Kansas City to New Orleans drive: Distance, time & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Kansas City to New Orleans drive are Branson MO, Little Rock AR and Jackson MS. The distance from Kansas City to New Orleans by car is 851 miles, with a 13h driving time.
Planning a Kansas City to New Orleans road trip itinerary
The Kansas City to New Orleans drive takes you from the Great Plains to southern Louisiana.
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.
New Orleans resolutely refuses to feel like any other American city. From the raucous hedonism of Bourbon Street to the European-influenced charm of the French Quarter, New Orleans is mesmerizingly unusual to hang out in.
Top New Orleans experiences include French Quarter food tours, haunted pub crawls, jazz cruises aboard the steamboat Natchez and cemetery walking tours.
For other attractions, try the National WWII Museum, the Vue Orleans observation deck and the urban enslavement tours at Hermann Grima House.
If looking for New Orleans accommodation, the pool and jazz bar-equipped Royal Sonesta in the French Quarter is a great option. The Virgin Hotel downtown has a huge sense of fun, too.
Kansas City to New Orleans distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Kansas City to New Orleans is 851 miles. You can expect a driving time of around 13 hours.
The best stops to add to a Kansas City to New Orleans road trip itinerary are Branson MO, Little Rock AR and Jackson MS.
Best stops between Kansas City and New Orleans: Branson MO
Branson MO is a holiday town in the Ozarks with a massive array of attractions and – in particular – shows. Hugely popular options include the Titanic Museum, the Dinosaur Museum and the World’s Largest Toy Museum.
For shows, you can watch several tribute acts at Legends In Concert, try to work out the tricks of illusionist Rick Thomas and see amazing acrobatics at the Grand Shanghai Circus Show. Pick from several more options here.
There are scores of tour options, too. Among the more interesting are off-road adventures, ziplining through the woods and wine-tasting.
Kansas City to New Orleans road trip attractions: Little Rock AR
Little Rock is the capital of Arkansas, and the closest thing the state has to a metropolis.
Key experiences in Little Rock include the Museum of Discovery and the William J Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. The latter, as with most presidential libraries, acts as a fascinating insight not just into the president, but the era he was in charge for.
Of Little Rock’s hotels, the Capital Hotel provides most historic glamour and the Residence Inn Little Rock Downtown is great value.
Kansas City to New Orleans drive: Jackson MS
The capital of Mississippi has a collection of strong museums. The Mississippi Museum of Art has a great Southern art collection. The Old Capitol Museum and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum cover politics and history.
The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is arguably Jackson’s highlight, though. It comes with a 100,000-gallon aquarium showing off the species that live on the Gulf Coast, and is within LeFleur’s Bluff State Park. That means plenty of nature trails to enjoy when the weather’s good.
Highly-reviewed Jackson MS accommodation includes the plush Westin and the more charming Old Capitol Inn.
- For more suggestions, read the guide to the Kansas City to New Orleans drive.
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