How far is Kansas City, MO from Mount Vernon, MO?

The driving distance from Kansas City, MO to Mount Vernon, MO is about 172.2 miles (277.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 144 miles (231.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 34m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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
172.24 mi
03h 17m
Flight
143.97 mi
231.7 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
143.97 mi
Kilometers
231.7 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
172.24 mi
Kilometers
277.19 km
Drive Time
03h 17m

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 03h 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Mount Vernon
Sun, May 31, 7:30 AM CDT
Return by in Kansas City
Sun, May 31, 10:47 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Kansas City
2026-05-31T04:13
Arrive Mount Vernon
Sun, May 31, 7:30 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:17 AM to 11:17 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:26 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Kansas City
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Metz
MO

Village in the United States

From Kansas City
86.2 mi
01h 38m
To Mount Vernon
86.1 mi
01h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 mph SE
Destination
87°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City and Mount Vernon.

  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

    127.3 mi · 2 hr 21 min · Bruce R. Watkins Drive

  8. 8

    Continue on Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway

    10.2 mi · 11 min · Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward MO V, MO D: Alba

    1611 ft · 30 sec

  10. 10

    Turn left onto North Garrison Avenue

    1.6 km · 2 min · North Garrison Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn left onto East Northwoods Street

    1212 ft · 23 sec · East Northwoods Street

  12. 12

    Continue on East Java Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · East Java Street

  13. 13

    Turn left

    25 mi · 29 min

  14. 14

    Turn right

    6.1 mi · 9 min

  15. 15

    Turn left onto West Water Street

    1785 ft · 51 sec · West Water Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto North Market Street

    50 m · 6 sec · North Market Street

  17. 17

    Turn left

    8 m · 9 sec

  18. 18

    Turn sharp left

    73 m · 18 sec

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Bruce R. Watkins Drive
127 mi · 74%
Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway
10.2 mi · 6%
North Garrison Avenue
0.98 mi · 1%
East Java Street
0.82 mi
West Water Street
0.34 mi
MO V
0.31 mi
Longest Stretch

Bruce R. Watkins Drive

Merge slight left onto Bruce R. Watkins Drive

127 mi · 02h 21m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 17m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.2 mi
144 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Metz
01h 38m from Kansas City
Leave By
10:26 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Sunny leaving Kansas City and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny near Mount Vernon.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Kansas City to Mount Vernon?

The road trip is about 172.2 miles (277.2 km) and usually takes 03h 17m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Metz is a useful midpoint, sitting about 86.2 miles from Kansas City and 86.1 miles from Mount Vernon.

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

The direct path is about 144 miles (231.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.2 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:26 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.93 one way or $45.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Metz

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

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

RAIL

Lee's Summit

102 mi away
217 SW Main St.
RAIL

Warrensburg

105 mi away
100 South Holden St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Kansas City and Mount Vernon. Straight-line distance: 143.97 mi (231.7 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
Mount Vernon

#2 Mount Vernon

City in Missouri

Population4,477
Coordinates37.1036700, -93.8185400
Altitude369
CountryUnited States
Start: Kansas City (-94.57857, 39.09973)
End: Mount Vernon (-93.81854, 37.10367)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 277 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 44m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.08 gal
23.01 L · about $22.93
Round trip
$45.86
12.16 gal · 46.02 L
Estimated CO2
54 kg one way
Round trip: 108.1 kg / 238 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.93 $45.86
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.86 $51.72
Premium $4.65 $28.30 $56.59
Diesel $5.30 $32.25 $64.50

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 · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Kansas City and Mount Vernon. The current time is 04:13:07.

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.