How far is Kansas City, MO from Denver, CO?
The driving distance from Kansas City, MO to Denver, CO is about 603.6 miles (971.4 km), with a travel time of about 10h 19m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 556.9 miles (896.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 20h 39m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 10h 19m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
County seat in Kansas
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Areas Of Fog then Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Kansas City and Denver.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City and Denver.
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1
Start on Oak Street
139 m · 17 sec · Oak Street
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2
Turn right onto East 13th Street
3133 ft · 1 min · East 13th Street
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3
Turn slight right onto Washington Street
44 m · 8 sec
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4
Turn right onto Washington Street
135 m · 19 sec · Washington Street
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5
Turn left onto West 12th Street
1.3 km · 2 min · West 12th Street
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6
Turn left onto Genessee Street
46 m · 5 sec · Genessee Street
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7
Take the ramp right
1465 ft · 36 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Jay B. Dillingham Freeway
1.5 mi · 2 min · Jay B. Dillingham Freeway
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9
Merge slight left
53.8 mi · 55 min
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10
Keep slight right to continue on Kansas Turnpike
1.5 km · 1 min · Kansas Turnpike
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11
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
91.6 mi · 1 hr 34 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
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12
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
438.5 mi · 7 hr 19 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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13
Continue on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
3.4 mi · 4 min · Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
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14
Keep slight right to continue on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
2.8 mi · 4 min · Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
5.2 mi · 7 min · Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
1677 ft · 41 sec
-
17
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
1.3 km · 55 sec · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
-
18
Keep slight right to continue on 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown
656 ft · 16 sec
-
19
Keep slight right to continue on Park Avenue, Downtown
568 ft · 12 sec
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20
Continue on Park Avenue
3279 ft · 1 min · Park Avenue
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21
Turn straight onto Park Avenue West
2615 ft · 1 min · Park Avenue West
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22
Continue on West 22nd Street
2095 ft · 1 min · West 22nd Street
-
23
Turn right onto North Broadway
1.6 km · 3 min · North Broadway
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24
Turn left onto East 14th Avenue
709 ft · 30 sec · East 14th Avenue
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25
Turn left
109 m · 28 sec
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Kansas City and Denver.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
438 mi · 07h 19m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Kansas City and Areas Of Fog then Sunny near Denver.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Kansas City to Denver?
The road trip is about 603.6 miles (971.4 km) and usually takes 10h 19m 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?
WaKeeney is a useful midpoint, sitting about 301.1 miles from Kansas City and 302.5 miles from Denver.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 556.9 miles (896.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.7 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 CST. 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 $75.47 one way or $150.93 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 189.3 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Kansas City and Denver, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Kansas City and Areas Of Fog then Sunny near Denver.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Kansas City and Denver. Straight-line distance: 556.87 mi (896.2 km).
#1 Kansas City
The third most populous city in Missouri and the center of the Kansas City metropolitan area.
| Population | 495,327 |
| Coordinates | 39.0997300, -94.5785700 |
| Altitude | 274 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Denver
The twentieth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Denver metropolitan area.
| Population | 735,538 |
| Coordinates | 39.7391500, -104.9847000 |
| Altitude | 1609 |
| Country | United States |
End: Denver (-104.9847, 39.73915)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 971 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 20h 06m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 15h 05m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 12h 04m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 10h 03m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 08h 37m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 07h 31m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.54 | $75.47 | $150.93 |
| Mid-grade | $3.95 | $84.07 | $168.14 |
| Premium | $4.30 | $91.68 | $183.35 |
| Diesel | $5.76 | $122.71 | $245.42 |
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 · Nov 15, 2026