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

The driving distance from Kansas City, MO to Wardsville, MO is about 163.6 miles (263.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 136.1 miles (219.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 11m 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
163.64 mi
03h 05m
Flight
136.17 mi
219.14 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
136.17 mi
Kilometers
219.14 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
163.64 mi
Kilometers
263.35 km
Drive Time
03h 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 03h 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Wardsville
Sun, May 3, 8:26 AM CDT
Return by in Kansas City
Sun, May 3, 11:32 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Kansas City
2026-05-03T05:21
Arrive Wardsville
Sun, May 3, 8:26 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:06 AM to 11:06 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
10:48 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
Nelson
MO

City in Saline County, Missouri, United States

From Kansas City
81.7 mi
01h 32m
To Wardsville
82 mi
01h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 3 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph WSW
Destination
39°F
Overnight

Clear

Starts
Sun, May 3 3:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    52.5 mi · 57 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

    32 mi · 34 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

    22.4 mi · 24 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly

    748 ft · 16 sec

  16. 16

    Turn slight right onto US 63 South: Jefferson City

    59 m · 4 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    159 m · 12 sec

  18. 18

    Take the exit straight toward US 63 South: Jefferson City

    2329 ft · 50 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    27.1 mi · 29 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward US 54 West, US 63 South: Jefferson City

    3.8 mi · 5 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward MO C

    946 ft · 32 sec

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Southwest Boulevard

    136 m · 15 sec · Southwest Boulevard

  23. 23

    Continue on Ellis Boulevard

    970 ft · 29 sec · Ellis Boulevard

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Lorenzo Green Drive

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Lorenzo Green Drive

  25. 25

    Turn left

    3.5 mi · 6 min

  26. 26

    Keep slight left

    59 m · 12 sec

  27. 27

    Turn left

    104 m · 7 sec

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
28 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi · 33%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi · 33%
US 63 South
27.7 mi · 17%
George Brett Super Highway
6.92 mi · 4%
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.56 mi · 3%
US 54 West
3.75 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

52.5 mi · 00h 57m

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 05m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.5 mi
136.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Nelson
01h 32m from Kansas City
Leave By
10:48 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Kansas City and Clear near Wardsville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 163.6 miles (263.3 km) and usually takes 03h 05m 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?

Nelson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 81.7 miles from Kansas City and 82 miles from Wardsville.

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

The direct path is about 136.1 miles (219.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.5 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 10:48 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.76 one way or $43.52 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 51.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Kansas City and Clear near Wardsville.

Stop Ideas Near Nelson

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

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

RAIL

Sedalia

36 mi away
100 block of Main Street, through parking lot
RAIL

Warrensburg

66 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Jefferson City

88 mi away
101 Jefferson Street
RAIL

Lee's Summit

117 mi away
217 SW Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Kansas City and Wardsville. Straight-line distance: 136.17 mi (219.14 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
Wardsville

#2 Wardsville

Human settlement in Cole County, Missouri, United States of America

Population1,570
Coordinates38.4889200, -92.1743500
Altitude238
CountryUnited States
Start: Kansas City (-94.57857, 39.09973)
End: Wardsville (-92.17435, 38.48892)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 263 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.77 gal
21.86 L · about $21.76
Round trip
$43.52
11.54 gal · 43.72 L
Estimated CO2
51.3 kg one way
Round trip: 102.6 kg / 226 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $21.76 $43.52
Mid-grade $4.25 $24.54 $49.08
Premium $4.65 $26.85 $53.71
Diesel $5.30 $30.60 $61.21

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 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Kansas City and Wardsville. The current time is 05:21:11.

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.