Kansas City to Chicago drive: Best stops, distance & time
The best road trip stops on the Kansas City to Chicago drive are Hannibal MO, Springfield IL and Pontiac IL. The distance from Kansas City to Chicago by car is 510 miles, with a 7h42m driving time.
Planning a Kansas City to Chicago road trip itinerary
The Kansas City to Chicago drive takes you from the Great Plains to the shore of Lake Michigan in Illinois.
Our favourite thing to do in Chicago
The Chicago architecture cruise has a phenomenal wow factor, with the boat gliding between some of the world’s most legendary skyscrapers.
We found the commentary matches the views, too. Expect a fascinating run-down of the city’s history – and plenty of surprising detail about the buildings you’re seeing.
Technically two cities spread over two different states, Kansas City has a rich cultural heritage. The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and American Jazz Museum show this off. Other top attractions include the National World I Memorial and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Good experiences in Kansas City include an indulgent food tour of the city’s best BBQ joints, Segway tours, the Sealife Aquarium and wine-tasting trips.
Memorable Kansas City accommodation includes the colonial-style Truitt Hotel and the stylish, art-filled 21C Museum Hotel.
Chicago’s skyscrapers, music scene and massive collection of cultural attractions make it arguably the most exciting city in the US to visit.
Highly recommended Chicago experiences include an architecture river cruise, a gangsters and ghosts tour of famous Mob sites and a bike tour of the lakefront neighbourhoods. It’s also worth paying a visit to the Field Museum, the 360 Chicago observation deck at the Hancock Tower and the Chicago Architecture Center.
Recommended Chicago hotels include the Club Quarters Central Loop for astonishingly good value. Also consider the Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile for its amazing, historic pool, and the entertainingly science-themed Hotel EMC2.
Kansas City to Chicago distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Kansas City to Chicago is 510 miles. You can expect a driving time of around seven hours and 42 minutes. The quickest route is usually via the I-35, US-36, I-72 and I-75.
The best stops to add to a Kansas City to Chicago road trip itinerary are Hannibal MO, Springfield IL and Pontiac IL.
Kansas City to Chicago road trip attractions: Hannibal MO
Hannibal MO is on the Mississippi River, and it is more than a little obsessed with Mark Twain. The Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum is where the author used to live, while the Mark Twain Caves Complex featured in the Adventures of Tom Sawyer. You can also go for a cruise along the Mississippi River in the Mark Twain Riverboat.
Best stops between Kansas City and Chicago: Springfield IL
The capital of Illinois is more than a little obsessed with Abraham Lincoln. Springfield plays host to Lincoln’s former law offices and home, and his tomb is in the Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The centrepiece attraction of Springfield, however, is the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. It’s expensively assembled, enormous, reverent and utterly riveting if you’ve got even the slightest interest in Lincoln and the American Civil War.
Attractions between Kansas City and Chicago: Pontiac
Those with a thing for American cars will probably fancy a peek at the Pontiac-Oakland Museum, but lovers of road trips will gravitate towards the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum.
This museum is a much-loved collection of Route 66 memorabilia, with buses, vans, signs and all matter of little oddities that will help road-trippers stock up on ideas for next time.
- For more suggestions, read the guide to the Springfield IL to Chicago drive.
More Kansas City road trips
Atlanta to Kansas City | Boston to Kansas City | Cincinnati to Kansas City | Kansas City to Colorado Springs | Kansas City to Denver | Kansas City to Des Moines | Kansas City to Indianapolis | Kansas City to Lincoln NE | Kansas City to Memphis | Kansas City to Minneapolis | Kansas City to New Orleans | Kansas City to New York City | Omaha to Kansas City | Kansas City to St Louis | Tulsa to Kansas City | Kansas City to Wichita.
More Chicago road trips
Albany NY to Chicago | Ann Arbor to Chicago | Chicago to Asheville | Chicago to Aspen | Chicago to Atlanta | Chicago to Baltimore | Chicago to Birmingham AL | Bloomington IL to Chicago | Chicago to Boston | Chicago to Buffalo | Cedar Rapids to Chicago | Charlotte to Chicago | Chattanooga to Chicago | Cincinnati to Chicago | Cleveland to Chicago | Chicago to Colorado Springs | Columbus OH to Chicago | Davenport IA to Chicago | Dayton OH to Chicago | Denver to Chicago | Des Moines to Chicago | Detroit to Chicago | Chicago to Fargo | Fort Wayne to Chicago | Chicago to Gatlinburg | Grand Rapids to Chicago | Chicago to Green Bay | Indianapolis to Chicago | Iowa City to Chicago | Chicago to Jacksonville | Kalamazoo to Chicago | Chicago to Knoxville.
Lafayette IN to Chicago | Lansing MI to Chicago | Chicago to Lexington KY | Chicago to Lincoln NE | Chicago to Little Rock |Louisville to Chicago | Chicago to Madison WI | Chicago to Memphis | Chicago to Milwaukee | Chicago to Minneapolis | Moline IL to Chicago | Chicago to Nashville | Chicago to New Orleans | New York City to Chicago | Chicago to Niagara Falls.
Chicago to Omaha | Chicago to Peoria IL | Chicago to Pigeon Forge | Chicago to Pittsburgh | Chicago to Philadelphia | Chicago to Richmond VA | Rockford IL to Chicago | Chicago to San Antonio | Scranton to Chicago | Chicago to Sheboygan | Chicago to Springfield IL | South Bend to Chicago | St Louis to Chicago | Syracuse to Chicago | Toledo to Chicago | Chicago to Tulsa | Chicago to Washington DC | Chicago to Wichita | Chicago to Wisconsin Dells.