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

The driving distance from Kansas City, MO to Lexington, MO is about 51.7 miles (83.2 km), with a travel time of about 01h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 37.9 miles (61 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 11m 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
51.72 mi
01h 05m
Flight
37.9 mi
60.99 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
37.9 mi
Kilometers
60.99 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
51.72 mi
Kilometers
83.23 km
Drive Time
01h 05m

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 01h 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lexington
Thu, Apr 30, 4:17 AM CDT
Return by in Kansas City
Thu, Apr 30, 5:23 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Kansas City
2026-04-30T03:11
Arrive Lexington
Thu, Apr 30, 4:17 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:06 AM to 11:06 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:18 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
Oak Grove
MO

City in Jackson County, Missouri, United States

From Kansas City
25.8 mi
00h 32m
To Lexington
25.9 mi
00h 32m

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
64°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    19.7 mi · 22 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 131: Odessa

    974 ft · 44 sec

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto West Old U.S. 40

    1061 ft · 25 sec · West Old U.S. 40

  12. 12

    Turn left

    8.4 mi · 11 min

  13. 13

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward US 24 East: Lexington

    4 m · 1 sec

  14. 14

    Exit the roundabout onto US 24 East: Lexington

    6.5 mi · 8 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 13 Business: Lexington

    1053 ft · 34 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right onto 13th Street

    1.7 mi · 4 min · 13th Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South 13th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
17 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
32.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
19.7 mi · 38%
George Brett Super Highway
6.92 mi · 13%
US 24 East
6.48 mi · 13%
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.56 mi · 11%
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.83 mi · 4%
13th Street
1.72 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

19.7 mi · 00h 22m

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
01h 05m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+13.8 mi
37.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Oak Grove
00h 32m from Kansas City
Leave By
4:18 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 51.7 miles (83.2 km) and usually takes 01h 05m 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?

Oak Grove is a useful midpoint, sitting about 25.8 miles from Kansas City and 25.9 miles from Lexington.

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

The direct path is about 37.9 miles (61 km), while the road route adds roughly 13.8 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 4:18 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.90 one way or $13.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.3 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 Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lexington.

Stop Ideas Near Oak Grove

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Oak Grove, 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 Oak Grove.

RAIL

Lee's Summit

24 mi away
217 SW Main St.
RAIL

Independence

27 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.
RAIL

Union Station

40 mi away
30 West Pershing Rd.
RAIL

Warrensburg

43 mi away
100 South Holden St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Kansas City and Lexington. Straight-line distance: 37.9 mi (60.99 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
Lexington

#2 Lexington

City in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States

Population4,543
Coordinates39.1847300, -93.8799400
Altitude259
CountryUnited States
Start: Kansas City (-94.57857, 39.09973)
End: Lexington (-93.87994, 39.18473)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 83 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 17m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 51m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.83 gal
6.91 L · about $6.90
Round trip
$13.80
3.66 gal · 13.82 L
Estimated CO2
16.3 kg one way
Round trip: 32.5 kg / 72 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $6.90 $13.80
Mid-grade $4.25 $7.78 $15.57
Premium $4.65 $8.52 $17.03
Diesel $5.30 $9.71 $19.41

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 Lexington. The current time is 03:11:13.

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.