Getting Around Kansas City
Kansas City is a sprawling city, and the metro area straddles the Missouri–Kansas state line, so how you get around depends a lot on where you're staying and what you want to see. Most of the visitor-friendly districts — Downtown, the River Market, Crown Center, Westport, and the Country Club Plaza — sit within the urban core, where public transit and walking are genuinely practical. For outlying areas, a car or a ride-hail is usually the easier choice.
Streetcars
The KC Streetcar is a free, north–south service that links Union Station with the popular River Market district, running through downtown. It's a convenient way to cross the city centre, though it's a fairly slow one — useful for hopping between downtown stops rather than covering long distances. Streetcars run every 10–15 minutes from early morning to evening, with extended service on weekends. Route maps and more information are available on the KC Streetcar website.
An extension is planned to carry the route further south, reaching Union Hill, Westport, and Country Club Plaza. If you're driving and parking near the route, note that parking is permitted along the streetcar line, but your vehicle must sit entirely within the painted white lines — side mirrors included — so the streetcar has clearance. Streetcars can't swerve around obstructions.
Buses and Public Transport
Public transit in the region is operated by the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, branded as RideKC. The Metro bus is feasible within the urban core, where most of the tourist destinations are found. The MAX (Metro Area eXpress) and the #57 bus connect downtown, Crown Center, Westport, the Plaza, Brookside, and Waldo. Other lines can drop you fairly close to your door within Kansas City, Missouri, and there are limited stops in outlying suburbs such as Kansas City, Kansas, Independence, Blue Springs, Lee's Summit, and the Northland. There is also service to the casinos.
RideKC's rapid bus transit line is free under the City of KCMO's zero-fare agreement, and it serves the wider Kansas City region, including Downtown, the airport, and Country Club Plaza. Fares and free-ride arrangements can change, so it's worth checking current conditions before you travel.
If you need bus service in Johnson County, Kansas — including Overland Park, Mission, Fairway, Leawood, Olathe, Lenexa, Westwood, Merriam, and Shawnee — look for "The JO." It also runs lines between downtown Kansas City, Missouri, and Johnson County in both directions, though stops are limited and far apart. Service on The JO is mostly confined to morning rush hour, mid-day, and evening rush hour. Fares are $1.25 for trips that begin and end in Johnson County and $1.75 for trips that start or end in Downtown KCMO, with transfers available. Most buses are equipped with bike racks.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis and ride-hailing services are an option for trips that transit doesn't cover well, particularly across the state line or out to the suburbs. Shuttle services for large groups and car rentals are also available through various transportation partners. If you're driving yourself, the general issues are much the same as in any large US city.
Walkability
Walking works best in and around the downtown core and in individual districts such as the River Market, the Crossroads Arts District, Westport, and the Country Club Plaza. Because the city is large and its attractions are spread out, most visitors combine walking within a district with a streetcar, bus, or car trip between districts. The Visit KC Visitor Center at 1111 Main St. is a short walk from many downtown venues and is accessible via the KC Streetcar, near the Metro Center stop; it's open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Parking
There are roughly 40,000 parking spaces in Downtown Kansas City, with more throughout the metro. The Park KC app, from the City of Kansas City, lets you pay for municipal garages and metered parking and works at any of the city's 1,500 parking meters. Parking maps are available for areas near T-Mobile Center and other downtown venues. As anywhere, the Kansas City Police Department advises locking your vehicle and stowing valuables out of sight when you leave it unattended.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Kansas City International Airport (MCI) serves the Kansas City area and sits in the Northland. The IATA code comes from its original name, Mid-continent International, though it's now more commonly called KCI. A new terminal opened in 2023 and is now much more on par with the nicest airports in the US.
From the airport, you have a few practical options:
- RideKC bus: Route 129 Boardwalk/KCI offers hourly service to and from the airport, running 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. The fare has historically been $1.50 each way, but check current fares and free-ride arrangements before you go.
- KCI Shuttle: Offers a shuttle service between the airport and downtown hotels.
- Ride-hailing and taxis: A straightforward option, especially if you're traveling with luggage or heading somewhere transit doesn't reach easily.
Note that Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC) is a separate facility serving smaller general aviation planes, not commercial airline traffic.
Arriving by Train or Bus
Amtrak serves Kansas City via Union Station at 30 West Pershing Road. The city is a major stop on the daily Southwest Chief line between Chicago and Los Angeles, and it's also the western terminus of Amtrak's Missouri River Runner, which provides twice-daily service to and from St. Louis with connecting service to Chicago. Union Station is also the southern end of the KC Streetcar route, making it easy to continue downtown without a car.
Greyhound and other commercial coach services arrive and depart from the depot at 10th and Troost in Kansas City.
By Car
Interstate 435 forms a ring around the city. I-70 runs east to St. Louis and west to Denver, while I-35 is a major corridor running northeast and southwest. US Highway 71 runs north and south, forming a midtown expressway that heads northwest toward downtown, where it joins I-29; north of the river, US 71 follows the same route as I-29. If you're navigating the metro area in depth, a good local map is worth having — national map companies produce book-style maps sold at many grocery and book stores.
Bike Share
Kansas City B-Cycle is a bike-sharing program with stations downtown, offering 24-hour, 7-day, 30-day, and annual memberships. Rates have run around $7 for 24 hours and $15 for 7 days.