Kansas City to New Orleans: Road Trip Guide & Distance

682 miles 1097.5 km · straight line
862 miles actual route 1387.2 km · driving distance
16h 4min estimated drive time
$83 - $102 estimated fuel cost
~1h 52min flight time
157° SSE bearing direction

How far is Kansas City from New Orleans?

The distance from Kansas City to New Orleans is 682 miles (1097.5 km) as the crow flies. New Orleans is located SSE of Kansas City. By car, the driving distance is approximately 862 miles, taking about 16h 4min. A direct flight would take roughly 1h 52min. Both are located in United States — Kansas City in Missouri and New Orleans in Louisiana.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Heading East means you'll be driving into the sunrise if you start early. Keep your windshield clean for the best visibility. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for Kansas City and New Orleans. The driving distance uses an OSRM road-route result when route data is available. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.

How to Get from Kansas City to New Orleans

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 16h 4min $83 - $102 Flexible stops
Fly ~1h 52min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~19h 17min $69–$129* Budget
Train ~20h 53min $103–$302* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Kansas City & New Orleans

Quick Facts

Kansas City
39.10°N, 94.58°W
America/Chicago
277m elevation
New Orleans
29.95°N, 90.07°W
America/Chicago
1m elevation
Explore more routes from New Orleans

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 227 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 57 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 36.5 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · OSRM