How far is Wichita, KS from Kansas City, MO?

The driving distance from Wichita, KS to Kansas City, MO is about 198.6 miles (319.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 178.3 miles (286.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 55m 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
198.62 mi
03h 27m
Flight
178.25 mi
286.87 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Wichita.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
178.25 mi
Kilometers
286.87 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
198.62 mi
Kilometers
319.64 km
Drive Time
03h 27m

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 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Kansas City
Mon, Aug 3, 1:40 PM CDT
Return by in Wichita
Mon, Aug 3, 5:08 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wichita
2026-08-03T10:12
Arrive Kansas City
Mon, Aug 3, 1:40 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:28 AM to 11:28 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
10:04 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Wichita
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
Admire
KS

Human settlement in Lyon County, Kansas, United States of America

From Wichita
99.2 mi
01h 43m
To Kansas City
99.4 mi
01h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
95°F
Monday

Sunny

Starts
Mon, Aug 3 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 13 mph SSE
Destination
88°F
Monday

Sunny

Starts
Mon, Aug 3 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    13 m · 5 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right

    57 m · 16 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Market Street

    110 m · 17 sec · North Market Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto East 3rd Street North

    113 m · 20 sec · East 3rd Street North

  5. 5

    Turn right onto North Broadway Street

    2035 ft · 40 sec · North Broadway Street

  6. 6

    Continue on South Broadway Avenue

    2693 ft · 1 min · South Broadway Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn left onto East Kellogg Drive

    116 m · 11 sec · East Kellogg Drive

  8. 8

    Take the ramp straight toward US 54 East

    1202 ft · 29 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

    7.2 mi · 9 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35: Kansas Turnpike Toll, Kansas City, Oklahoma City

    137 m · 11 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    1.4 km · 2 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Kansas Turnpike

    74.7 mi · 1 hr 15 min · Kansas Turnpike

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Kansas Turnpike

    110.7 mi · 1 hr 52 min · Kansas Turnpike

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Jay B. Dillingham Freeway

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Jay B. Dillingham Freeway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight left toward Central Street, Downtown

    767 ft · 26 sec

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Central Street

    1266 ft · 39 sec · Central Street

  17. 17

    Turn slight right

    48 m · 9 sec

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto West 12th Street

    2305 ft · 1 min · West 12th Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Oak Street

    6 m · 1 sec · Oak Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Oak Street

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Kansas Turnpike
185 mi · 93%
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
7.23 mi · 4%
Jay B. Dillingham Freeway
2.73 mi · 1%
I 35
0.97 mi
South Broadway Avenue
0.51 mi
West 12th Street
0.44 mi
Longest Stretch

Kansas Turnpike

Keep slight left to continue on Kansas Turnpike

111 mi · 01h 52m

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 27m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20.3 mi
178.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Admire
01h 43m from Wichita
Leave By
10:04 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Wichita and Sunny near Kansas City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 198.6 miles (319.6 km) and usually takes 03h 27m 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?

Admire is a useful midpoint, sitting about 99.2 miles from Wichita and 99.4 miles from Kansas City.

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

The direct path is about 178.3 miles (286.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 20.3 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:04 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.43 one way or $52.87 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 62.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Admire

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

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

RAIL

Topeka

59 mi away
500 SE Holliday Place
RAIL

Lawrence

84 mi away
413 East 7th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wichita and Kansas City. Straight-line distance: 178.25 mi (286.87 km).

Wichita

#1 Wichita

The largest city in Kansas and the center of the Wichita metropolitan area.

Population391,731
Coordinates37.6922400, -97.3375400
Altitude396
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: Wichita (-97.33754, 37.69224)
End: Kansas City (-94.57857, 39.09973)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 320 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.01 gal
26.53 L · about $26.43
Round trip
$52.87
14.02 gal · 53.06 L
Estimated CO2
62.3 kg one way
Round trip: 124.6 kg / 275 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $26.43 $52.87
Mid-grade $4.25 $29.81 $59.63
Premium $4.65 $32.62 $65.25
Diesel $5.30 $37.18 $74.36

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 Kansas · Aug 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Wichita and Kansas City. The current time is 10:12:28.

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.