Kansas City question

[bjfinste]

In the next week or two, I'll be driving from Dallas to western Wisconsin. My guess is that it will take roughly 8 hours to get to Kansas City from where I live.

My question is, how bad is rush hour in KC on weekdays on I-35 (I would probably leave on a Thursday but the final date is still up in the air)? And what would be the best times to avoid the city? I would probably take 435 around the city.

I'm just wondering if I would miss the worst of it if I left here at 7 am and was able to get to southern KC by 3, or if I would be getting there right during the brunt of the bad traffic.

Of course, that won't help me deal with the hell that is the Minneapolis/St. Paul "year-round construction rush hour", but it's a start.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Big Daddy]

You must be heading towards my neck of the woods. I will be heading south on I-35 thru Kansas City on my way to Oklahoma in a couple of weeks. In my past experience, 3:00 pm will be really busy. It doesn't make much difference if you stay on 35 or take 435. I've tried both. I try to hit KC after 6:00 pm, or in the morning after the early rush hour. It is still busy at those times, but not quite as bad as rush hour. Unfortunately, going thru KC is a pain just about anytime on weekdays.

 

[bjfinste]

Yup BD, about 15-20 minutes west on 94 from you (Baldwin). It's Mom's birthday in early June so I figure I'll take the opportunity to head home for a bit.

If KC is always pretty rough, then I'd probably be best served just making sure I clear Okie City before the bad times and deal with KC when I get there.

 

[Captain Crunch]

bjfinste, I am late for work and will reply this evening. I live in KC and drove to Dallas two weeks ago, so maybe I can help you out.

 

[Captain Crunch]

bjfinste, if you hit KC on or around 3 pm, you should not hit any major traffic. Get here around 4-6, you might hit some, but nothing like what it is in Dallas. When you get to the southern part of KC (Olathe) you will be going against the people leaving downtown and going home. They will be heading south for the most part, and you obviously going north. Once you get through downtown, you might encounter some heavy traffic from the people who live on the north side of town, but should only be for a few miles. Once I-35 and I-29 split, it should open up for you, and that is only about 2-3 miles from downtown. I would not take the I-435 loop because if you take the part that runs on the west side of town, you will be doing a whole lot of extra driving to get back to I-35, and if you take the part that runs up the east side of town (where I live) you will run into the biggest clusterfuhk of interstates, construction and traffic you have ever experienced. They are totally redoing this interchange where four highways meet at the same place and most are down to one lane right now. Its not bad during the day, but from 3-6, avoid this area. It is known as the Grandview Triangle. They should be done with it in about a year, and then this would be the way to go to avoid the downtown traffic and it takes you right to I-35 up north. My suggestion would be to stay on I-35 the whole time through the city, I think the signs have Des Moines on them, and follow it on through. When I went to Dallas a few weeks ago, it took me 7.5 hours and I was driving 75-80 the whole time, stopped for maybe 20 minutes. It took me exactly 5 hours to get to Okie City and 3 hours to get to Wichita from KC. If you leave by 7 AM, you shouldn't have to much trouble with the traffic. Good Luck and let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[Jamaica1997]

You must be heading towards my neck of the woods. I will be heading south on I-35 thru Kansas City on my way to Oklahoma in a couple of weeks. In my past experience, 3:00 pm will be really busy. It doesn't make much difference if you stay on 35 or take 435. I've tried both. I try to hit KC after 6:00 pm, or in the morning after the early rush hour. It is still busy at those times, but not quite as bad as rush hour. Unfortunately, going thru KC is a pain just about anytime on weekdays.

What are you coming to my neck of the woods for??

 

[bjfinste]

CC- Thank you very much. That's exactly what I was looking for.

 

[Big Daddy]

Jamaica1997, heading to Ponca City the 1st weekend in June for the folk's 50th Anniversary. Will be making a couple of trips to the airport to pick up other relatives who are flying in. Not sure if they are flying into Oklahoma City or Tulsa. Either way, I will be putting on lots of miles that week. Good thing gas is cheap