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

The driving distance from Kansas City, MO to Lincoln, MO is about 102.3 miles (164.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 83 miles (133.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 24m 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
102.33 mi
02h 12m
Flight
83.02 mi
133.6 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
83.02 mi
Kilometers
133.6 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
102.33 mi
Kilometers
164.68 km
Drive Time
02h 12m

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 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lincoln
Thu, Apr 30, 4:55 AM CDT
Return by in Kansas City
Thu, Apr 30, 7:07 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Kansas City
2026-04-30T02:43
Arrive Lincoln
Thu, Apr 30, 4:55 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:12 AM to 12:12 PM CDT

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

Leave by
2:06 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
Garden City
MO

City in Cass County, Missouri, United States

From Kansas City
51.1 mi
01h 06m
To Lincoln
51.2 mi
01h 06m

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
66°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    39.2 mi · 45 min

  10. 10

    Turn left onto East Ohio Street

    1 km · 1 min · East Ohio Street

  11. 11

    Continue on East Division Road

    6.9 mi · 9 min · East Division Road

  12. 12

    Turn left

    17.2 mi · 30 min

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Ohio Street

    9 m · 1 sec · Ohio Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Ohio Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
14 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
MO 7 South
39.4 mi · 39%
Bruce R. Watkins Drive
37.3 mi · 36%
East Division Road
6.91 mi · 7%
East Ohio Street
0.65 mi · 1%
Charlotte Street
0.28 mi
East 12th Street
0.25 mi
Longest Stretch

MO 7 South

Turn slight left onto MO 7 South: Clinton

39.2 mi · 00h 45m

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 12m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19.3 mi
83 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Garden City
01h 06m from Kansas City
Leave By
2:06 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 Lincoln.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 102.3 miles (164.7 km) and usually takes 02h 12m 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?

Garden City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 51.1 miles from Kansas City and 51.2 miles from Lincoln.

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

The direct path is about 83 miles (133.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.3 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 2:06 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.61 one way or $27.23 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 32.1 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 Lincoln.

Stop Ideas Near Garden City

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Garden City, 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 Garden City.

RAIL

Lee's Summit

42 mi away
217 SW Main St.
RAIL

Warrensburg

45 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Independence

62 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.
RAIL

Union Station

68 mi away
30 West Pershing Rd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Kansas City and Lincoln. Straight-line distance: 83.02 mi (133.6 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
Lincoln

#2 Lincoln

City in Benton County, Missouri, United States

Population1,197
Coordinates38.3908600, -93.3346500
Altitude293
CountryUnited States
Start: Kansas City (-94.57857, 39.09973)
End: Lincoln (-93.33465, 38.39086)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 165 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.61 gal
13.67 L · about $13.61
Round trip
$27.23
7.22 gal · 27.34 L
Estimated CO2
32.1 kg one way
Round trip: 64.2 kg / 142 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $13.61 $27.23
Mid-grade $4.25 $15.35 $30.71
Premium $4.65 $16.80 $33.60
Diesel $5.30 $19.15 $38.29

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 Lincoln. The current time is 02:43:36.

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.