Going to Kansas City, KCI here I come

May 12, 2008 11:15 AM

If I'm driving into Kansas City on 71 from the South, what would be the quickest route to KCI Airport? We'll be coming in on a weekday morning, hitting Grandview at about 8:30 am, so morning traffic might be a factor.
posted by bjork24 to travel & transportation (3 comments total)

Almost certainly US71N to I-435 E/N and around. 71N drops to a four lane road for a section, then you have to fight your away through Downtown and the most doggedly complex set of interchanges I've ever seen. So, US 71 through isn't ideal, esp. if traffic is a factor.

Careful, you really don't want I-435 West through Kansas -- it would work, but it's longer, so at the US-71/I-435 intersection, you'll want I-435 North, towards Des Moines, IA.

There will be a stretch before the airport that will make you wonder if you've left the Kansas City Metroplex altogether. You haven't. It will seem very empty after you pass MO-291 and the highways turns to the west. Relax, keep driving, it'll get you there.

Going the other way adds about 10 miles to the trip. Taking US-71 saves 8 miles from this route, but puts you at real risk of traffic delays, so I do think the I-435 north route is the right answer.
posted by eriko at 12:10 PM on May 12, 2008

Seconding eriko. I-435 really takes a dogleg on the way up to the airport but it's way easier than going through downtown.
posted by zsazsa at 1:54 PM on May 12, 2008

Thanks guys!
posted by bjork24 at 2:39 PM on May 12, 2008