Planning your arrival in the Heart of America? Find out everything you need to know about traveling to the area and getting around while you’re here.
Kansas City Basics
The Kansas City metropolitan area reaches across two states: Missouri and Kansas. Both sides of the state line are home to must-see sights and essential KC experiences, but it’s often helpful for first-time visitors to have a quick explanation!
If you’re flying to Kansas City International Airport (MCI), you’ll land in Missouri. While there are endless reason to spend time in both states—and you’ll most likely move between them seamlessly during your visit—here are a few more of the essentials.
Kansas City, Missouri (often abbreviated as KCMO) is home to the Kansas City Convention Center, many major hotels, the KC Streetcar and popular destinations along the line, along with T-Mobile Center, CPKC Stadium, Kauffman Stadium and GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Kansas City, Kansas (often abbreviated as KCK) is home to Children’s Mercy Park and the Tanger Kansas City at Legends outlet shopping center, along with a collection of culturally rich neighborhoods and local institutions.
Other major communities in the immediate area include Overland Park in Kansas and Independence in Missouri.
Flying to Kansas City
You can find flights to Kansas City from major cities around the world, typically with just one connection in the United States. Dallas and Chicago are frequent options for this domestic layover.
It’s also a convenient choice to begin your trip in another U.S. city and continue to the Heart of America. Once you’ve arrived in the U.S., flights from each coast are only three hours.
Kansas City International Airport debuted an award-winning new terminal in 2023, offering air travelers an excellent experience as they arrive and depart.
Traveling from Kansas City International Airport
Driving between the airport and downtown KC usually takes 20-25 minutes.
Rideshare service is available via Uber and Lyft, serving Kansas City International Airport and locations across the KC metro area.
Rental cars are available at Kansas City International Airport from Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt and Thrifty. (Rentals at the airport operate from an offsite facility, requiring a quick and free shuttle ride upon landing.)
RideKC operates the 229 bus route between Kansas City International Airport and downtown Kansas City, Monday through Friday. Service is available hourly, operating approximately 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Bus service is currently free to riders. View the 229 route schedule here.
Driving to Kansas City
Kansas City’s central location makes it an easy road trip destination. Make the trip from these cities in a day or less:
4 hours from St. Louis
6.5 hours from Minneapolis
8 hours from Chicago
8 hours from Dallas
Travel to stadium and fan festival sites
The free KC Streetcar provides service between fan festival grounds and several districts where major groups of hotels are located, including the Kansas City Convention Center, Crown Center and the Country Club Plaza.
Fans can arrive at the fan festival using the WWI Museum & Memorial stop. (The location is also a short walk from hotels at Crown Center.)
The KC Streetcar does not provide service to Kansas City Stadium, where matches will be played. Without traffic, the drive between downtown Kansas City and the stadium is approximately 15 minutes.
Expect parking to be extremely limited at fan festival and stadium sites.
Enhanced transportation resources will be made available by organizers in advance of the tournament, serving the stadium, fan festival, Kansas City International Airport and other key locations. Return to this page as additional details become available.
Travel within the Kansas City area
The KC Streetcar is free to ride and reaches many popular downtown-area districts, including the River Market, Power & Light, the Crossroads Arts District, Union Station/Crown Center, the National WWI Museum and Memorial, Midtown/Westport and the Country Club Plaza.
Rideshare service is widely available to reach other neighborhoods and communities within the region. If you’re planning to visit several destinations within the KC area, a rental car is highly recommended.
Approximate driving distances to areas surrounding downtown Kansas City, Missouri, include:
6-8 minutes from downtown Kansas City to downtown KCK
20 minutes from downtown Kansas City to downtown Overland Park
20 minutes from downtown Kansas City to downtown Independence
