Kansas City to Springfield is 2 hr 43 min, to Branson 3 hr 18 min and to Lake of the Ozarks 2 hr 45 min. Springfield to Branson is 49 minutes. The times below are Google Maps driving estimates for the fastest route between Missouri’s main event cities, read 2026-10-20. Where Google Maps said traffic or a closure made a trip longer than usual, the table says so.
How to use these times
Missouri events are spread across nine regions, and the big ones are hours apart. Use the table to decide whether a festival, concert or game in another region is a day trip or a weekend. Then open that region’s page: Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield and Southwest Missouri, Branson and Table Rock Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, Central Missouri, North Missouri or Southeast Missouri. Every trip also shows on the full Missouri events calendar.
Drive times between Missouri event cities
From Kansas City
| To | Drive time | Distance | Route | Traffic note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | 2 hr | 126 miles | I-70 E | Usual traffic |
| Joplin | 2 hr 27 min | 157 miles | I-49 | Usual traffic |
| Springfield | 2 hr 43 min | 166 miles | MO-13 S | Usual traffic |
| Osage Beach (Lake of the Ozarks) | 2 hr 45 min | 157 miles | US-50 E | Usual traffic |
| Hannibal | 3 hr 11 min | 210 miles | US-36 E | Usual traffic |
| Branson | 3 hr 18 min | 210 miles | MO-13 S | Usual traffic |
| St. Louis | 3 hr 50 min | 248 miles | I-70 E | Longer than usual (Google Maps cited traffic or closures) |
| Cape Girardeau | 5 hr 24 min | 349 miles | I-70 E and I-55 S | Longer than usual (Google Maps cited traffic or closures) |
From St. Louis
| To | Drive time | Distance | Route | Traffic note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hannibal | 1 hr 51 min | 116 miles | I-64 W and US-61 N | Usual traffic |
| Cape Girardeau | 1 hr 53 min | 115 miles | I-55 S | Longer than usual (Google Maps cited traffic or closures) |
| Columbia | 2 hr 3 min | 124 miles | I-64 W and I-70 W | Longer than usual (Google Maps cited traffic or closures) |
| Osage Beach (Lake of the Ozarks) | 2 hr 43 min | 177 miles | I-70 W and US-54 W | Usual traffic |
| Springfield | 3 hr 20 min | 216 miles | I-44 W | Longer than usual (Google Maps cited traffic or closures) |
| Branson | 3 hr 47 min | 252 miles | I-44 W | Longer than usual (Google Maps cited traffic or closures) |
| Joplin | 4 hr 20 min | 288 miles | I-44 W | Longer than usual (Google Maps cited traffic or closures) |
From Springfield
| To | Drive time | Distance | Route | Traffic note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branson | 49 min | 44.2 miles | US-65 S | Traffic note not read |
| Joplin | 1 hr 17 min | 71.2 miles | I-44 W | Usual traffic |
| Osage Beach (Lake of the Ozarks) | 1 hr 36 min | 92 miles | I-44 E and MO-5 | Longer than usual (Google Maps cited traffic or closures) |
| Columbia | 2 hr 47 min | 167 miles | I-44 E and US-54 E | Longer than usual (Google Maps cited traffic or closures) |
| Hannibal | 4 hr | 241 miles | US-54 E | Longer than usual (Google Maps cited traffic or closures) |
| Cape Girardeau | 4 hr 21 min | 272 miles | US-60 E | Longer than usual (Google Maps cited traffic or closures) |
From Columbia
| To | Drive time | Distance | Route | Traffic note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osage Beach (Lake of the Ozarks) | 1 hr 11 min | 74.9 miles | US-63 S and US-54 W | Usual traffic |
| Hannibal | 1 hr 43 min | 91.4 miles | US-24 E | Usual traffic |
| Branson | 3 hr 13 min | 203 miles | US-54 W | Longer than usual (Google Maps cited traffic or closures) |
| Cape Girardeau | 3 hr 34 min | 226 miles | I-70 E and I-55 S | Longer than usual (Google Maps cited traffic or closures) |
| Joplin | 3 hr 46 min | 235 miles | US-54 W and I-44 W | Usual traffic |
Source: Google Maps driving directions between the two cities, fastest route listed first, read 2026-10-20 (each city name links to its own map). Estimates change with traffic, weather and construction, so check the live map before you leave. Some state parks and attractions are well off the main highway, so add time for the last miles.
How far is Branson from Kansas City?
Google Maps lists 210 miles and 3 hr 18 min via MO-13 S with usual traffic, read 2026-10-20. See what is on in Branson and Table Rock Lake.
How long does it take to drive from St. Louis to Kansas City?
Google Maps showed 3 hr 50 min and 248 miles via I-70 on 2026-10-20, longer than usual because of traffic and closures. Events in both cities: Kansas City and St. Louis.
Which Missouri event city is closest to Lake of the Ozarks?
Of the cities here, Columbia is closest at 1 hr 11 min (75 miles) with usual traffic. Springfield is 1 hr 36 min and Kansas City 2 hr 45 min. Events there: Lake of the Ozarks.
Sources: Google Maps, read 2026-10-20. See our editorial standards and the verification log.
Cite this page: It's Missouri, “Missouri Drive Times Between Event Cities”, itsmissouri.com/drive-times/ (updated ). By the It's Missouri editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.