Houstonia.

RAIL

Sedalia

24 mi away
100 block of Main Street, through parking lot
RAIL

Warrensburg

36 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Lee's Summit

88 mi away
217 SW Main St.
RAIL

Independence

95 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Kansas City and Centralia. Straight-line distance: 130.99 mi (210.8 km).

Kansas City

#1 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
Centralia

#2 Centralia

City in Missouri

Population4,344
Coordinates39.2103200, -92.1379500
Altitude269
CountryUnited States
Start: Kansas City (-94.57857, 39.09973)
End: Centralia (-92.13795, 39.21032)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 237 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 54m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 50m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.2 gal
19.7 L · about $19.61
Round trip
$39.22
10.4 gal · 39.4 L
Estimated CO2
46.2 kg one way
Round trip: 92.4 kg / 204 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $19.61 $39.22
Mid-grade $4.25 $22.12 $44.23
Premium $4.65 $24.20 $48.40
Diesel $5.30 $27.58 $55.16

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 · Apr 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Kansas City and Centralia. The current time is 06:02:24.

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.