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

The driving distance from Mount Vernon, MO to Kansas City, MO is about 171.7 miles (276.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 144 miles (231.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 32m 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
171.73 mi
02h 46m
Flight
143.97 mi
231.7 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Mount Vernon.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
143.97 mi
Kilometers
231.7 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
171.73 mi
Kilometers
276.38 km
Drive Time
02h 46m

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 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Kansas City
Sun, May 31, 5:46 AM CDT
Return by in Mount Vernon
Sun, May 31, 8:32 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Mount Vernon
2026-05-31T03:00
Arrive Kansas City
Sun, May 31, 5:46 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:46 AM to 12:46 PM CDT

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

Leave by
12:58 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Mount Vernon
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
Metz
MO

Village in the United States

From Mount Vernon
86.2 mi
01h 23m
To Kansas City
85.5 mi
01h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph S
Destination
87°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    73 m · 24 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Center Street

    104 m · 18 sec · West Center Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Hazel Street

    53 m · 13 sec · North Hazel Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto West Water Street

    1472 ft · 42 sec · West Water Street

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn right onto North Spring Park Boulevard

    6.1 mi · 9 min · North Spring Park Boulevard

  6. 6

    Turn left

    15.7 mi · 18 min

  7. 7

    Continue on Springfield Street

    1.5 km · 1 min · Springfield Street

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    8.3 mi · 10 min

  9. 9

    Turn right onto East Java Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · East Java Street

  10. 10

    Continue on East Northwoods Street

    1212 ft · 24 sec · East Northwoods Street

  11. 11

    At the end of the road, turn right onto North Garrison Avenue

    3105 ft · 55 sec · North Garrison Avenue

  12. 12

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City

    2198 ft · 27 sec

  13. 13

    Continue on Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway

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

  14. 14

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    127.6 mi · 2 hr 21 min · Purple Heart Trail

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward 11th Street, Downtown

    1637 ft · 26 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto East 11th Street

    1731 ft · 1 min · East 11th Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Oak Street

    141 m · 15 sec · Oak Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Oak Street

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Purple Heart Trail
128 mi · 74%
Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway
10.5 mi · 6%
Springfield Street
9.23 mi · 5%
North Spring Park Boulevard
6.13 mi · 4%
East Java Street
0.82 mi
North Garrison Avenue
0.59 mi
Longest Stretch

Purple Heart Trail

Continue on Purple Heart Trail

128 mi · 02h 21m

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 46m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.7 mi
144 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Metz
01h 23m from Mount Vernon
Leave By
12:58 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 171.7 miles (276.4 km) and usually takes 02h 46m 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?

Metz is a useful midpoint, sitting about 86.2 miles from Mount Vernon and 85.5 miles from Kansas City.

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 27.7 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 12:58 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.85 one way or $45.70 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Mount Vernon and Kansas City. Straight-line distance: 143.97 mi (231.7 km).

Mount Vernon

#1 Mount Vernon

City in Missouri

Population4,477
Coordinates37.1036700, -93.8185400
Altitude369
CountryUnited States
Kansas City

#2 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
Start: (-93.818536, 37.103909)
End: Oak Street (-94.578571, 39.099732)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 276 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 17m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 51m
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
6.06 gal
22.94 L · about $22.85
Round trip
$45.70
12.12 gal · 45.88 L
Estimated CO2
53.9 kg one way
Round trip: 107.7 kg / 237 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.85 $45.70
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.77 $51.55
Premium $4.65 $28.20 $56.41
Diesel $5.30 $32.14 $64.28

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 Mount Vernon and Kansas City. The current time is 03:00:06.

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.