How far is Kansas City, MO from Horseshoe Bend, AR?

The driving distance from Kansas City, MO to Horseshoe Bend, AR is about 319.4 miles (514 km), with a travel time of about 06h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 251 miles (404 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 05m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST.
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
319.41 mi
06h 32m
Flight
251.02 mi
403.98 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Kansas City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
251.02 mi
Kilometers
403.98 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
319.41 mi
Kilometers
514.04 km
Drive Time
06h 32m

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 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Horseshoe Bend
Sat, Nov 7, 9:58 PM CST
Return by in Kansas City
Sun, Nov 8, 4:31 AM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Kansas City
2026-11-07T15:25
Arrive Horseshoe Bend
Sat, Nov 7, 9:58 PM CST
Route Timing
06h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:33 PM to 2:03 PM CST

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

Leave by
10:54 PM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Kansas City
8:00 PM CST
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
Springfield
MO

City in Greene County, Missouri, United States

From Kansas City
159.6 mi
03h 16m
To Horseshoe Bend
159.8 mi
03h 16m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
55°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 6:00 AM CST
Wind
2 mph SW
Destination
57°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 6:00 AM CST
Wind
0 to 5 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City and Horseshoe Bend.

  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

    1497 ft · 41 sec · Charlotte Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto East Truman Road

    120 m · 12 sec · East Truman Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Campbell Street

    21 m · 1 sec · Campbell Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp straight toward US 71 South: Joplin

    1114 ft · 27 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Bruce R. Watkins Drive

    37.3 mi · 44 min · Bruce R. Watkins Drive

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 7 South: Clinton

    924 ft · 20 sec

  9. 9

    Turn slight left onto MO 7 South: Clinton

    55.5 mi · 1 hr 4 min

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    68 mi · 1 hr 19 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight left toward I 44 East: Rolla, Saint Louis

    954 ft · 23 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Payne Stewart Highway

    4.3 mi · 5 min · Payne Stewart Highway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 65 South: Branson

    2343 ft · 50 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Schoolcraft Freeway

    8.3 mi · 10 min · Schoolcraft Freeway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 60 East: Cabool

    1228 ft · 53 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    82.2 mi · 1 hr 36 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on US 63 South: West Plains, Thayer

    19.6 mi · 25 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right

    62 m · 7 sec

  19. 19

    Turn slight right

    17.9 mi · 25 min

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    3.7 mi · 6 min

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    6.7 mi · 12 min

  22. 22

    At the end of the road, turn right onto North Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Morning Side Lane

    7.6 mi · 9 min · Morning Side Lane

  24. 24

    Turn right

    3.9 mi · 7 min

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Pinto Lane

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Pinto Lane

  26. 26

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Club Road

    866 ft · 24 sec · Club Road

  27. 27

    Keep slight right to continue on Club Road

    43 m · 4 sec · Club Road

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Club Road

Car Route Details

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

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
28 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
MO 7 South
124 mi · 39%
US 60 East
82.4 mi · 26%
Bruce R. Watkins Drive
37.3 mi · 12%
US 63 South
30.1 mi · 9%
Schoolcraft Freeway
8.29 mi · 3%
Morning Side Lane
7.62 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

US 60 East

Merge slight left

82.2 mi · 01h 36m

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 32m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+68.4 mi
251 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Springfield
03h 16m from Kansas City
Leave By
10:54 PM CST
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Kansas City and Mostly Sunny near Horseshoe Bend.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Kansas City to Horseshoe Bend?

The road trip is about 319.4 miles (514 km) and usually takes 06h 32m 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?

Springfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 159.6 miles from Kansas City and 159.8 miles from Horseshoe Bend.

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

The direct path is about 251 miles (404 km), while the road route adds roughly 68.4 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 $42.18 one way or $84.37 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 100.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Springfield

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Springfield and the surrounding midpoint area.
Historic City Hall
Scenic stop 4.7 mi away

Historic City Hall

Springfield , MO
N Boonville Ave, Springfield, MO 65802
Rating 4.3/5 4 reviews Local history museum
Stop photo coming soon
Meeting point 6.5 mi away

Willard City Hall

Willard , MO
224 W Jackson St, Willard, MO 65781
Rating 2.3/5 6 reviews City government office

Transit and Meeting Points

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

Transit stop coverage is not ready for this midpoint yet.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Kansas City and Horseshoe Bend. Straight-line distance: 251.02 mi (403.98 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
Horseshoe Bend

#2 Horseshoe Bend

City in Boise County, Idaho, United States

Population2,108
Coordinates36.2292300, -91.7643100
Altitude265
CountryUnited States
Start: Kansas City (-94.57857, 39.09973)
End: Horseshoe Bend (-91.76431, 36.22923)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 514 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 59m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.27 gal
42.67 L · about $42.18
Round trip
$84.37
22.54 gal · 85.34 L
Estimated CO2
100.2 kg one way
Round trip: 200.3 kg / 442 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.74 $42.18 $84.37
Mid-grade $4.13 $46.51 $93.02
Premium $4.50 $50.67 $101.34
Diesel $5.97 $67.29 $134.59

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 07, 2026

There is no time difference between Kansas City and Horseshoe Bend. The current time is 15:25:25.

Distance to Other Cities

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