Cincinnati to Kansas City drive: Distance, time & best stops

The best road trip stops on the Cincinnati to Kansas City drive are Indianapolis, St Louis and America’s National Churchill Museum. The distance by car from Cincinnati to Kansas City is 589 miles, with an 8h49m driving time.

Planning a Cincinnati to Kansas City road trip

The drive from Cincinnati to Kansas City takes you from the biggest city in southern Ohio to the twin cities on the Missouri River. The road trip can be broken down into three legs – the Cincinnati to Indianapolis drive, the Indianapolis to St Louis drive and the St Louis to Kansas City drive.

Top Cincinnati activities include underground tours – some with beer tasting – and food tours by streetcar. You can also try baseball history toursindoor skydiving and guided ghost walks.  

Good experiences in Kansas City include an indulgent food tour of the city’s best BBQ joints. You can also try Segway tours, the Sealife Aquarium and wine-tasting trips.

Cincinnati to Kansas City distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Cincinnati to Kansas City is 589 miles. That makes for a driving time of eight hours and 49 minutes. The quickest route is largely along the I-74 and I-70.

The best stops for a Cincinnati to Kansas City road trip itinerary are Indianapolis, St Louis and America’s National Churchill Museum.

Best stops between Cincinnati and Kansas City: Indianapolis

The capital of Indiana marries big city energy with country charm.

Top attractions in Indianapolis include the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

Worthwhile Indianapolis experiences include a Fountain Square food tour and a walking tour around the city’s highlights.

Cincinnati to Kansas City road trip attractions: St Louis

St Louis is one of America’s great crossroads cities. The major landmark is the 630ft-tall Gateway Arch, which visitors can go to the top of. Other top attractions include the Cathedral Basilica of St Louis, the Missouri Botanical Garden and Busch Stadium.

Good St Louis experiences include highlight-packed trolley tours. You can also try true crime walking tours and small group tours that include going to the top of the St Louis Arch and a Mississippi River cruise.

For St Louis accommodation with personality, try the Last Hotel or the Pennywell.

Cincinnati to Kansas City drive: America’s National Churchill Museum

On March 15, 1946, the UK’s wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill made his famous Sinews of Peace speech. It is best known for the line: “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.”

It may surprise many to learn that the speech was made at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. The campus now hosts America’s National Churchill Museum, which is a massively detailed exploration of all things Churchill. Obviously there’s a big focus on the Fulton speech, but there’s a lot to discover about a fascinating, complex character.

Kansas City, Missouri.
Kansas City, Missouri. Photo by Webherpet/ Pixabay.

More Cincinnati road trips

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More Kansas City road trips

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